Category Archives: Benedictine Monastery of Christ in the Desert

Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 18:25-28; Letter to the Philippians 2:1-11; Gospel According to Saint Matthew 21:28-32 Here at the Monastery it is definitely “harvest time.” Such is the case as well in many other parts of the … Continue reading →

Scripture readings: Book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:6-9; Letter to the Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Gospel According to Saint Matthew 20:1-16 This Sunday’s Gospel passage is taken from a section in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew where Jesus spells out … Continue reading →

First Reading Sirach 27:30–28:9 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own … Continue reading →

FIRST READING  Ezekiel 33:7-9 Thus says the Lord:  You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.  If I tell the wicked, “O wicked … Continue reading →

    Scripture Readings: Prophet Jeremiah 20:7-9; Letter to the Romans 12:1-2; Gospel According to Saint Matthew 16:21-27 Today’s Gospel passage gives us more insight into who Jesus truly is and what He had to undergo for the salvation of … Continue reading →

      First Reading Isaiah 22:19-23 Thus says the Lord to Shebna, master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, … Continue reading →

  Scripture Readings: Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Romans 11:13-15,29-32; Gospel According to Saint Matthew 15:21-28 It should be safe to say and not incorrect to conclude that Jesus was at least mildly bothered by the persistent Canaanite woman in the Gospel passage … Continue reading →

Mass Readings: First Book of Kings 19:9,11-13; Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 9:1-5; Gospel According to Saint Matthew 14:22-33 Growing up in western Oregon, where it rains more than it shines, we often had sporting events, family picnics, … Continue reading →

Mass Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8:35,37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 The three readings for Mass this Sunday contain some of the most consoling words in all of the Bible. The first reading for the Prophet Isaiah, who was active about 550 years … Continue reading →

Scripture readings: First Book of Kings 3:5, 7-12; Letter to the Romans 8:28-30; Gospel According to Matthew 13:44-52 As we can probably all attest, our contemporary culture teaches everyone to seek the good life, at whatever the cost, literally. More … Continue reading →

    Each year on the Sunday following Pentecost, the Church celebrates the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, our belief that God is One and yet Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in majesty and glory, One … Continue reading →

    Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23 The Solemnity of Pentecost is a splendid reminder of the universality of the love God has for us. At Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the Church celebrates … Continue reading →

    FIRST READING              Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14 After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.  When they entered the … Continue reading →

    Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; First Letter of Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21 The readings for this Sunday are taken from the final days of Jesus’ earthly sojourn as well as the first steps of the infant Church after the … Continue reading →

    Readings: Acts 6:1-7; First Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12 We are drawing near to the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension, forty days after Easter, just two weeks from now. Where does the time go? Like it or not, time … Continue reading →