The reflections are available as links to pdf documents. (May 2011 - Nov 2011)
May 22, 2011
Fifth Sunday of Easter
John 14: 1•12
May 29, 2011
Sixth Sunday of Easter
John 14: 15-21
June 5, 2011
Ascension Sunday
Matthew 28: 16-20
June 12, 2011
Pentecost Sunday
John 20: 19-23
June 19, 2011
Trinity Sunday
John 3: 16-18
June 26, 2011
Body and Blood of Christ Sunday
John 6:51-58
July 3, 2011
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 11:25-30
July 10, 2011
Fifteenth Sunday in
O
rdinary Time
Matthew 13:1-23
July 17, 2011
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 13:24-43
July 24, 2011
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 13:44-52
July 31, 2011
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 14:13-21
August 7, 2011
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 14:22-33
August 14, 2011
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 15:21-28
August 21, 2011
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 16:13-20
August 28, 2011
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 16:21-27
September 4, 2011
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 18:15-20
September 11, 2011
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 18:21-35
September 18, 2011
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 20:1-16a
September 25, 2011
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 21:28-32
October 2, 2011
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 21:33-43
October 9, 2011
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 22:1-14
October 16, 2011
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 22:15-21
October 23, 2011
Thirtieth Sunday
in Ordinary Time
Matthew 22:34-40
October 30, 2011
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 23:1-12
November 6, 2011
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 25:1-13
November 13, 2011
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 25:14-30
November 20, 2011
Christ the King Sunday
Matthew 25:31-46
Reflections on Sunday Readings
EVOLVING THE REIGN OF GOD -
STRETCHING OUR BOUNDARIES
A Collection of Reflections on the Sunday Gospels
Liturgical Year 2011, Cycle A
Introduction to 2010-2011 Liturgical Year Reflections
As we welcome a new Liturgical Year, the Sisters of Divine Providence once again offer you a set of reflection on the Sundays of the year that begins with the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2010. These reflections were actually written by Sisters of Divine Providence and our Associate Members for Liturgical Year 2002 and published by the Congregation in a booklet entitled Embracing the Reign of God—Stretching Our Boundaries. In Liturgical Year 2001-02 we were also reading Cycle A.
The Sunday gospels for that year are basically from Matthew’s Gospel and we asked Sr. Theresa Pauline Hereford to write the material on Matthew’s gospel that accompanied the reflections in that 2001-02 booklet. At that time she was in pastoral ministry with a focus on assisting people who wanted to become Catholics with their preparation through the Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults. Presently, Sr. Theresa Pauline resides at Our Lady of the Lake Convent Center and ministers to our Sisters by accompanying them to doctor appointments.
The other Sisters and Associates who worked together to create the original reflection booklet are Sisters Thadine Hyzak, Louise Miksch, Alexia Vinklarek, Associate Sylvia Jolet and myself, Sr. Diane Langford.
Matthew's Teaching on the Reign of God
by Sister Theresa Pauline Hereford, CDP
AsThe author of Matthew's Gospel was possibly a converted Jewish scribe, well-versed in Jewish law and theology; and, therefore, well able to bring forth wisdom from both the Hebrew Scriptures and Christian teaching. In various sermons, Matthew's Jesus leads us to understand his central message, which is:
"The Reign of God is at hand."
The Christian Communities of New Testament times probably interpreted this to mean that Jesus' Second Coming was imminent. However, as time went on, they came to realize that, to the extent that they embodied Jesus' values and his spirit, to that extent the Reign of God was already present, because Jesus was present among them and in them.
In Matthew 13 and subsequent chapters, Jesus, through parables, describes characteristics of this Reign. First of all, it is a gift. Second, the Kingdom begins in a small way, almost unnoticed; but spreads throughout the whole world. Those who recognize the value of the Kingdom are willing to give up everything to possess it, while others resist, even reject, its coming. Yet no foe can permanently forestall its establishment among members of the human race.
The disciples' role, the Church's role, is to cooperate with the Spirit in bringing about the Reign of God wherever they reside, through fidelity to Jesus' way of justice, love, and obedience to the Father's will. However, the Spirit of Jesus can also be found outside the Church's boundaries, wherever his values are embraced. Christians must value the work of these women and men of good will and call them to faith in God's redeeming love. We can, therefore, say that Jesus both goes before us and remains with us as we journey to the Father and the life of the fully established Reign of God.
