The Better Part

John 20:1-18 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We know that Jesus died on the cross and now he is Risen to new life, never to die again. We have known this for a long time. In fact, we have always known it, have we not? In the Gospel for Easter Sunday—the first Sunday of the Easter season—we hear about the first person to know that Jesus is Risen. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb It is Sunday, the first day of t

John 20:1-18 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We know that when Jesus is born, a new moment begins in the History of the Kingdom of God. Never before this, throughout all of creation, throughout all the universe and its many wonders, has God become human. Never before has the Creator become one of the Created. This is brand new. And throughout his life on earth, Jesus does many things that have never been done before. But it is the moment after he dies and is buried—the

John 20:1-18 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection For many of us, this is a favourite Gospel passage. However, the closer we look at it, the more confusing it becomes. Everyone seems to see and yet not see . The reading begins, Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark... Already we know that without light, seeing is difficult. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran... We do not know if she sees th

Matthew 26:17-20, 26-30 (full reading: Matthew 26.14 - 27.66 ) (Adults, the VERY abbreviated reading is for the 3-6 year old. The full reading is for your reference only.) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. It is the most holy week of the church year. The Church takes a whole week to think in a particular way about the events of Jesus' dying and rising to new life. Some people—adults, mostly —like to look at one event at a time

Matthew 26:17-35 (full reading: Matthew 26.14 - 27.66 ) (Adults, begin by reading aloud the portion of the Gospel provided here, unless the child is a very fluent reader.) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week when, all over the world, the Church thinks deeply about the events of Jesus' dying and rising to new life. This Sunday we hear two Gospel readings: Jesus entering Jerusalem while the crowds wave palm branches, and St. Matthew'

Matthew 27:24-54 (full reading: Matthew 26.14 - 27.66 ) (Begin by reading the portion of the Gospel provided. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday as Holy Week begins, the Church gives us two Gospel readings to consider: Jesus entering Jerusalem while the crowds wave palm branches, and St. Matthew's whole account of Jesus' Passion from the Last Supper to his death. We get a pictur

John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 (full reading: John 11.1-45 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, we hear about a family whom Jesus loves. There are two sisters—Martha and Mary—and a brother named Lazarus. At the beginning of the reading, Jesus learns that Lazarus has become very sick. The sisters of Lazarus sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already

John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 (full reading: John 11.1-45 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, we hear about a miraculous thing that Jesus does. He has a family of close friends, two sisters and a brother—Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus becomes very ill, and before Jesus arrives at their house, he dies. We hear that, Jesus began to weep. Of course Jesus cries. He grieves. He is full of sorrow because he loves Laza

John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 (full reading: John 11.1-45 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesus does the most miraculous—he raises Lazarus from the dead. We know that miracles are signs of what the Kingdom of God is like. In this Gospel passage, Jesus shows us stunningly that our God is the God of Life . We could, we should, we need to rest in that knowledge for a few moments every day! Our God is the God of Li

John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection   We know things about Jesus. We know that he is the Light of the World. He says, I am the Light of the World (John 8:12, 9:5) We know that he is the Good Shepherd. He says, I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) We know these things because Jesus says so. But we also know these things because of what Jesus does . Jesus does so. In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, the fourth Sunda

John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection   In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus gives sight to a man who has never been able to see. He heals him. This is a miracle and it is marvellous, and it is one of many examples of Jesus healing people. Healing and faith go hand in hand. There seems to be a certain order to faith and healing. Look at these three other accounts of healing and faith: 1. Jesus turned, and seei

John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection   In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus performs a miracle. We know that miracles reveal to us something of the Plan of God. They are signs of what the Kingdom of God is like. In fact, in the Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Lent, Jesus seems determined to give the disciples a sign. When he sees a man who has never been able to see, he says, he was born blind so that God’s wo

John 4.5-15 (full reading: John 4.5-42 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection   We have had two Sundays of Lent; now we come to the third one. On this Sunday, we hear about Jesus taking a break after walking from one town to another on a very hot day. We know what happens when we walk or work or play in the hot sun. We get tired and thirsty. We need rest and water. Does this happen to Jesus, too? So Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar... Jacob’s well was there, and Je

