Word Wide Open: The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 7/25/21

First Reading (2 Kings 4:42-44)

A reading from the Second Book of Kings.

A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,

twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,

and fresh grain in the ear. 

Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” 

But his servant objected,

“How can I set this before a hundred people?” 

Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat.” 

“For thus says the LORD,

‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” 

And when they had eaten, there was some left over,

as the LORD had said.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What is the food God provides for us and what does it do for us?


Second Reading (Ephesians 4:1-6)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.

Brothers and sisters:

I, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another through love,

striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:

one body and one Spirit,

as you were also called to the one hope of your call;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How do we live in a manner worthy of the call we have received? Why should we try to be more patient with others?

Gospel (John 6:1-15)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. 

A large crowd followed him,

because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. 

Jesus went up on the mountain,

and there he sat down with his disciples. 

The Jewish feast of Passover was near. 

When Jesus raised his eyes

and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,

he said to Philip,

“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” 

He said this to test him,

because he himself knew what he was going to do. 

Philip answered him,

“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough

for each of them to have a little.” 

One of his disciples,

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;

but what good are these for so many?” 

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” 

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. 

So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. 

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,

and distributed them to those who were reclining,

and also as much of the fish as they wanted. 

When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,

“Gather the fragments left over,

so that nothing will be wasted.” 

So they collected them,

and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments 

from the five barley loaves

that had been more than they could eat. 

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,

“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” 

Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off

to make him king,

he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? In what ways does God always provide for us? How does the Eucharist sustain us in faith? 

Word Wide Open: The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 7/18/21

First Reading (Jeremiah 23:1-6)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

Woe to the shepherds

who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture,

says the LORD. 

Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,

against the shepherds who shepherd my people:

You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. 

You have not cared for them,

but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. 

I myself will gather the remnant of my flock

from all the lands to which I have driven them

and bring them back to their meadow;

there they shall increase and multiply. 

I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them

so that they need no longer fear and tremble;

and none shall be missing, says the LORD.

    Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,

        when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;

    as king he shall reign and govern wisely,

        he shall do what is just and right in the land.

    In his days Judah shall be saved,

        Israel shall dwell in security.

    This is the name they give him:

        “The LORD our justice.”

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What makes a leader a good leader? How is Jesus the good shepherd?


Second Reading (Ephesians 2:13-18)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.

Brothers and sisters:

In Christ Jesus you who once were far off

have become near by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he who made both one

and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,

abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,

that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,

thus establishing peace,

and might reconcile both with God,

in one body, through the cross,

putting that enmity to death by it. 

He came and preached peace to you who were far off

and peace to those who were near,

for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does God draw us closer to Himself? How are we reconciled with God?

Gospel (Mark 6:30-34)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

The apostles gathered together with Jesus

and reported all they had done and taught. 

He said to them,

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” 

People were coming and going in great numbers,

and they had no opportunity even to eat. 

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 

People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. 

They hastened there on foot from all the towns

and arrived at the place before them.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,

his heart was moved with pity for them,

for they were like sheep without a shepherd;

and he began to teach them many things.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? Why is private prayer time so important? How does Jesus how us to love others?

Word Wide Open: The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 7/11/21

First Reading (Amos 7:12-15)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos.

Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos,

“Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! 

There earn your bread by prophesying,

but never again prophesy in Bethel;

for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” 

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,

nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;

I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. 

The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,

Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why does God often call us out of our comfort zone? What are difficult things God asks us to do?


Second Reading (Ephesians 1:3-14)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,

as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,

to be holy and without blemish before him. 

In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,

in accord with the favor of his will,

for the praise of the glory of his grace

that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we have redemption by his blood,

the forgiveness of transgressions,

in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. 

In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us

the mystery of his will in accord with his favor

that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,

to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

In him we were also chosen,

destined in accord with the purpose of the One

who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,

we who first hoped in Christ. 

In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,

were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,

which is the first installment of our inheritance

toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What does it mean to be chosen before the foundation of the world? How do we achieve the purpose of the One?

Gospel (Mark 6:7-13)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two

and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey

but a walking stick—

no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 

They were, however, to wear sandals

but not a second tunic. 

He said to them,

“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. 

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,

leave there and shake the dust off your feet

in testimony against them.” 

So they went off and preached repentance. 

The Twelve drove out many demons,

and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What are the powers that Christ gives His people today? Why is relying on God for everything so difficult?

Word Wide Open: The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 7/4/21

First Reading (Ezekiel 2:2-5)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.

As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me

    and set me on my feet,

    and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:

    Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,

    rebels who have rebelled against me;

    they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day.

Hard of face and obstinate of heart

    are they to whom I am sending you. 

