Category Archives: Benedictine Monastery of Christ in the Desert

      FIRST READING 2 Kings 5:14-17 Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he … Continue reading →

      Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; Second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Gospel According to Saint Luke 17:5-10 “The just man, because of his faith, shall live,” Habakkuk the prophet announces … Continue reading →

    First Reading Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Thus says the Lord the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves … Continue reading →

FIRST READING            Amos 8:4-7 Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!  “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may … Continue reading →

FIRST READING Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. They have soon turned aside from the way I … Continue reading →

  First Reading Wisdom 9:13-18b Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen … Continue reading →

  First Reading Sirach    3:17-18, 20, 28-29 My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with … Continue reading →

Scripture Readings: Book of the Prophet Isaiah 66:18-21; Letter to the Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Gospel According to Saint Luke 13:22-30 This Sunday in Ordinary Time directs our attention to God’s intention for the salvation of the human race in Jesus … Continue reading →

      FIRST READING            Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 In those days, the princes said to the king:  “Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by … Continue reading →

  FIRST READING            Wisdom 18:6-9 The night of the Passover was known beforehand to our fathers, that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage.  Your people awaited the salvation of the … Continue reading →

  This Sunday’s Scripture readings provide us with another opportunity to reflect on the fact that “you can’t take it with you,” when one leaves this life. There is certainly purpose and value in our human life, so that is … Continue reading →

FIRST READING        Genesis 18:20-32 In those days, the LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the … Continue reading →

FIRST READING        Genesis 18:1-10a The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot.  Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.  When he saw … Continue reading →

FIRST READING  Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Moses said to the people:  “If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law, when you return to … Continue reading →