Abbot's Homilies

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING            Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.  For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things...

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Isaiah 55:10-11 Thus says the LORD:  Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the...

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING Zechariah 9:9-10 Thus says the LORD: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal...

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING            2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her.  Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.  So she...

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A--2017 FIRST READING            Jeremiah 20:10-13 Jeremiah said:  “I hear the whisperings of many:  ‘Terror on every side!  Denounce! let us denounce him!’  All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine....

Corpus Christi-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Moses said to the people:  "Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not...

Trinity Sunday—Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING            Proverbs 8:22-31 Thus says the wisdom of God:  "The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; from of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth.  When...

PENTECOST SUNDAY  --  Cycle A  --  2017 FIRST READING:  Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.  And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house...

7th Sunday of Easter-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING              Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14 After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.  When they entered...

Ascension - Cycle A - 2017 FIRST READING            Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had...

6th Sunday of Easter-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING              Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.  With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw...

5th Sunday of Easter-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7 As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.  So the Twelve called...

4th Sunday of Easter-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Acts of the Apostles 2:14a, 36-41 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed:  “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom...

3rd Sunday of Easter-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed:  “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.  Let this be known to you, and listen to my...

2nd Sunday of Easter-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done...

Easter Day Mass-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43 Peter proceeded to speak and said:  “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with...

Easter Vigil Mass-Cycle A-2017 First Reading                  Genesis 1:1—2:2 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.  Then God said,...

Good Friday-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING            Isaiah 52:13-53:12 See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.  Even as many were amazed at him—so marred was his look beyond human semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons...

Holy Thursday-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING            Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year.  Tell the whole community of Israel: ...

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING                 Isaiah 50:4-7 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.  Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear;...