Category Archives: Rite of Penance

Let’s wrap up our three-part look at Wisdom 1:1-16, a rather long Lectionary passage in the Rite of Penance (#111). When I was reflecting on this passage earlier this week, it struck me as a possibly good choice for a … Continue reading →

Let’s continue our look at the first chapter of the book of Wisdom as a Reconciliation reading. You readers know I’m not a fan of a long reading for its own sake. Short and to the point is most often best. For … Continue reading →

The classic passage on non-violence. My pastor preached again this weekend. He didn’t mince words. Non-violence (not passive acquiescence!) is not a suggestion: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a … Continue reading →

The end of last Sunday’s Gospel was the main focus of my pastor’s homily. The idea of talking plainly, of letting one’s yes mean yes. And getting off our indecisiveness and keeping-options-open and making a commitment when we are called … Continue reading →

This piece of last Sunday’s Gospel got scant treatment from my pastor in his homily. Here’s why: (W)e might focus on the saying about adultery and lust, about tearing your eye out and cutting off your limbs.  This is just … Continue reading →

A small piece that Scripture scholars link with the saying on leaving one’s gift at the altar and going to reconcile: Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to … Continue reading →

The pastor preached on the long form of the Sunday Gospel passage this past weekend. The overarching discussion was on making and keeping commitments. He mentioned the formula Jesus gives, “You have heard … But I say to you …” … Continue reading →

The Reconciliation Lectionary gives thirty-one verses as an option for a reading at number 180 in the rite. Honestly, I can’t imagine that whole Gospel passage proclaimed at either liturgy or with reconciliation with one penitent. This coming weekend’s long … Continue reading →

Prophets from Elijah to John the Baptist urged people to repentance. Such advice often went unheeded. They also remind us this has all happened before. The post-Exilic community, in joy at the return from Babylon, clearly needed a repeat of the … Continue reading →

Christians have always struggled to understand sin. We know something is wrong. Yet we still do it. Saint Paul struggled mightily with this, if we are to read between the lines of his letters. Many Christian saints struggled heroically against … Continue reading →

In 1 John, we are given the starkest contrast: the darkness and the light. It seems simple enough to think of sin as associated with darkness. One of the favorite preaching themes of my pastor is to remind Advent or … Continue reading →

This brief reading concludes chapter four of Saint John’s first letter. It has the merit of brevity. It also wraps up an important biblical theme: gratitude. God loves us so much. Do we in turn offer love to others? If … Continue reading →

Two days before Christmas, the Church assigns Malachi to proclaim the coming messenger of judgment to the people. In the chill of northern winter, we hear of enough heat to refine precious metal. In the Rite of Penance, this is … Continue reading →