In Other Words

2 Mar 2014

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both. . . .

23 Feb 2014

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies.

16 Feb 2014

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.

9 Feb 2014

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”

2 Feb 2014

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

When the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law

26 Jan 2014

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake.

19 Jan 2014

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world!

12 Jan 2014

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!”

5 Jan 2014

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

Herod . . . arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

29 Dec 2013

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle A

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him.”