Preaching Mission (53)

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 11, 2018

Posted by Team Missio on Mar 5, 2018 8:00:00 AM

We Can Never Grasp the Depth of God’s Love for Each of Us

Reflections on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 11, 2018): 2 CHR 36:14-16,19-23, PS 137:1-2,3,4-5,6, EPH 2:4-10, JN 3:14-21

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

In today’s Gospel, we are told that the Father sent His Son among us to bring us to salvation. “God did not sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.… The Light came into the world.…Whoever lives the truth comes to the Light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God” (John 3:17,19, 21). God wants us to embrace Jesus who is the light of the world, who is Himself all goodness and love. At times we can show ourselves willing to be people of the darkness by seeking our preferences although they are not ultimately in the best interests of our bodies, our minds or our spirits.

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Third Sunday of Lent, March 4, 2018

Posted by Team Missio on Feb 26, 2018 11:11:17 AM

Is THIS the Gentle Jesus We Know and Love?

Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent (March 4, 2018): EX 20:1-17, PS 19:8,9,10,11, 1COR 1:22-25, JN 2:13-25

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

The Temple of Jerusalem meant a great deal to Jesus. From His presentation there as an infant to His three days there as a youth talking with elders and, finally, as a adult on His mission, Jesus honored His Father’s house. Today we see this humble and holy teacher do something that seems at odds with His message of peace and mercy. “He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area… and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves, He said, ‘Take these out of here, and stop making My Father’s house a marketplace’” (John 2:15-16).

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Second Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2018

Posted by Team Missio on Feb 20, 2018 8:00:00 AM

Listen to Him

Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent (February 25, 2018): GN 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18; PS 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; ROM 8:31B-34; MK 9:2-10

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

In today’s Gospel Christ reveals Himself in all His Divinity to His closest Apostles. As we get deeper into Lent, we need to appreciate that Jesus was never simply a good and wise man who preached that people should love one another. He is the Son of God come to save us from the consequences of sin and death. During the Transfiguration, Peter, John and James saw Him in glory, joined by Moses and Elijah who represented the law and the prophets. “Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, ‘This is My beloved son. Listen to Him.’ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them” (Mark 9:7-8). Listen to Him. That is what each of us is called to do every day that God gives us.

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First Sunday of Lent, February 18, 2018

Posted by Team Missio on Feb 15, 2018 11:01:21 AM

The Everlasting Promise

Reflections on the readings for the First Sunday of Lent (February 18, 2018): GN 9:8-15; PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 PT 3:18-22; MK 1:12-15

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

Today’s liturgical readings remind us of the covenant God made at the time of Noah when the rainbow became a sign that He would never again send a flood over the whole earth. In the person of Jesus, we find the promise of the New Covenant that saves the world from sin and death. “Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that He might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, He was brought to life in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). In his letter to the early Christian community, St. Peter let them know that Almighty God never forgets His promises to us and always gives more than we expect.

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Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Posted by Team Missio on Feb 14, 2018 4:07:42 PM

Lent: Embrace and Share God's Mercy

Reflections on the readings for Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2018): JL 2:12-18; PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 and 17; 2 COR 5:20-6:2; MT 6:1-6, 16-18

MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.

On this Ash Wednesday, as we receive ashes on our foreheads, we are reminded of human mortality. If we welcome this Lenten Season, it will guide us to a deeper appreciation of the meaning of daily life in relation to the eternal life of the soul. We must open ourselves to our Lord’s transforming grace so that He is always first in our lives and our friendship with Him takes priority over everything else. We need to contemplate how Almighty God wants us to embrace and celebrate His mercy and share it with others. While penitence is a vital part of Lent, we need to understand what it really means. “Even now says the Lord, return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend you hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:12).

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