But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! 

And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—

    they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why do people often turn against God in times of suffering? Who are the messengers God sends today?


Second Reading (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

Brothers and sisters:

That I, Paul, might not become too elated,

because of the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,

to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 

Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,

but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is made perfect in weakness.” 

I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,

in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 

Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,

hardships, persecutions, and constraints,

for the sake of Christ;

for when I am weak, then I am strong.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What are the thorns in our sides? What does it mean to be strong when you are weak?

Gospel (Mark 6:1-6)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,

and many who heard him were astonished. 

They said, “Where did this man get all this? 

What kind of wisdom has been given him? 

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,

and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? 

And are not his sisters here with us?” 

And they took offense at him. 

Jesus said to them,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place

and among his own kin and in his own house.” 

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How do we often underestimate God? How does a lack of faith slow us down? Why is sharing the faith with family so difficult?

Word Wide Open: The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 6/13/21

 First Reading (Ezekiel 17:22-24)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.

Thus says the Lord GOD:

I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar,

    from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot,

and plant it on a high and lofty mountain;

    on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it.

It shall put forth branches and bear fruit,

    and become a majestic cedar.

Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it,

    every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.

And all the trees of the field shall know

    that I, the LORD,

bring low the high tree,

    lift high the lowly tree,

wither up the green tree,

    and make the withered tree bloom.

As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does God reveal Himself through creation?


Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

Brothers and sisters:

We are always courageous,

although we know that while we are at home in the body

we are away from the Lord,

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Yet we are courageous,

and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.

Therefore, we aspire to please him, 

whether we are at home or away.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

so that each may receive recompense,

according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What does it mean to be courageous? Why are we away from the Lord?

Gospel (Mark 4:26-34)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus said to the crowds:

“This is how it is with the kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,

for the harvest has come.”

He said,

“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God,

or what parable can we use for it?

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,

is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants

and puts forth large branches,

so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

With many such parables

he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

Without parables he did not speak to them,

but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What is the Kingdom of God? Where does faith start? Why did Jesus speak in parables?

Word Wide Open: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (B) - 6/6/21

First Reading (Exodus 24:3-8)

A reading from the Book of Exodus.

When Moses came to the people

and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,

they all answered with one voice,

"We will do everything that the LORD has told us."

Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,

rising early the next day,

he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar

and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites

to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls

as peace offerings to the LORD,

Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;

the other half he splashed on the altar.

Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,

who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."

Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,

"This is the blood of the covenant

that the LORD has made with you

in accordance with all these words of his."

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What does blood typically symbolize in the Bible? What is the purpose of a covenant?


Second Reading (Hebrews 9:11-15)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews.

Brothers and sisters:

When Christ came as high priest

of the good things that have come to be,

passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle

not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,

he entered once for all into the sanctuary,

not with the blood of goats and calves

but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls

and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes

can sanctify those who are defiled

so that their flesh is cleansed,

how much more will the blood of Christ,

who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,

cleanse our consciences from dead works

to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:

since a death has taken place for deliverance

from transgressions under the first covenant,

those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What is the eternal inheritance? What is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant?

Gospel (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,

Jesus’ disciples said to him,

"Where do you want us to go

and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

He sent two of his disciples and said to them,

"Go into the city and a man will meet you,

carrying a jar of water.

Follow him.

Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,

'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room

where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'

Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.

Make the preparations for us there."

The disciples then went off, entered the city,

and found it just as he had told them;

and they prepared the Passover.

While they were eating,

he took bread, said the blessing,

broke it, gave it to them, and said,

"Take it; this is my body."

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,

and they all drank from it.

He said to them,

"This is my blood of the covenant,

which will be shed for many.

Amen, I say to you,

I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine

until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Then, after singing a hymn,

they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? Why does our redemption require sacrifice? How does the shedding of Jesus' blood wash away our sins? Why is receiving the Eucharist frequently so important? 

Word Wide Open: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (B) - 5/26/21

 First Reading (Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40)

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy.

Moses said to the people:

"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,

ever since God created man upon the earth;

ask from one end of the sky to the other:

Did anything so great ever happen before?

Was it ever heard of?

Did a people ever hear the voice of God

speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?

Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself

from the midst of another nation,

by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,

with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,

all of which the LORD, your God,

did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

This is why you must now know,

and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God

in the heavens above and on earth below,

and that there is no other.

You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today,

that you and your children after you may prosper,

and that you may have long life on the land

which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What has God promised His people? How does God protect His people throughout the ages?


Second Reading (Romans 8:14-17)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you received a Spirit of adoption,

through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit

that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs,

heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,

if only we suffer with him

so that we may also be glorified with him.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does fear enslave us? How does suffering bring about glory?

Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,

to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them,

"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What does it mean to be a disciple? How are we called to live differently as Catholics? How is Christ always with us?

Word Wide Open: Pentecost Sunday (B) - 5/23/21

 

First Reading (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,

they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky

a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,

but they were confused

because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,

“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?

Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?

We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,

inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,

Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,

as well as travelers from Rome,

both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,

yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues

of the mighty acts of God.”

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is Pentecost considered the birthday of the Church? What does the Holy Spirit enable us to do?


Second Reading (1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

Brothers and sisters:

No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 

there are different forms of service but the same Lord;

there are different workings but the same God

who produces all of them in everyone.

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit

is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,

and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,

so also Christ.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,

whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,

and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What are some spiritual gifts? How do we strengthen the body of Christ?

Gospel (John 20:19-23)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What does it mean to be sent out by Jesus? How does this reading establish the sacrament of Reconciliation? How does Jesus give us peace?

Word Wide Open: The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (B) - 5/16/21

First Reading (Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

In the first book, Theophilus,

I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught

until the day he was taken up,

after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit

to the apostles whom he had chosen.

He presented himself alive to them

by many proofs after he had suffered,

appearing to them during forty days

and speaking about the kingdom of God.

While meeting with them,

he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,

but to wait for “the promise of the Father

about which you have heard me speak;

for John baptized with water,

but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When they had gathered together they asked him,

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons

that the Father has established by his own authority.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,

throughout Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.”

When he had said this, as they were looking on,

he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,

suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.

They said, “Men of Galilee,

why are you standing there looking at the sky?

This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven

will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does the Holy Spirit empower us? Why is trust in God's will so difficult to have? 


Second Reading (Ephesians 1:17-23)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.

Brothers and sisters:

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation

resulting in knowledge of him.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,

that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,

what are the riches of glory

in his inheritance among the holy ones,

and what is the surpassing greatness of his power

for us who believe,

in accord with the exercise of his great might,

which he worked in Christ,

raising him from the dead

and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,

far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,

and every name that is named

not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And he put all things beneath his feet

and gave him as head over all things to the church,

which is his body,

the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How do we grow in knowledge of God? What is our inheritance and how do we obtain it?

Gospel (Mark 16:15-20)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Go into the whole world

and proclaim the gospel to every creature.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;

whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe:

in my name they will drive out demons,

they will speak new languages.

They will pick up serpents with their hands,

and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.

They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,

was taken up into heaven

and took his seat at the right hand of God.

But they went forth and preached everywhere,

while the Lord worked with them

and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How do we preach the Gospel in our every day lives? Do miracles still happen? How are we called to grow the Church every day?

Word Wide Open: The Sixth Sunday of Easter (B) - 5/9/21

First Reading (Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him

and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.

Peter, however, raised him up, saying,

“Get up. I myself am also a human being.”

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,

“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.

Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly

is acceptable to him.”

While Peter was still speaking these things,

the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.

The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter

were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit

should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,

for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God.

Then Peter responded,

“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people,

who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”

He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does God treat all people the same? What does the Holy Spirit do for us?


Second Reading (1 John 4:7-10)

A reading from the First Letter of St. John.

Beloved, let us love one another,

because love is of God;

everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

In this way the love of God was revealed to us:

God sent his only Son into the world

so that we might have life through him.

In this is love:

not that we have loved God, but that he loved us

and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does loving others help us know God better? In what ways has God shown His love for us?

Gospel (John 15:9-17)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

and your joy might be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing.

I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How do we remain in God's love? How can we love others as Christ loves us? What does it mean to be no longer a slave?

Word Wide Open: The Fifth Sunday of Easter (B) - 4/28/21

 First Reading (Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples,

but they were all afraid of him,

not believing that he was a disciple.

Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,

and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,

and that he had spoken to him,

and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,

and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.

He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,

but they tried to kill him.

And when the brothers learned of this,

they took him down to Caesarea

and sent him on his way to Tarsus.

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.

It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,

and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why was Paul initially rejected by the Apostles and those he preached to? In what ways can the Church grow in number?


Second Reading (1 John 3:18-24)

A reading from the First Letter of St. John.

Children, let us love not in word or speech

but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth

and reassure our hearts before him

in whatever our hearts condemn,

for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,

we have confidence in God

and receive from him whatever we ask,

because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

And his commandment is this:

we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,

and love one another just as he commanded us.

Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,

and the way we know that he remains in us

is from the Spirit he gave us.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How do we love in deed and truth? How can we grow our confidence in faith?

Gospel (John 15:1-8)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How do we bare fruit in our faith? How do we remain in Jesus? What can we ask God for?