Liturgical Bible Study Guide: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
1st Reading – Isaiah 25:6-10a The first twelve verses of the 25th chapter of Isaiah are psalms (songs) of thanksgiving and prayer. The first of these psalms (verses 1 through 5) is a hymn to Yahweh for safe refuge. It celebrates the victory of Yahweh as something that has already taken place. The third (the last half of […]
Liturgical Bible Study Guide: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
1st Reading – Ezekiel 18:25-28 The name “Ezekiel” means “may El (God) strengthen.” He grew up in a priestly family, in Jerusalem. He was familiar with the Temple, and must have known Jeremiah. During the second deportation to Babylon in 597 B.C., he was taken with others to Tel-Abib (near Nippur). He was married and had […]
Liturgical Bible Study Guide: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
1st Reading – Isaiah 55:6-9 We know very little about the details of Isaiah’s life. To distinguish him from other men of the same name, he was called “Isaiah, the son of Amos;” later “Isaiah the prophet.” According to Jewish tradition he was of royal stock. He was of the tribe of Judah and his home was […]
Liturgical Bible Study Guide: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
1st Reading – Sirach 27:30-28:9 Sirach is one of the few books of the Old Testament where there is no question about the identity of the author. This book was written by one man: Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sira, who signed his name to the book. The book has two names: Ecclesiasticus (which means “church […]
Liturgical Bible Study Guide: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
1st Reading – Ezekiel 33:7-9 There is no Old Testament writer who has received more varied, even diametrically opposed, interpretations of his person and his writings than Ezekiel. He has been psychoanalyzed and found to be a victim of catatonic schizophrenia, unconscious sexual regression, schizophrenic withdrawal, and having delusions of persecution and grandeur. He has been called “one of […]