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Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IActs 1:1-11In the first book, Theophilus,I dealt with all that Jesus did and taughtuntil the day he was taken up,after giving instructions through the Holy Spiritto the apostles whom he had chosen.He presented himself alive to themby many proofs after he had suffered,appearing to them during forty daysand speaking about the kingdom of God.While meeting with them,he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,but to wait for “the promise of the Fatherabout which you have heard me speak;for John baptized with water,but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”When they had gathered together they asked him,“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasonsthat the Father has established by his own authority.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,throughout Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth.”When he had said this, as they were looking on,he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.They said, “Men of Galilee,why are you standing there looking at the sky?This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heavenwill return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”Reading IIEphesians 1:17-23Brothers and sisters:May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelationresulting in knowledge of him.May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,what are the riches of gloryin his inheritance among the holy ones,and what is the surpassing greatness of his powerfor us who believe,in accord with the exercise of his great might:which he worked in Christ,raising him from the deadand seating him at his right hand in the heavens,far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,and every name that is namednot only in this age but also in the one to come.And he put all things beneath his feetand gave him as head over all things to the church,which is his body,the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.GospelLuke 24:46-53Jesus said to his disciples:“Thus it is written that the Christ would sufferand rise from the dead on the third dayand that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his nameto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things.And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;but stay in the cityuntil you are clothed with power from on high.”Then he led them out as far as Bethany,raised his hands, and blessed them.As he blessed them he parted from themand was taken up to heaven.They did him homageand then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IActs 15:1-2, 22-29Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,you cannot be saved.”Because there arose no little dissension and debateby Paul and Barnabas with them,it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the othersshould go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and eldersabout this question.The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,decided to choose representativesand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,and Silas, leaders among the brothers.This is the letter delivered by them:“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Ciliciaof Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our numberwho went out without any mandate from ushave upset you with their teachingsand disturbed your peace of mind,we have with one accord decided to choose representativesand to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.So we are sending Judas and Silaswho will also convey this same message by word of mouth:‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of usnot to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,from blood, from meats of strangled animals,and from unlawful marriage.If you keep free of these,you will be doing what is right.  Farewell.'”Reading IIRevelation 21:10-14, 22-23The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountainand showed me the holy city Jerusalemcoming down out of heaven from God.It gleamed with the splendor of God.Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,like jasper, clear as crystal.It had a massive, high wall,with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationedand on which names were inscribed,the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.There were three gates facing east,three north, three south, and three west.The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,on which were inscribed the twelve namesof the twelve apostles of the Lamb.I saw no temple in the cityfor its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,for the glory of God gave it light,and its lamp was the Lamb.GospelJohn 14:23-29Jesus said to his disciples:“Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love him,and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;yet the word you hear is not minebut that of the Father who sent me.“I have told you this while I am with you.The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you everythingand remind you of all that I told you.Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.Not as the world gives do I give it to you.Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.You heard me tell you,‘I am going away and I will come back to you.'If you loved me,you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;for the Father is greater than I.And now I have told you this before it happens,so that when it happens you may believe.”

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IActs 14:21-27After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good newsto that cityand made a considerable number of disciples,they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.They strengthened the spirits of the disciplesand exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardshipsto enter the kingdom of God.”They appointed elders for them in each church and,with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lordin whom they had put their faith.Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.From there they sailed to Antioch,where they had been commended to the grace of Godfor the work they had now accomplished.And when they arrived, they called the church togetherand reported what God had done with themand how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.Reading IIRevelation 21:1-5aThen I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,and the sea was no more.I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,coming down out of heaven from God,prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,“Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race.He will dwell with them and they will be his peopleand God himself will always be with them as their God.He will wipe every tear from their eyes,and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,for the old order has passed away.”The One who sat on the throne said,“Behold, I make all things new.”GospelJohn 13:31-33a, 34-35When Judas had left them, Jesus said,“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.If God is glorified in him,God will also glorify him in himself,and God will glorify him at once.My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.I give you a new commandment: love one another.As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.This is how all will know that you are my disciples,if you have love for one another.”

