Preaching – 1st Sunday Lent (B)
USCCB PODCAST
Sunday Readings
PLANNING
- First readings for Lent in Cycle B focus our attention on covenants with God. This week we hear about God’s covenant with Noah after the flood. Next Sunday we will hear of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The Third Sunday of Lent brings us the terms of the covenant God made with Moses after the Exodus. The first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent sees the destruction of Jerusalem and the Israelites’ exile as a result of unfaithfulness to the covenant.
- Of course, this theme will only last for the first two Sundays if you have catechumens ready for the final stage of their preparation for the Easter sacraments. In that case, the readings for the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent will come from Cycle A, at least at whatever Masses you celebrate the scrutinies.
- If you have such catechumens in your faith community, this First Sunday of Lent is the day to celebrate the Rite of Sending of the Catechumens for Election. This rite, an optional rite for the United States, helps to link the whole parish with the celebration of the Rite of Election with the bishop, commonly celebrated at the cathedral and/or a centrally located parish later in the day. The rubrics and texts for the Rite of Sending are found in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, beginning at #106.
- One of the major deficits in the implementation of the RCIA in many parishes is the lack of involvement of the whole parish in the journey of the candidates. If your parish has involved the whole community throughout the process, then this rite offers an opportunity for the parish to share in this key moment in the catechumen’s journey of faith. If you haven’t adequately involved the community throughout the whole process, it’s still important to do so during Lent.
- Remember that Lent developed in conjunction with these final days of the catechumenate in ancient times. The whole community joined with the “elect” (as catechumens who have been called to the sacraments by the bishop are now called) to deepen their own conversion, so that they could richly celebrate the renewal of their own baptism at Easter. The journey of the elect and the Lenten journey of the already baptized merge into a shared experience of repentance and renewal
- Even if you don’t have any catechumens in your own parish, try to find ways to help parishioners link their Lenten practices with the elect’s spiritual journey. Can you gather names of the elect in neighboring parishes and pray for them throughout Lent? Might your parishioners write short letters to those preparing for the Easter sacraments, offering their prayers and support?
Adapted: LAWRENCE MICK ©2018: The pastoral/worship planning resource from 2018 Reflections, 2020 Reflections can be read at National Catholic Reporter website.
OUR SUNDAY READINGS
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Study Guide for December 11, The Third Sunday of Advent
by eezell3 on November 27, 2022
Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for Dec. 11 (usccb.org). Sample Commentary on Matthew 11:2-11 Luke is the only evangelist who writes about the family connection between John and Jesus. Matthew doesn’t seem aware of this relationship. Instead he presents this account of John the Baptist questioning Jesus’ identity. Here’s a link to discussion
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Study Guide for December 4, The Second Sunday of Advent
by eezell3 on November 20, 2022
Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for Dec. 4 (usccb.org). Sample Commentary on Isaiah 11:1-10 When Isaiah wrote this passage, he was angry about the quality of Israel’s kings; none were as good and holy as David (the son of Jesse) had been. The impiety of these bad kings made the hereditary line of
PRO-LIFE MESSAGE
Lent is a time to remember that God first reached out to us. This was not a meagre, one-time gesture like those we often make and withdraw, but a profound, lasting and healing covenant. During this season, we reflect on and ask forgiveness for our own alienating, sinful actions. We ponder in deep prayer and silence that God has invested everything, including a beloved Son, into this relationship.
CATHOLIC MORAL THEOLOGY
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WAITING FOR THE UNIMAGINABLE- 1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
by Patrick Clark on November 23, 2022
The readings for this Sunday may be found on the USCCB website: Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-9 Romans 13:11-14 Mark 24:37-44 “Do you think something amazing will happen today?” I asked my daughter as she was waiting by the door for the school bus in the early hours of the morning. “I hope so,” she said. It
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The 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: The End Isn’t as Bad as it Seems
by Maria Morrow on November 10, 2022
Readings for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time here. For so long now, we have been numbering these weeks of Ordinary Time. Suddenly, however, it seems we are hastening toward an end. Indeed, this is our penultimate week of Ordinary Time, as next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. When we encounter these
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Believing in Resurrection- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Patrick Clark on November 3, 2022
This post was originally published by blog contributor Jason King on November 1st, 2016. Reading 1: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; Responsorial Psalm: Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; Reading 2: 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Gospel: Lk 20:27-38 Let’s not fool ourselves. It is difficult to believe in resurrection. We’ve seen our loved one’s pass away and be buried, and we feel more sorrow and
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31st Sunday: Don’t Be Full!
by David Cloutier on October 26, 2022
Wis 11:22-12:2; 2 Thes 1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10 This year’s readings of the later parts of Luke’s gospel has left me thinking often: these stories are exceedingly weird. Who really prays, “Thank God I am not like those BAAAD people over there”? Who really imagines a son wishing his father were dead so much as to
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The Virtue of Persistence- 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Patrick Clark on October 11, 2022
This post was written by Kathryn Getek Soltis, and originally posted on this site on October 16th, 2013. Exodus 17:8-13 / Psalm 121:1-8 / 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 / Luke 18:1-8 There is a seemingly endless array of quotes and motivational posters that praise the quality of persistence. We are told that a successful life is
- First readings for Lent in Cycle B focus our attention on covenants with God. This week we hear about God’s covenant with Noah after the flood. Next Sunday we will hear of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The Third Sunday of Lent brings us the terms of the covenant God made with Moses after the Exodus. The first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent sees the destruction of Jerusalem and the Israelites’ exile as a result of unfaithfulness to the covenant.
