Author: ANTONINO

Is 55:10-11; Ps 64(65); Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23

Second Isaiah, writing around 550 BC, concludes his “Book of Comfort” to the Jewish exiles in Babylon with an invitation to a joyful banquet. After renewing His covenant of peace, God has reminded Israel that “my thoughts are not your thoughts”: God’s words come down gently to bring forth divine fruits, like the rain which enables the earth to yield its fruits.
The Psalm give God praise and thanks for his power over all the earth and the rains which produce abundant crops.
Paul continues this theme of God’s plan slowly moving towards its climax: creation is unable to attain its purpose without help, and it was made this way by God. Paul gives us a brilliantly clear vision of God’s plan: with the coming of Christ creation is now groaning in the birth pangs of being set free.
It is worth listening carefully to Matthew’s explanation of the parable of the sower. And especially to Jesus’ very difficult statements that he talks to the crowds in parables because “they listen without hearing or understanding”. He says “They have shut their eyes, for fear they should see, … and be converted”. The coming of Jesus brings both judgement and mercy. But some will not receive God’s words, unless their minds are open and cease making their own image of God.
(Is 55:10-11; Ps 64(65); Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23)

Zech 9:9-10; Ps 144(145); Rom 8:9,11-13; Mt 11:25-30

From the fifth century BC, after the return from the exile, Zechariah’s apocalyptic oracles look forward to the restoration of Israel, when all the nations will look towards Jerusalem. The Davidic king to be restored by God will bring release from captivity, but repentance must come first. Later Matthew misinterprets the idiomatic repetition of “riding on a donkey, on a colt” and has Jesus riding into Jerusalem on two animals at once (Mt 21).
The Psalm praises the Lord’s kindness and care for creation and exhorts all creatures to thank the Lord.
Over the next few weeks Paul’s letter to the Roman describes “life in the Spirit”. Unable to “do the good I want!”, Paul sees that we serve sin through our “flesh”, our weak, earth-bound, human nature. But by coming in the likeness of sinful flesh, God’s Son has enabled us to walk “according to the Spirit”. The Spirit of God dwelling in us enables us to participate in divine life.
After Jesus’ proclaimed the gospel in Galilee, he went on to preach “in their cities” but met opposition to his teaching, and he upbraided them for their lack of repentance. Those reputed to be wise do not understand, but those with the simple trust of children do. Learn from him, for his “burden is light”.
(Zech 9:9-10; Ps 144(145); Rom 8:9,11-13; Mt 11:25-30)

2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16; Psalm 88(89): 2-3. 16-19; Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10: 37-42

Today we hear only the beginning of this story from the Second Book of the Kings. Recognising this frequent passer-by as a holy man, the Shunammite woman hospitably offers him a place to stay each time he passes. Elisha promises she will have a child. Some years later the child became ill and died, and the woman urgently travels the twenty miles to Carmel, confident that Elisha will heal her son, and Elisha brings her son back to life.
The long Psalm, written during or after the exile, reminds God of his promise to David of an everlasting dynasty, and expresses confidence that God keeps his promises.
Paul’s meditation on redemption leads him to ask “Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound?” No, he says, God’s grace is not prompted by sin but is the expression of God’s love. “We were buried with Christ through baptism into death”. After our ritual death in baptism we must unite ourselves with Christ to share in his bodily resurrection.
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus concludes his teachings on the requirements and rewards of discipleship. Disciples must accept the trials that it entails, burying ourselves completely in Christ. But acts of charity and hospitality will be rewarded, just as the Shunammite woman found.
(2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16; Psalm 88(89): 2-3. 16-19; Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10: 37-42)

(Jer 20: 10-13; Ps 68(69): 8-10.14.17.33-35; Romans 5: 12-15; Matthew 10: 26-33)
About 600 BC Jeremiah counselled King Zedekiah to be conciliatory towards Babylon, ruled by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah expresses his internal doubts but concludes that the Lord is indeed on his side, and asks that he will see his persecutors punished. Against Jeremiah’s advice, Zedekiah revolted, Jerusalem was destroyed and the people led into exile.
The Psalm implores God to save him from unmerited suffering. The reference in an omitted verse to “vinegar to drink” and the expectation that “God will save Zion” led Christians to think of Messiah – Christ.
In his letter to the Romans Paul reflects on the redemptive mystery of Christ. Sin, the dreadful power that has gripped humanity from the beginning, causes both bodily and spiritual death. Like Adam, all people pursue their own desires in opposition to God’s will. But God’s free gift of grace makes life available to all.
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus has described the trials the newly commissioned Apostles will face in their mission. They will be persecuted and even betrayed by members of their families. But they should “not worry about how they are to speak” in front of judges. They “will be given at that moment” what they are to say. Today’s reading insists they can have complete confidence in God and must not be afraid.
(Jer 20: 10-13; Ps 68(69): 8-10.14.17.33-35; Romans 5: 12-15; Matthew 10: 26-33)