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading 1Acts 13:14, 43-52Paul and Barnabas continued on from Pergaand reached Antioch in Pisidia.On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaismfollowed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to themand urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.On the following sabbath almost the whole city gatheredto hear the word of the Lord.When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousyand with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,but since you reject itand condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,we now turn to the Gentiles.For so the Lord has commanded us,I have made you a light to the Gentiles,that you may be an instrument of salvationto the ends of the earth.”The Gentiles were delighted when they heard thisand glorified the word of the Lord.All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,and the word of the Lord continued to spreadthrough the whole region.The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipersand the leading men of the city,stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,and expelled them from their territory.So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,and went to Iconium.The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.Reading 2Revelation 7:9, 14b-17I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,which no one could count,from every nation, race, people, and tongue.They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.Then one of the elders said to me,“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;they have washed their robesand made them white in the blood of the Lamb.“For this reason they stand before God's throneand worship him day and night in his temple.The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.They will not hunger or thirst anymore,nor will the sun or any heat strike them.For the Lamb who is in the center of the thronewill shepherd themand lead them to springs of life-giving water,and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”GospelJohn 10:27-30Jesus said:“My sheep hear my voice;I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.No one can take them out of my hand.My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.The Father and I are one.”

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IActs 5:12-16Many signs and wonders were done among the peopleat the hands of the apostles.They were all together in Solomon's portico.None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord,great numbers of men and women, were added to them.Thus they even carried the sick out into the streetsand laid them on cots and matsso that when Peter came by,at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.A large number of people from the townsin the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered,bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits,and they were all cured.Reading IIRevelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19I, John, your brother, who share with youthe distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus,found myself on the island called Patmosbecause I proclaimed God's word and gave testimony to Jesus.I was caught up in spirit on the Lord's dayand heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said,“Write on a scroll what you see.”Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me,and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstandsand in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.I am the first and the last, the one who lives.Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.Write down, therefore, what you have seen,and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”GospelJohn 20:19-31On the evening of that first day of the week,when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,for fear of the Jews,Jesus came and stood in their midstand said to them, “Peace be with you.”When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit.Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,and whose sins you retain are retained.”Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,was not with them when Jesus came.So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”But he said to them,“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his handsand put my finger into the nailmarksand put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”Now a week later his disciples were again insideand Thomas was with them.Jesus came, although the doors were locked,and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,and bring your hand and put it into my side,and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciplesthat are not written in this book.But these are written that you may come to believethat Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading 1Acts 10:34a, 37-43Peter proceeded to speak and said:“You know what has happened all over Judea,beginning in Galilee after the baptismthat John preached,how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and power.He went about doing goodand healing all those oppressed by the devil,for God was with him.We are witnesses of all that he didboth in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible,not to all the people, but to us,the witnesses chosen by God in advance,who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.He commissioned us to preach to the peopleand testify that he is the one appointed by Godas judge of the living and the dead.To him all the prophets bear witness,that everyone who believes in himwill receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”Reading 2Colossians 3:1-4Brothers and sisters:If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ your life appears,then you too will appear with him in glory.GospelJohn 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him.”So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peterand arrived at the tomb first;he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.When Simon Peter arrived after him,he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head,not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.Then the other disciple also went in,the one who had arrived at the tomb first,and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the Scripturethat he had to rise from the dead.

