Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year B, First Reading (2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23)

14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. 15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B, First Reading (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11)

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our

Christmas Mass at Night, 1st Reading (Isaiah 9:2-7 or 1-6 depending on the translation)

You can find a commentary on the gospel here: https://biblestudystjosephsparis.wordpress.com/2021/12/23/christmas-gospel-commentary-mass-during-the-night-luke-21-14/ The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when

The Book of Kings and the New Testament

The Book of Kings ends with Jerusalem destroyed, Judah occupied and most of its people in exile. To be fair, the final verses of Kings are not entirely dark for we discover that one member at least of the royal family survived, Jehoiakin who is seen at the end sitting at the Babylonian king’s table

The Destruction of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-12)

So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. 2 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 By the ninth day of the fourth month

The Babylonian Conquest Begins (2 Kings 24:8-17)

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. 9 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done. 10 At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, 11 and

The End of Hezekiah’s Life (2 Kings 20:12-21)

12 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. 13 Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, 1st Reading (Jeremiah 23:1-6)

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,”