Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40 In the gospels, Philip is just a name in the list of the twelve apostles.  But,  in Luke’s Acts of the Apostles we get a more detailed portrait of a Philip.  He is one of … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 4:5-12 This excerpt from the Acts follows two dramatic events.  Peter and the others have pronounced in the name of Jesus a man lame from birth to be healed.  And, they have used the attention this … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 3:12-19 Peter and John go to the Temple for daily prayers.  While there, they encounter a man “lame from birth.”  They announce he is healed and the man immediately “leaps for joy.”  To the crowd who … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35 In his Acts of the Apostles, Luke identifies two inter-dependent traits that gave the early church its identity: witnessing to the “the resurrection of the Lord” and spontaneous, voluntary generosity so that “There was not … Continue reading →

Easter Evening Year A.B.C Isaiah 25: 6-9 The prophet imagines a “feast.” which is so vast and so abundant it is attended by all humankind. This feast celebrates the defeat of all the experiences that diminish the universal human condition– … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 19:34-4 Peter’s sermon, in Luke (Acts), is a precis of the early church’s core proclamation.  The Jesus, whom you knew or heard about because of his mesmerizing preaching and amazing healing as well as his gory … Continue reading →

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD The Story of Creation, Genesis 1:1-24a  Most likely written while the Jews were exiled in Babylon, this could serve as a liturgical text meant to remind that God is the giver of the gift of … Continue reading →

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 This excerpt from Isaiah parallels Psalm 22 which also asks profound questions: is there some larger meaning to suffering, what is God’s role?  Walter Bureggemann sees this passage as one of only three in the Hebrew scriptures that … Continue reading →

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10) The story of God’s providing an escape out of  slavery in Egypt recalls the original call  [of Abraham and Sarah] to leave home and all that is familiar and ‘safe’ and to begin a journey purely on … Continue reading →

LITURGY OF THE PALMS Mark 11: 1-11 In Mark, ( as well as Matthew and Luke), it is noted that Jesus and his followers are near the Mount of Olives, which according to Zechariah 14: 4, is the site of … Continue reading →