In Their Own Words is a new web column from U.S. Catholic. In these essays, academics and other experts provide short, evidence-based explanations of...
Catholic Voices
First-person reflections on scriptural interpretation, theology, and Catholic social teaching.
Readings (Year B): Isaiah 35:4 – 7aPsalms 146:6 – 7, 8 – 9, 9 – 10James 2:1 – 5Mark 7:31 – 37 Reflection: Encounter the...
Last June, a friend invited me to attend Mass at a parish I had never visited before on the same weekend as the Los Angeles Pride parade. Before attending, I...
Readings (Year B): Deuteronomy 4:1 – 2, 6 – 8Psalms 15:2 – 3, 3 – 4, 4 – 5James 1:17 – 18, 21b – 22, 27Mark 7:1...
Readings (Year B): Joshua 24:1 – 2a, 15 – 17, 18bPsalms 34:2 – 3, 16 – 17, 18 – 19, 20 – 21Ephesians 5:21 – 32 or...
Readings (Year B): Prv 9:1-6Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7Eph 5:15-20Jn 6:51-58 Reflection: Wisdom calls us to her feast In today’s first reading from Proverbs, we hear...
When our capitalist culture tells us we need to be thinner, richer, fitter, or younger, we recognize that someone, somewhere is trying to sell us something...
Readings (Year B): 1 Kgs 19:4-8Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9Eph 4:30—5:2Jn 6:41-51 Reflection: The meal that unites us Elijah the prophet is running for his life...
Readings (Year B): Ex 16:2-4, 12-15Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54Eph 4:17, 20-24Jn 6:24-35 Reflection: The bread of eternal life In August 1943, a Frenchwoman lay...
Readings (Year B): 2 Kings 4:42 – 44Psalm 145:10 – 11, 15 – 16, 17 – 18Ephesians 4:1 – 6John 6:1 – 15 Reflection: They had...