John 4.5-15 (full reading: John 4.5-42 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection   On the third Sunday of Lent, we hear a conversation Jesus has as he takes a break from walking from town to town. His disciples have gone into a city to buy food. Meanwhile, Jesus waits by a well in the hot sun. He does not have a way to get the water that lies in the well. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” This is a strange thing for Jesus to do. It is

John 4.5-15 , 19-26 , 39-42 (full reading: John 4.5-42 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection   (full reading: John 4.5-42 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection When we read the Bible, we can ask ourselves, "What is God doing?" In the reading for this Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Lent, at first it does not appear that Jesus does much at all. He sits by a well and has a conversation with a woman from Samaria. No miracles. No parables. Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar,

Matthew 17.1-9 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel this Sunday, we hear Jesus take three of his best friends away by themselves. At first it seems like an ordinary day, an ordinary hike up a mountain. But, while they are there, Jesus suddenly looks different: And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Jesus is still Jesus, but his face shines just like the sun! How bright that must be! We know th

Matthew 17.1-9 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent, Jesus takes three of his best friends, Peter, James, and his brother John, away by themselves for what seems at first to be an ordinary hike up a mountain. But in the Bible, when we hear about people going up a mountain, that is a sign for us. There is going to be an encounter with God. People who live near the Rocky Mountains in Canada or the United States, people who have seen p

Matthew 17.1-9 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection The Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent always features the Transfiguration. This strange event occurs in Jesus' life not long before he leaves Galilee, turning his face toward Jerusalem—toward the cross, toward his death and resurrection. Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. St. Matthew makes a point of telling us that the four of them go away "by themselv

Matthew 4.1-11 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We will notice at church this week that the colour changes! Instead of green, the priest wears purple . We arrive in the season of Lent, a time of preparation for the great feast of Easter. At Easter, we will celebrate Jesus dying and rising to new life, never to die again! But before we celebrate, we prepare . There will be six purple Sundays to prepare for the feast. This first Sunday of Lent , we hear about what happen

Matthew 4.1-11 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We enter a new season in the church called Lent , a time of preparation   for the great feast of Easter. At Easter, we celebrate Jesus dying and rising to new life—so full of the life of God that he can never die again! But before we celebrate, we prepare . There will be six purple   Sundays to prepare for the feast. On the first Sunday of Lent , we hear what happens right after Jesus gets baptized. Jesus goes into the deser

Matthew 4.1-11 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection On Wednesday, the church entered a new season called Lent , the time of preparation   for the great feast of Easter. At Easter, we will celebrate Jesus dying and rising to the full life of God that begins to spread to all people throughout all of creation. But before we celebrate, we prepare . There will be six purple Sundays of Lent to prepare for the feast. Each year, on the first Sunday of Lent , we listen to what happens

Matthew 5.17, 20-24, 27-28, 33-34, 37++   full reading: Matthew 5.17-37 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n (Adults, the Gospel reading this week speaks about how to live righteously. 3-6 year olds are at a stage of enjoying the gift of relationship with God, and we ought not to rush them into a moral reflection on what to do to remain in that relationship. This reflection, therefore, focuses on Jesus's voice as he speaks to the people—he who is the Word made flesh.) So

Matthew 5.17, 20-24, 27-28, 33-34, 37++   full reading: Matthew 5.17-37 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n The Gospel reading for this Sunday is part of a long talk that Jesus gives while sitting on the hillside of a mountain, surrounded by so many people who gather to hear him. He says, Do not think that I have come to abolish  the law  or the prophets ; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill . Abolish  means to put an end to something, or to get rid of it. Jesus s

Matthew 5.17, 20-24, 27-28, 33-34, 37++   full reading: Matthew 5.17-37 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n For several Sundays now, we listened to parts of a long section in St. Matthew's Gospel called, "The Sermon on the Mount." We call it this because Jesus preaches to people while sitting on the hillside of a mountain. People gather from all over Galilee to hear him. In the Gospel for this Sunday, we hear him say, Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or