Through our Lord, we can go from being afraid to being embraced by love 

Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter (April 15, 2018): ACTS 3:13-15,17-19, PS 4:2,4,7-8,9, 1JN 2:1-5, LK 24:35-48

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

After His Resurrection from the tomb on Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to His Apostles and other followers over the next few weeks.  

With a word, the Blessed Virgin Mary became the Mother of God 

Reflections on the readings for the the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (April 9, 2018): IS 7:10-14, 8:10, PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9,10,11; HEB 10:4-10; LK 1:26-38

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

We honor the Blessed Virgin Mary on this day recalling the annunciation of the incarnation of her Son, the Son of God. Normally celebrated on March 25, the solemnity was moved because it would have fallen on Palm Sunday.  

We choose to believe – and to act on our faith in Christ 

Reflections on the readings for the the Second Sunday of Easter (April 8, 2018): ACTS 4:32-35, PS 118:2-4,13-15,22-24, 1 JN 5:1-6, JN 20:19-31

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

With the intensity of Lent, especially Holy Week, and the celebration of Easter behind us, we can now take the opportunity to spend some quiet time contemplating the profound meaning of Jesus’ death and Resurrection in our life. 

On Easter, light overwhelms darkness and life overcomes death 

Reflections on the readings for the the Mass of Easter Day (April 1, 2018): ACTS 10:34,37-43, PS 118:1-2,16-17,22-23, COL 3:1-4, JN 20:1-9

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

In the first reading for Easter morning we hear Peter’s words the first time he shared the Good News with Gentiles. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good…for God was with Him.… They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree. This Man God raised on the third day and granted that He be visible” (Acts 10:38-40). 

Out of the darkness of the tomb, hope for eternity 

Reflections on the readings for the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter (March 31, 2018): GN 1:1—2:2, PS 104:1-2,5-6,10,12,13-14,24,35, GN 22:1-18, PS 16:5,8,9-10,11, EX 14:15—15:1, EX 15:1-2,3-4,5-6,17-18, IS 54:5-14, PS 30:2,4,11-12,13, IS 55:1-11, IS 12:2-3,4,5-6, BAR 3:9-15,32;4:4, PS 19:8,9,10,11, EZ 36:16-17,18-28, PS 42:3,5;43:34, IS 12:2-3,4,5-6, PS 51:12-13,14-15,18-19, ROM 6:3-11, PS 118:1-2,16-17,22-23, MK 16:1-7

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Of the many marvelous readings at tonight’s Easter Vigil, the heart of our celebration is, of course, the Gospel. 

As He hung on the Cross, Our Savior gave us one more remarkable gift 

Reflections on the readings for Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion (March 30, 2018): IS 52:13—53:12, PS 31:2,6,12-13,15-16,17,25, HEB 4:14-16;5:7-9, JN 18:1—19:42

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

On this most solemn day in the Church year, the faithful gather in a reverent celebration of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no Mass. Rather, the service includes the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Communion Rite with hosts that were consecrated on Holy Thursday. 

Jesus teaches His followers to be true servants 

Reflections on the readings for Holy Thursday / Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (March 29, 2018): EX 12:1-8,11-14, PS 116:12-13,15-16,17-18, 1 COR 11:23-26, JN 13:1-15

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

The Gospel for this special Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper reveals Jesus teaching and demonstrating His love until the very end. He wants His Apostles to understand that selfless service is vital to the life of each one of His followers.

We need to appreciate the way Christ put the will of our Father above everything – to give us Heaven 

Reflections on the readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (March 25, 2018): MK 11:1-10, IS 50:4-7, PS 22:8-9,17-18, 19-20, 23-24, PHIL 2:6-11, MK 14:1—15:47

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Today’s Gospel takes us through the events of Christ’s life during His last week ministering among His people. Jesus is hailed by a great number of people when He goes into Jerusalem and then reverenced by a woman who pours expensive perfumed oil on His head. Meanwhile others are planning for His arrest and death. After celebrating the Passover with His Apostles and sharing the Eucharist with them, Jesus takes His closest followers to pray with Him in the garden of Gethsemane. “He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by Him; He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible to You. Take this cup away from Me, but not what I will but what You will’” (Mark 14:35-36). 

When Life Changed for Joseph, It Did for the Rest of Us as Well

Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 19, 2018): 2 SM 7:4-5,12-14,16; PS 89:2-3,4-5,27,29; Rom 4:13,16-18,22, MT 1:16,18-21, 24

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Joseph, a descendent of King David, was a poor carpenter and a loyal Jew betrothed to a lovely and equally poor and devout young Jewish woman. He looked forward to bringing her into his home, to having a happy life together, and, hopefully, having a family. Then he learned that his cherished Mary was already pregnant – and his world was transformed forever. “Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly…when…the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.… When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel…had commanded him and took his wife into his home” (Matthew 1:19-20, 24). 

We Imitate Jesus When We Pray in Times of Suffering

Reflections on the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 18, 2018): JER 31:31-34; PS 51:3-4,12-13,14-15; HEB 5:7-9; JN 12:20-33

MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

It is natural in the Lenten Season to contemplate the Passion of Jesus Christ. We know that the Son of God came specifically to offer His death in atonement for our sins, so that we can leave behind the consequences of iniquity and death and share an immortal life with our Lord. “In the days when Christ was in the flesh… Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered; and when He was made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:7, 9).