27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 3 (Year B) Genesis 2:7ab, 15, 18-24; Psalm 128; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

When the ancients wanted to teach about life, they told stories. These stories were well-seasoned with symbols and layers of meaning. And they were not at all bothered by inconsistencies, repetitions and apparent contradictions.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 26 (Year B) Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Leading the Israelites through the wilderness was too great a burden to rest solely on the shoulders of one man.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 19 (Year B) Wisdom 1:12, 17-20; Psalm 54; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

Goodness and holiness do not always evoke admiration and praise from everyone. Jealousy and fear are sometimes the surprising reaction.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 12 (Year B) Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalm 116; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

Insults, invective and torrents of verbal and psychological abuse have become frequent forms of communication in our time.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 5 (Year B) Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

“Be strong, do not fear. Here is your God.” For whom were these words intended? For the contemporaries of Isaiah to be sure, but also for every human being on this planet.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 29 (Year B) Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalm 15; James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

The teaching of Deuteronomy left no wiggle room at all.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 22 (Year B) Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17,18b; Psalm 34; Ephesians 4:32-5:1-2, 21-32; John 6:53, 60-69

Each day, billions of people on this planet make choices. Some of them are quite mundane — what to have for dinner or what to wear. For far too many, these are not choices — it is a matter of having something, anything, to eat or wear.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15 (Year B) Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a; 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Luke 1:39-56

Revelation is the most puzzling and enigmatic book in the entire Bible.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 8 (Year B) 1Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

Elijah could not take another step — he was finished. At that point, all he wanted was a swift and painless death. There are many who reach that point in their lives. They are overwhelmed, exhausted and discouraged, and just want an end to their suffering. But this is usually where God steps in — that is, if we are open to God’s intervention.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 1 (Year B) Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15, 31a; Psalm 78; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

The story of the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness is not pretty or inspiring.