Living Word - A Reflection on the Sunday Readings

On the sixth Sunday of Easter, as we continue to read chapter 14 of John's Gospel, we hear how Jesus prepared his disciples for his return to the Father. He tells them that they will receive another Advocate, the Spirit of Truth.

On this Fifth Sunday of Easter we continue to read from John's Gospel (14:1-12). It is part of the discourse at the Last Supper where Jesus prepares the disciples for what it to come. For us it is about trusting that God is with us on our journey.

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter the Gospel reading is from John 10. In it Jesus declares that he is the Good Shepherd. As we will hear, Jesus begins with the image of the sheep-gate. It is about our relationship with him.

As we continue to explore the appearances of the Risen Jesus to the disciples, we turn to Luke's account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

On the second Sunday of Easter we continue to encounter the Risen Lord. In John's Gospel, the gift of the Holy Spirit is an essential part of the Easter event.

At Easter, we not only remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, we also celebrate our faith that we are one with him and already share in his victory over death.

Palm Sunday recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and we also listen to Matthew's Passion, his account of the suffering and death of Jesus. It also is the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent.

On the fifth Sunday of Lent we listen to the account in John's Gospel of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. We are being called to believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and the life.

As we continue to read from John's Gospel, we hear the encounter between Jesus and a man who was born blind. It is also about how we come to see with the eyes of faith.

On this third Sunday of Lent the Gospel reading presents the encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. It is also about how we encounter Jesus.

On this second Sunday of Lent the account of the Transfiguration is an invitation to us to reflect on our experiences of God's presence.

Each year on this first Sunday of Lent we are invited to go with Jesus into the wilderness, not to escape life but to choose life.

In this Sunday's Gospel we continue to read Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount. We hear how Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to fulfil the Law.

We continue to follow Matthew's Gospel as Jesus instructs his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.

As we continue to read from Matthew's Gospel, we listen to the Beatitudes, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

On this Third Sunday of Ordinary Time we hear Matthew's account of the beginning of the Ministry of Jesus.

On this Second Sunday of Ordinary Time we listen to John's Gospel as we continue to explore the Mission and the Ministry of Jesus.

This week we explore the meaning of the feast of Baptism of the Lord.

The Epiphany is part of the Christmas Season. Each year we are invited to reflect on Matthew's account of the coming of the wise men from the East.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. As we reflect on Luke's account, we again are invited to ponder the question: who is this child for me?

In this episode Paul Crowley reflects on the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent in Year A of the three year cycle of readings in the Liturgy of the Catholic Church.

In Australia this Sunday is a National Day of Reflection following the shootings that killed and injured many innocent people at Bondi Beach last Sunday. The readings for this Fourth Sunday of Advent focus on the coming feast of Christmas. They also invite us to reflect on how we can respond to acts of violence and hatred.