Abbot's Homilies

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;...

5th Sunday of Lent-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING Ezekiel 37:12-14 Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have...

4th Sunday of Lent-Cycle A--2017 FIRST READING            Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a The LORD said to Samuel:  “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.  I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”  As Jesse and his sons...

3rd Sunday of Lent-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Exodus 17:3-7 In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt?  Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our...

2nd Sunday of Lent-Cycle A--2017 FIRST READING            Genesis 12:1-4a The LORD said to Abram:  “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.  “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will...

1st Sunday of Lent-Cycle A-2017 FIRST READING            Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.  Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the...

8th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A — 2017 FIRST READING                     Isaiah 49:14-15 Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.”  Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?  Even should she forget, I...

7th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A — 2017 FIRST READING                 Leviticus   19:1-2, 17-18 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:  Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.  “You shall not bear hatred for your brother...

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time-Cycle A—2017 FIRST READING            Sirach 15:15-20 If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your...