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 […]
Liturgical Bible Study Guide: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
Last week we heard the parable of the wise and foolish virgins; a reminder to us all to live out our faith every day so that we will be prepared for the day of the Lord; the day when we are admitted to the heavenly banquet. Today we hear the parable of the talents. A […]
Liturgical Bible Study Guide: Dedication of St. John Lateran
Introduction With the ascent of Constantine as Emperor of Rome (306-337), the days of bloodyChristian persecutions came to an end. Placed at first on an equal footing with paganism, Christianity soon became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine was the son of Constantius I, Roman Emperor of the West (305-6), and Helena, a […]