Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings: Page 135 – 138 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: Isaiah is called to be a prophet, and in the process he has a vision of heaven in which he sees the seraphim make their threefold cry of ‘Holy’. This is known as the Trisagion;…
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings: Page 132 – 135 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: Jeremiah is called by God to be a prophet. What he has to say will not be always popular, and like Jesus later he will experience hostility from the people. Psalm: an old man looks…
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings: Page 129 – 132 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: after the return to Jerusalem of the people from exile Ezra the scribe reads from the Book of the Law from a wooden dais. This would become the way in which the scriptures were read…
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings: Page 127 – 129 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: the prophet Isaiah compares God’s relationship with his people to that of a husband with his wife. The Old Testament frequently uses Marriage to explain God’s covenant with his people. Psalm: like Isaiah in the…
Baptism of the Lord Mass Readings: Page 118 – 122 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: the prophet delivers a message of consolation and hope: the Lord is “like a shepherd feeding his flock”. Psalm: this is the first psalm at the Easter Vigil, the night of Baptisms. It speaks of God…
Epiphany of the Lord Mass Readings: Page 115 – 118 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: this prophecy in Isaiah is where we get our image of the wise men as kings, travelling on camels. Notice the stress on Jesus as light and the glory of the Lord. The Ceremonial of Bishops…
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Mass Readings: Page 105 – 109 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: in the story of the birth and dedication of Samuel (born to Hannah, an ancestor of Jesus) we can readily see parallels between Samuel and Jesus. The name ‘Samuel’ means ‘name of God’. Psalm:…
Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass Readings: Page 90 – 92 Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60 First Reading: this contains the eighth century BC prophecy that the future ruler of Israel would be born in the humblest place, Bethlehem Ephratah; this is where King David was anointed (see 1 Samuel 16). Psalm: “the man…
