Very few topics occupy the American consciousness as much as health care and the onset of debilitating illness a concern of the readings for these Sundays The tone is set by Job rsquo s lament of endless suffering and sleepless nights The Gospels portray a Jesus who enters the world of the sick a

Until Ash Wednesday March 8 the Gospels of Lectionary cycle B follow Mark 1 14 to 3 6 Each of the four Gospels has distinctive literary characteristics a particular picture of Jesus and different understandings of discipleship Mark the shortest of the Gospels contains the most vivid and hu

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord concludes the Advent-Christmas liturgical season and is also the first Sunday in Ordinary Time In the early church it was closely linked to Epiphany as a quot manifestation quot of the Son of God This first appearance of Jesus is marked by the solemn biblica

The liturgical year involves the festal cycle comprising Advent-Christmas and Lent-Paschaltide and ordinary time which is the weekly celebration of the extraordinary event of the proclamation of the word and the eucharistic paschal mystery After the Baptism of the Lord the readings of the second

Luke teaches disciples of every era how to recognize Jesus even when they do not expect him.