Study Guide for May 26, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for May 26 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary Romans 8:14-17

God revealed himself to Abraham and his descendants. The relationship that God established was sometimes expressed in familial terms: Israel was God’s son. As God’s son, Israel would inherit good things from God. Paul, a descendant of Abraham well-versed in his people’s scriptures, applies this familial language to Christians.

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the Second Reading and the Gospel passage for May 26.

Study Guide for May 19, Pentecost Sunday

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for May 19 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary on Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11

In his Gospel (Book One) Luke emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is with Jesus. At the end of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus promised to share the Spirit with his disciples. Today’s passage from Book Two shows the fulfillment of that promise.

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the readings for May 19.

Study Guides for the Ascension and the Seventh Sunday of Easter

NOTE: Below are two Study Guides. The first is for the Solemnity of the Ascension. If you’re in the Archdiocese of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, or Philadelphia, you’ll probably hear the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION

Here’s a link to the readings for the Ascension (usccb.org).

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for the Ascension.

THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 12 (usccb.org).

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 12.

Study Guide for May 5, The Sixth Sunday of Easter

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for May 5 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary on Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

After showing God fulfilling his promises to the Jews, Luke shows God offering salvation to Gentiles. The story of Cornelius transitions us from the apostles’ ministry to the Jews to their mission to Gentiles. Cornelius isn’t Jewish, but he is devout and God-fearing (10:1-2).

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for May 5.

Study Guide for April 28, The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for April 28 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary on Acts 9:26-31

Saul, who dragged Christians out of their homes to imprison them (8:3), is now himself cast out and persecuted. This experience is only the first step of the suffering he will endure for the sake of God’s name (9:16).

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for April 28.

Study Guide for April 21, The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for April 21 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary on John 10:11-18

In John 9 Jesus cured a man of blindness. The cure led to controversy over Jesus’ identity. This passage is part of Jesus’ response to accusations leveled against him.

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for April 21.

Study Guide for April 14, The Third Sunday of Easter

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for April 14 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary on Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Peter has just healed a man who was asking for alms beside the Jerusalem temple. People gather around Peter in amazement, which creates the opportunity for this speech. Because Peter has just worked a wondrous deed, his testimony about the source of his power is credible. The risen Jesus is truly working through him.

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for April 14.

Study Guide for April 7, The Second Sunday of Easter

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for April 7 (usccb.org).

Sample Commentary on Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35

In the Greco-Roman world the ideal of friendship was “to be of one mind.” A Jewish hope was of a world in which no one was in material need (Deuteronomy 15:4). Here Luke shows that the early church is so strongly united in its faith in Christ that its virtuous behavior exceeds the ideals of both the pagan and Jewish worlds.

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for April 7.

Study Guides for the Sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday

NOTE: Below are two Study Guides. One addresses the Second Reading for Holy Thursday and the Gospel passage for the Easter Vigil. The other addresses two readings for Easter Sunday.

Here’s a link to the readings for Holy Thursday (usccb.org).

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the Second Reading for Holy Thursday and the Gospel passage for the Easter Vigil (Mar. 28-30).

Here’s a link to the Sunday readings for Mar. 31 (usccb.org).

Here’s a link to discussion questions and commentaries on the First Reading and the Gospel passage for Mar. 31.