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

At the procession with palms - GospelLuke 19:28-40Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethanyat the place called the Mount of Olives,he sent two of his disciples.He said, "Go into the village opposite you,and as you enter it you will find a colt tetheredon which no one has ever sat.Untie it and bring it here.And if anyone should ask you,'Why are you untying it?'you will answer,'The Master has need of it.'"So those who had been sent went offand found everything just as he had told them.And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them,"Why are you untying this colt?"They answered,"The Master has need of it."So they brought it to Jesus,threw their cloaks over the colt,and helped Jesus to mount.As he rode along,the people were spreading their cloaks on the road;and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives,the whole multitude of his disciplesbegan to praise God aloud with joyfor all the mighty deeds they had seen.They proclaimed:"Blessed is the king who comesin the name of the Lord.Peace in heavenand glory in the highest."Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,"Teacher, rebuke your disciples."He said in reply,"I tell you, if they keep silent,the stones will cry out!"At the Mass – Reading IIsaiah 50:4-7The Lord GOD has given mea well-trained tongue,that I might know how to speak to the wearya word that will rouse them.Morning after morninghe opens my ear that I may hear;and I have not rebelled,have not turned back.I gave my back to those who beat me,my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;my face I did not shieldfrom buffets and spitting.The Lord GOD is my help,therefore I am not disgraced;I have set my face like flint,knowing that I shall not be put to shame.Reading 2Philippians 2:6-11Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godsomething to be grasped.Rather, he emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,coming in human likeness;and found human in appearance,he humbled himself,becoming obedient to the point of death,even death on a cross.Because of this, God greatly exalted himand bestowed on him the namewhich is above every name,that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.GospelLuke 22:14—23:56When the hour came,Jesus took his place at table with the apostles.He said to them,"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,for, I tell you, I shall not eat it againuntil there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God."Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,"Take this and share it among yourselves;for I tell you that from this time onI shall not drink of the fruit of the vineuntil the kingdom of God comes."Then he took the bread, said the blessing,broke it, and gave it to them, saying,"This is my body, which will be given for you;do this in memory of me."And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,"This cup is the new covenant in my blood,which will be shed for you."And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray meis with me on the table;for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined;but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed."And they began to debate among themselveswho among them would do such a deed.Then an argument broke out among themabout which of them should be regarded as the greatest.He said to them,"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over themand those in authority over them are addressed as 'Benefactors';but among you it shall not be so.Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest,and the leader as the servant.For who is greater:the one seated at table or the one who serves?Is it not the one seated at table?I am among you as the one who serves.It is you who have stood by me in my trials;and I confer a kingdom on you,just as my Father has conferred one on me,that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;and you will sit on thronesjudging the twelve tribes of Israel."Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demandedto sift all of you like wheat,but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail;and once you have turned back,you must strengthen your brothers."He said to him,"Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you."But he replied,"I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day,you will deny three times that you know me."He said to them,"When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals,were you in need of anything?""No, nothing, " they replied.He said to them,"But now one who has a money bag should take it,and likewise a sack,and one who does not have a swordshould sell his cloak and buy one.For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me,namely, He was counted among the wicked;and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment."Then they said,"Lord, look, there are two swords here."But he replied, "It is enough!"Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives,and the disciples followed him.When he arrived at the place he said to them,"Pray that you may not undergo the test."After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling,he prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing,take this cup away from me;still, not my will but yours be done."And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him.He was in such agony and he prayed so ferventlythat his sweat became like drops of bloodfalling on the ground.When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples,he found them sleeping from grief.He said to them, "Why are you sleeping?Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test."While he was still speaking, a crowd approachedand in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas.He went up to Jesus to kiss him.Jesus said to him,"Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked,"Lord, shall we strike with a sword?"And one of them struck the high priest's servantand cut off his right ear.But Jesus said in reply,"Stop, no more of this!"Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him.And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guardsand elders who had come for him,"Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?Day after day I was with you in the temple area,and you did not seize me;but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness."After arresting him they led him awayand took him into the house of the high priest;Peter was following at a distance.They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it,and Peter sat down with them.When a maid saw him seated in the light,she looked intently at him and said,"This man too was with him."But he denied it saying,"Woman, I do not know him."A short while later someone else saw him and said,"You too are one of them";but Peter answered, "My friend, I am not."About an hour later, still another insisted,"Assuredly, this man too was with him,for he also is a Galilean."But Peter said,"My friend, I do not know what you are talking about."Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed,and the Lord turned and looked at Peter;and Peter remembered the word of the Lord,how he had said to him,"Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times."He went out and began to weep bitterly.The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him.They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying,"Prophesy!  Who is it that struck you?"And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.When day came the council of elders of the people met,both chief priests and scribes,and they brought him before their Sanhedrin.They said, "If you are the Christ, tell us, "but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe,and if I question, you will not respond.But from this time on the Son of Man will be seatedat the right hand of the power of God."They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"He replied to them, "You say that I am."Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony?We have heard it from his own mouth."Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate.They brought charges against him, saying,"We found this man misleading our people;he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesarand maintains that he is the Christ, a king."Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"He said to him in reply, "You say so."Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,"I find this man not guilty."But they were adamant and said,"He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,from Galilee where he began even to here."On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction,he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.Herod was very glad to see Jesus;he had been wanting to see him for a long time,for he had heard about himand had been hoping to see him perform some sign.He questioned him at length,but he gave him no answer.The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,stood by accusing him harshly.Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,and after clothing him in resplendent garb,he sent him back to Pilate.Herod and Pilate became friends that very day,even though they had been enemies formerly.Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the peopleand said to them, "You brought this man to meand accused him of inciting the people to revolt.I have conducted my investigation in your presenceand have not found this man guiltyof the charges you have brought against him,nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.So no capital crime has been committed by him.Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."But all together they shouted out,"Away with this man!Release Barabbas to us."— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellionthat had taken place in the city and for murder. —Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,but they continued their shouting,"Crucify him!  Crucify him!"Pilate addressed them a third time,"What evil has this man done?I found him guilty of no capital crime.Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."With loud shouts, however,they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,and their voices prevailed.The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.So he released the man who had been imprisonedfor rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.As they led him awaythey took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian,who was coming in from the country;and after laying the cross on him,they made him carry it behind Jesus.A large crowd of people followed Jesus,including many women who mourned and lamented him.Jesus turned to them and said,"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;weep instead for yourselves and for your childrenfor indeed, the days are coming when people will say,'Blessed are the barren,the wombs that never boreand the breasts that never nursed.'At that time people will say to the mountains,'Fall upon us!'and to the hills, 'Cover us!'for if these things are done when the wood is greenwhat will happen when it is dry?"Now two others, both criminals,were led away with him to be executed.When they came to the place called the Skull,they crucified him and the criminals there,one on his right, the other on his left.Then Jesus said,"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."They divided his garments by casting lots.The people stood by and watched;the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,"He saved others, let him save himselfif he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."Even the soldiers jeered at him.As they approached to offer him wine they called out,"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."Above him there was an inscription that read,"This is the King of the Jews."Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,"Are you not the Christ?Save yourself and us."The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,"Have you no fear of God,for you are subject to the same condemnation?And indeed, we have been condemned justly,for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,but this man has done nothing criminal."Then he said,"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."He replied to him,"Amen, I say to you,today you will be with me in Paradise."It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole landuntil three in the afternoonbecause of an eclipse of the sun.Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.Jesus cried out in a loud voice,"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit";and when he had said this he breathed his last.Here all kneel and pause for a short time.The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,"This man was innocent beyond doubt."When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened,they returned home beating their breasts;but all his acquaintances stood at a distance,including the women who had followed him from Galileeand saw these events.Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who,though he was a member of the council,had not consented to their plan of action.He came from the Jewish town of Arimatheaand was awaiting the kingdom of God.He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.After he had taken the body down,he wrapped it in a linen clothand laid him in a rock-hewn tombin which no one had yet been buried.It was the day of preparation,and the sabbath was about to begin.The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind,and when they had seen the tomband the way in which his body was laid in it,they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils.Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IIsaiah 43:16-21Thus says the LORD,            who opens a way in the sea            and a path in the mighty waters,who leads out chariots and horsemen,            a powerful army,till they lie prostrate together, never to rise,            snuffed out and quenched like a wick.Remember not the events of the past,            the things of long ago consider not;see, I am doing something new!            Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?In the desert I make a way,            in the wasteland, rivers.Wild beasts honor me,            jackals and ostriches,for I put water in the desert            and rivers in the wasteland            for my chosen people to drink,the people whom I formed for myself,            that they might announce my praise.Reading IIPhilippians 3:8-14Brothers and sisters:I consider everything as a lossbecause of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.For his sake I have accepted the loss of all thingsand I consider them so much rubbish,that I may gain Christ and be found in him,not having any righteousness of my own based on the lawbut that which comes through faith in Christ,the righteousness from God,depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrectionand the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death,if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.It is not that I have already taken hold of itor have already attained perfect maturity,but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it,since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.Brothers and sisters, I for my partdo not consider myself to have taken possession.Just one thing: forgetting what lies behindbut straining forward to what lies ahead,I continue my pursuit toward the goal,the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus.GospelJohn 8:1-11Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,and all the people started coming to him,and he sat down and taught them.Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a womanwho had been caught in adulteryand made her stand in the middle.They said to him,“Teacher, this woman was caughtin the very act of committing adultery.Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.So what do you say?”They said this to test him,so that they could have some charge to bring against him.Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.But when they continued asking him,he straightened up and said to them,“Let the one among you who is without sinbe the first to throw a stone at her.”Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.And in response, they went away one by one,beginning with the elders.So he was left alone with the woman before him.Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,“Woman, where are they?Has no one condemned you?”She replied, “No one, sir.”Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IJoshua 5:9a, 10-12The LORD said to Joshua,“Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,they celebrated the Passoveron the evening of the fourteenth of the month.On the day after the Passover,they ate of the produce of the landin the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.On that same day after the Passover,on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.No longer was there manna for the Israelites,who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.Reading II2 Corinthians 5:17-21Brothers and sisters:Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:the old things have passed away;behold, new things have come.And all this is from God,who has reconciled us to himself through Christand given us the ministry of reconciliation,namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,not counting their trespasses against themand entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.So we are ambassadors for Christ,as if God were appealing through us.We implore you on behalf of Christ,be reconciled to God.For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.GospelLuke 15:1-3, 11-32Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”So to them Jesus addressed this parable:“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.'So the father divided the property between them.After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongingsand set off to a distant countrywhere he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.When he had freely spent everything,a severe famine struck that country,and he found himself in dire need.So he hired himself out to one of the local citizenswho sent him to his farm to tend the swine.And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,but nobody gave him any.Coming to his senses he thought,‘How many of my father's hired workershave more than enough food to eat,but here am I, dying from hunger.I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.I no longer deserve to be called your son;treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”'So he got up and went back to his father.While he was still a long way off,his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.His son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;I no longer deserve to be called your son.'But his father ordered his servants,‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.Then let us celebrate with a feast,because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;he was lost, and has been found.'Then the celebration began.Now the older son had been out in the fieldand, on his way back, as he neared the house,he heard the sound of music and dancing.He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.The servant said to him,‘Your brother has returnedand your father has slaughtered the fattened calfbecause he has him back safe and sound.'He became angry,and when he refused to enter the house,his father came out and pleaded with him.He said to his father in reply,‘Look, all these years I served youand not once did I disobey your orders;yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.But when your son returnswho swallowed up your property with prostitutes,for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'He said to him,‘My son, you are here with me always;everything I have is yours.But now we must celebrate and rejoice,because your brother was dead and has come to life again;he was lost and has been found.'"

