First Sunday of Advent My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!! The people of Israel make an impassioned appeal to God in this reading. The prophet worked hard to get them to this point in their spiritual lives. For many years they resisted [...]
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!! This reading belongs to the Old Testament’s most elaborate portrayal of God as shepherd. At this point in his book, Ezekiel has already denounced the leaders of [...]
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!! An earlier chapter in Proverbs invited readers to enjoy a sumptuous banquet in Lady Wisdom’s elegant house (9:1–6). Fittingly, in this final chapter of the book, readers find themselves within [...]
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!! Tradition attributes this book to King Solomon. Early in his reign, he asked God’s help to rule wisely over God’s people (1 Kings 3:5–14). Appropriately, this book’s opening line addresses those [...]
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!! This book presents the oracles of a prophet simply known as “my messenger” (the meaning of the name Malachi). This is a fitting title for a servant bringing the divine [...]
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!! At Sinai, the tribes of Israel become covenant partners with God. As with any such agreement, there are expectations demanded of both parties. Already the chosen people have seen for themselves [...]
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time!!! God is Good!!! The first half of Isaiah’s book ended with the distressing news that one day the kingdom of Judah will collapse before Babylon’s armies, sending many of its people into exile [...]
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time!!! God is Good!!! This oracle develops further Isaiah’s portrayal of God’s ultimate triumph over all that tries to interfere with the plan of salvation. The opening line introduces once again Isaiah’s favorite image of the Lord’s Mountain. [...]
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time!!! God is Good!!! Isaiah’s eloquence as a spokesman for God is clearly evident in this reading. After a series of oracles challenging the children of Israel to return to their heavenly Father, the [...]
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time My dear parishioners, God is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time!!! God is Good!!! The oracles in this portion of the book lead up to a sweeping overview of Israel’s history as a people disloyal to God (chapter 20). But before Ezekiel presents that [...]