32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 12

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The Old Testament talks a lot about Wisdom. A whole section of the Bible is referred to as Wisdom literature. But it’s not exactly what we usually mean by wisdom.
Wisdom is part of God’s very nature, almost to the point that Wisdom takes on personlike qualities. We can understand why the New Testament applies the description of Wisdom to the Holy Spirit in the Blessed Trinity.
Our first reading speaks about Wisdom as an introduction to the gospel parable. The bridesmaids in the parable stand vigil waiting patiently for the appearance of Wisdom. Wisdom is always identified as feminine, so it is appropriate that the ten virgins are especially eager for her arrival. This kind of biblical imagery may be a reach for us to grasp, but it has a long and rich tradition in the poetry of the bible.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This week’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 29

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The readings this Sunday are all about the law. That means biblical law, the law the ancient Jews of the Old Testament believed came to them from God through Moses.
The first reading lists some of the prohibitions imposed by the law. It’s easy to update the literal terms to apply the law to our own world and circumstances. It stands as a rebuke to much of the way we deal with the social problems we face today in our own country.
The gospel picks up this theme of law and what it requires of us. It’s a radical assertion of what God requires of us.
In the second reading, we continue to hear from St. Paul about his experience in the Greek city of Thessalonica. When Paul first crossed the narrow waterway separating Greece from present day Turkey, one of the first Greek cities he visited was Thessalonica. Fortunately, as Paul attests, these people gave him a warm reception at the very beginning of his missionary efforts in the intimidating culture of Greece. He was deeply grateful to these people who gave him such a major boost in confidence to continue his ministry.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 1

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The first reading is chosen as a commentary on today’s gospel. It presents two cases: the first case concerns someone who chooses an evil path and never turns back. The second case is about someone who first goes an evil way and then reforms. It’s somewhat like the two sons in the gospel parable. The moral seems to be it’s never too late to renounce our evil ways and reform.
In the second reading, most commentators think that St Paul is really quoting the words of an early Christian hymn. We don’t have the music, just the words that Paul has passed on to us. If that’s true, then this hymn must have been the most profound ever written because it so well expresses what has come to be called “the paschal mystery of Christ.” It’s all about the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection as the source of all grace.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This week’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 17

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The first reading serves as a beautiful introduction to today’s gospel. It’s taken from the so-called Book of Sirach, named after the author. It’s part of what is called the “wisdom literature” in the Bible. If you broke the Bible apart into separate sections, and distributed them on shelves in a bookstore, you would find the “wisdom literature” in the philosophy or spirituality section.
But sometimes, like in today’s reading, wisdom literature can hit home with a sharp point. In the first verse today, for example, we are greeted with a stunning image: “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.” We all know how true that is. In the gospel, we’ll hear what Jesus has to say about that.
—Walter Modrys SJ

This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.