The church, like the disciples, is not to stand looking at the sky but is to carry on Jesus’ mission to the ends of the earth.

Frequent question these days is Just what does it mean to be a Christian The readings this Sunday and next provide a powerful answer The Gospels taken from John 15 use the symbol of the vine and the branches to describe the intimate union between Christ and the believer This begins with God rs

One of the most frequent subjects of early Christian art is Jesus the Good Shepherd an image that often combines elements from the parable of the Lost Sheep Lk 15 1-7 with Jesus rsquo self-description in John 10 The beautiful fresco in Rome rsquo s catacomb of St Domitilla is representative

The readings continue to proclaim the reality and saving power of Christ’s resurrection, while the Gospel is the Lukan sequel to the meal of the risen Christ with the two travelers on the way to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-34).

In his important work The Sunday Lectionary 1998 Normand Bonneau sketches the architecture of the readings for the Easter season the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost which focus on mystagogy by which the newly baptized are led into a deeper understanding of their baptismal incorporation into

WHILE LABORING through graduate studies I lived at an extraordinary parish in Chicago St Thomas the Apostle whose self-designation was quot God 39 s People in Wonderful Variety quot The parish had exuberant and prayerful liturgies especially during Holy Week and Easter One Easter the child

The cumbersome title given to this day in the latest revision of the Lectionary Palm Sunday of the Lord rsquo s Passion captures the dual aspect of the liturgical celebration The processional rite of blessing and carrying palms describes Jesus rsquo triumphal entry into Jerusalem in what will be

In these last two weeks of Lent the readings draw our eyes to the crucified one with a focus on what God has done for us The promise of the new covenant embodies the aging Jeremiah rsquo s spiritual testament to an exiled people that even though they have sinned in the past quot I will be thei

As Holy Week nears the central theme of the liturgy today is captured by the second reading quot God who is rich in mercy because of his great love for us brought us to life in Christ quot The first reading is the conclusion of the Chronicler rsquo s history written around 400 B C almost 20

Over 20 years ago I was giving a series of Scripture workshops in South Africa during the worst period of apartheid shortly after the murder of Steve Biko Yet the hope and joy of an oppressed people shone forth in every liturgy and during every occasion when we shared insights on Scripture On my