Today’s Readings – Monday of Week 28 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31—5:1

Today’s passage actually begins with a verse not in our reading:

Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? (Gal 4:21)


By this Paul is invoking the witness of the Scriptures. To inherit the promise, it is not enough to be just a descendant of Abraham, as Ishmael (Abraham’s son by Hagar) was. It is necessary to be descended as the result of promise, like Isaac; it is necessary to be a spiritual descendant, not just a genealogical one. Hence for Paul, Isaac’s birth prefigures the rebirth of Christians.

Paul uses the examples of two of Abraham’s wives, Hagar and Sarah, to illustrate the difference between the Jews who were following the Law of Moses and Christians, both … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Sunday of Week 28 of Ordinary Time (Year B)

Commentary on Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

The man who comes up to Jesus in today’s Gospel is clearly a very good person, but it is clear that he has serious deficiencies where the Gospel is concerned. He thinks it is enough to be a morally good person, but the Gospel … Continue