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IExodus 17:3-7In 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 livestock?”So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people?a little more and they will stone me!”The LORD answered Moses,“Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river.I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb.Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.”This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel.The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled thereand tested the LORD, saying,“Is the LORD in our midst or not?”Reading IIRomans 5:1-2, 5-8Brothers and sisters:Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.But God proves his love for usin that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.GospelJohn 4:5-42Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.Jacob's well was there.Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.It was about noon.A woman of Samaria came to draw water.Jesus said to her,“Give me a drink.”His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.The Samaritan woman said to him,“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—Jesus answered and said to her,“If you knew the gift of Godand who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in hima spring of water welling up to eternal life.”The woman said to him,“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”Jesus said to her,“Go call your husband and come back.”The woman answered and said to him,“I do not have a husband.”Jesus answered her,“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.'For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.What you have said is true.”The woman said to him,“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”Jesus said to her,“Believe me, woman, the hour is comingwhen you will worship the Fatherneither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews.But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.God is Spirit, and those who worship himmust worship in Spirit and truth.”The woman said to him,“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”Jesus said to her,“I am he, the one speaking with you.”At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?”The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done.Could he possibly be the Christ?”They went out of the town and came to him.Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”But he said to them,“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?”Jesus said to them,“My food is to do the will of the one who sent meand to finish his work.Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here'?I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.'I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in himbecause of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.”When the Samaritans came to him,they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IGenesis 15:5-12, 17-18The Lord God took Abram outside and said,“Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”Abram put his faith in the LORD,who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.He then said to him,“I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeansto give you this land as a possession.”“O Lord GOD,” he asked,“how am I to know that I shall possess it?”He answered him,“Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat,a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”Abram brought him all these, split them in two,and placed each half opposite the other;but the birds he did not cut up.Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses,but Abram stayed with them.As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.When the sun had set and it was dark,there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,which passed between those pieces.It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram,saying: “To your descendants I give this land,from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”Reading IIPhilippians 3:17—4:1 Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters,and observe those who thus conduct themselvesaccording to the model you have in us.For many, as I have often told youand now tell you even in tears,conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their end is destruction.Their God is their stomach;their glory is in their “shame.”Their minds are occupied with earthly things.But our citizenship is in heaven,and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.He will change our lowly bodyto conform with his glorified bodyby the power that enables him alsoto bring all things into subjection to himself.Therefore, my brothers and sisters,whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,in this way stand firm in the Lord.GospelLuke 9:28b-36Jesus took Peter, John, and Jamesand went up the mountain to pray.While he was praying his face changed in appearanceand his clothing became dazzling white.And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodusthat he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,but becoming fully awake,they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,“Master, it is good that we are here;let us make three tents,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”But he did not know what he was saying.While he was still speaking,a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.Then from the cloud came a voice that said,“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.They fell silent and did not at that timetell anyone what they had seen.

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Catholic homilies and Mass readings from St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish in Gilbert, Arizona

Reading IDeuteronomy 26:4-10Moses spoke to the people, saying:“The priest shall receive the basket from youand shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God.Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God,‘My father was a wandering Arameanwho went down to Egypt with a small householdand lived there as an alien.But there he became a nationgreat, strong, and numerous.When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us,imposing hard labor upon us,we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers,and he heard our cryand saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.He brought us out of Egyptwith his strong hand and outstretched arm,with terrifying power, with signs and wonders;and bringing us into this country,he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruitsof the products of the soilwhich you, O LORD, have given me.'And having set them before the LORD, your God,you shall bow down in his presence.”Reading IIRomans 10:8-13Brothers and sisters:What does Scripture say?            The word is near you,                        in your mouth and in your heart—that is, the word of faith that we preach—,for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lordand believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,you will be saved.For one believes with the heart and so is justified,and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.For the Scripture says,            No one who believes in him will be put to shame.For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;the same Lord is Lord of all,enriching all who call upon him.For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”GospelLuke 4:1-13Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordanand was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,to be tempted by the devil.He ate nothing during those days,and when they were over he was hungry.The devil said to him,“If you are the Son of God,command this stone to become bread.”Jesus answered him,“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”Then he took him up and showed himall the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.The devil said to him,“I shall give to you all this power and glory;for it has been handed over to me,and I may give it to whomever I wish.All this will be yours, if you worship me.”Jesus said to him in reply,“It is written            You shall worship the Lord, your God,                        and him alone shall you serve.”Then he led him to Jerusalem,made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,“If you are the Son of God,throw yourself down from here, for it is written:            He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and:            With their hands they will support you,            lest you dash your foot against a stone.”Jesus said to him in reply,“It also says,            You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”When the devil had finished every temptation,he departed from him for a time.