- Of course, this theme will only last for the first two Sundays if you have catechumens ready for the final stage of their preparation for the Easter sacraments. In that case, the readings for the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent will come from Cycle A, at least at whatever Masses you celebrate the scrutinies.
- If you have such catechumens in your faith community, this First Sunday of Lent is the day to celebrate the Rite of Sending of the Catechumens for Election. This rite, an optional rite for the United States, helps to link the whole parish with the celebration of the Rite of Election with the bishop, commonly celebrated at the cathedral and/or a centrally located parish later in the day. The rubrics and texts for the Rite of Sending are found in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, beginning at #106.
- One of the major deficits in the implementation of the RCIA in many parishes is the lack of involvement of the whole parish in the journey of the candidates. If your parish has involved the whole community throughout the process, then this rite offers an opportunity for the parish to share in this key moment in the catechumen’s journey of faith. If you haven’t adequately involved the community throughout the whole process, it’s still important to do so during Lent.
- Remember that Lent developed in conjunction with these final days of the catechumenate in ancient times. The whole community joined with the “elect” (as catechumens who have been called to the sacraments by the bishop are now called) to deepen their own conversion, so that they could richly celebrate the renewal of their own baptism at Easter. The journey of the elect and the Lenten journey of the already baptized merge into a shared experience of repentance and renewal
- Even if you don’t have any catechumens in your own parish, try to find ways to help parishioners link their Lenten practices with the elect’s spiritual journey. Can you gather names of the elect in neighboring parishes and pray for them throughout Lent? Might your parishioners write short letters to those preparing for the Easter sacraments, offering their prayers and support?
Adapted: LAWRENCE MICK ©2018: The pastoral/worship planning resource from 2018 Reflections, 2020 Reflections can be read at National Catholic Reporter website.
-
Study Guide for December 11, The Third Sunday of Advent
by eezell3 on November 27, 2022
Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for Dec. 11 (usccb.org). Sample Commentary on Matthew 11:2-11 Luke is the only evangelist who writes about the family connection between John and Jesus. Matthew doesn’t seem aware of this relationship. Instead he presents this account of John the Baptist questioning Jesus’ identity. Here’s a link to discussion
-
Study Guide for December 4, The Second Sunday of Advent
by eezell3 on November 20, 2022
Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for Dec. 4 (usccb.org). Sample Commentary on Isaiah 11:1-10 When Isaiah wrote this passage, he was angry about the quality of Israel’s kings; none were as good and holy as David (the son of Jesse) had been. The impiety of these bad kings made the hereditary line of
Lent is a time to remember that God first reached out to us. This was not a meagre, one-time gesture like those we often make and withdraw, but a profound, lasting and healing covenant. During this season, we reflect on and ask forgiveness for our own alienating, sinful actions. We ponder in deep prayer and silence that God has invested everything, including a beloved Son, into this relationship.
-
WAITING FOR THE UNIMAGINABLE- 1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
by Patrick Clark on November 23, 2022
The readings for this Sunday may be found on the USCCB website: Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-9 Romans 13:11-14 Mark 24:37-44 “Do you think something amazing will happen today?” I asked my daughter as she was waiting by the door for the school bus in the early hours of the morning. “I hope so,” she said. It
-
The 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: The End Isn’t as Bad as it Seems
by Maria Morrow on November 10, 2022
Readings for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time here. For so long now, we have been numbering these weeks of Ordinary Time. Suddenly, however, it seems we are hastening toward an end. Indeed, this is our penultimate week of Ordinary Time, as next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. When we encounter these
-
Believing in Resurrection- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Patrick Clark on November 3, 2022
This post was originally published by blog contributor Jason King on November 1st, 2016. Reading 1: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; Responsorial Psalm: Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; Reading 2: 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Gospel: Lk 20:27-38 Let’s not fool ourselves. It is difficult to believe in resurrection. We’ve seen our loved one’s pass away and be buried, and we feel more sorrow and
-
31st Sunday: Don’t Be Full!
by David Cloutier on October 26, 2022
Wis 11:22-12:2; 2 Thes 1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10 This year’s readings of the later parts of Luke’s gospel has left me thinking often: these stories are exceedingly weird. Who really prays, “Thank God I am not like those BAAAD people over there”? Who really imagines a son wishing his father were dead so much as to
-
The Virtue of Persistence- 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Patrick Clark on October 11, 2022
This post was written by Kathryn Getek Soltis, and originally posted on this site on October 16th, 2013. Exodus 17:8-13 / Psalm 121:1-8 / 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 / Luke 18:1-8 There is a seemingly endless array of quotes and motivational posters that praise the quality of persistence. We are told that a successful life is