Exodus 19: 2-6; Psalm 99(100): 2-3.5; Romans 5: 6-11; Matthew 9: 36 – 10: 8

After escaping from Egypt and journeying for three months through the desert, the Israelites arrive at Sinai where God offers the covenant. Israel is invited to be his people, given special protection. In return they are to be “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation”. The whole people are set apart to be intermediaries between God and the whole of mankind, taking knowledge of the one true God to all peoples.
The psalm sings joyfully of God while entering his temple: “he made us, we belong to him”.
Our readings from Paul’s letter to the Romans continue with this dense statement of the doctrine of atonement. God is not an offended deity to be appeased by his son’s sacrifice. “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” God and Christ worked together to enable mankind to be “at one” with them. And now that we are reconciled “we will be saved by his life”, our new life in Christ, “the love of God poured into us through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
After more healings, Matthew’s gospel tells how Jesus went round “teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness”. For the enormous task of spreading the gospel, he appoints 12 Apostles and gives them their mission. Jesus’ ministry was almost entirely limited to Israel, and initially the Apostles are similarly restricted.
(Exodus 19: 2-6; Psalm 99(100): 2-3.5; Romans 5: 6-11; Matthew 9: 36 – 10: 8)

Ex 34:4-6,8-9; Dan 3:52-56; 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18

Seeing the Israelites dancing round the golden calf, Moses was angry and had thrown down and broken the tablets on which the Lord had written his covenant. The agreement with God was literally broken!
Now the Lord, a God of compassion, tells Moses to prepare two more tablets. After “passing before” Moses, the Lord declares that He is “a God merciful, … forgiving iniquity”. Moses asks the Lord to forgive his people, and the Lord re-affirms his covenant and again writes the Commandments on stone tablets.
Today’s Psalm comes from the hymn of thanks in the story of Daniel, set in the 6th century BC but probably written about 165 BC. Daniel’s three companions refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue and so were thrown into a furnace so hot their guards were killed. But God protected the three men, who walked about inside the furnace with their clothes intact but their rope bindings burned off.
After Paul’s stern instructions to his beloved Corinthians, his second letter ends with this fond farewell, including the Trinitarian grace used widely by Christians.
At the beginning of John’s Gospel, after the wedding at Cana and the cleansing of the Temple, Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be “born again”. Nicodemus cannot understand this, but Jesus insists that those who refuse to believe and trust in Jesus condemn themselves.
(Ex 34:4-6,8-9; Dan 3:52-56; 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18)

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 103(104); 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23

Pentecost was less understood by Christians than the other two Jewish pilgrimage feasts of Passover and Tabernacles. Then the Dead Sea Scrolls showed that Pentecost was associated with God giving the Covenant on Sinai, and enrolling new community members. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles fits neatly with this Covenant feast.
The Psalm calls us to praise God’s creative wisdom. Filled with wonder at the details of God’s glorious works, this psalm is well worth reading in full.
Acts tells us that they “had all met”, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Wind and fire remind us of Sinai. The list of peoples who hear is effectively the programme for the mission now starting.
After rebuking the Corinthians for their factions and giving us the earliest description of the Eucharist, Paul shows how Christians together make up the one body of Christ on earth. It is the one Spirit who gives the gifts each of us needs for the particular task God has given us.
In the first ending of John’s Gospel, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalen after his resurrection, and then to the disciples together in a closed room “for fear of the Jews”. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on them, sending them on mission with power to forgive sins.
(Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 103(104); 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23)

(Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 46(47); Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20)
Luke’s Gospel opens in the Temple in Jerusalem with the angel appearing to Zechariah, and ends, after the ascension, with the disciples joyfully praising God in the Temple, still in Jerusalem. Acts starts with Jesus’ appearances over 40 days and his ascension, but finishes in Rome. This “double ascension” links Jesus’ ministry “to the lost sheep of Israel” with the apostles’ witness “to the ends of the earth”. Jesus’ restored kingdom will be his continued presence on earth in and through the witness of his people, the Church. Jesus promises he will return to the Mount of Olives, where the Jews expect all the nations to stream for the Lord’s return at the end of time.
The Psalm calls on all peoples to accept God as the true God and as universal king.
Paul opened his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them that God has made known to us the mystery of his plan “to unite all things in Jesus”. He then prays that they may know the hope – ie confidence – that this revelation gives us.
Matthew’s Gospel ends with Jesus commissioning the Apostles to “make disciples of all the nations”. Both Luke and Matthew, writing about 40 years after the Ascension, emphasise that Christians are to show their commitment by being baptised.
(Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 46(47); Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20)

After Stephen had been killed, Saul led “a great persecution” against the Church in Jerusalem. The Hellenists were therefore driven out of Jerusalem and Philip takes the gospel to Samaria. Peter and John came to investigate these first non-Jew converts. The apostles confirmed these new members by laying hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
The Psalm praises God’s power as revealed throughout history but especially during the Exodus.
Peter continues his advice to Christians suffering abuse and ridicule from their non-Christian neighbours. Do not be afraid! Stick to your principles, being ready to explain your reasons politely. And rejoice that your sufferings enable you to share in Christ’s sufferings so that you may share in his glory.
In John’s Gospel description of the Last Supper, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to continue his work after he returns to his Father. The supper ends with Jesus’ great prayer to his Father for the Church he is leaving behind. All three persons of the Trinity are mentioned in the gospels, but the Church only gradually developed its understanding of the Trinity over many centuries. We believe that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque). The Orthodox Church says that the Spirit comes from the Father through the Son.