Dad Talk guide to the Sunday Mass readings

This week's Dad Talk will explore the significance of the Baptism of the Lord as depicted in the Gospels, highlighting unique aspects of each Gospel account. It delves into the prophecies of Isaiah, the theological implications of Jesus' baptism, and the universal call of baptism and our responsibilities that come with being heirs in Christ. Please share with a friend, and God bless!

This Solemnity's readings include one of the most famous passages in the Gospels: the visit of the three magi. There are many mysteries to unpack in this story—including how the Church Fathers ask us to imitate the magi at every Mass we attend—all in today's Dad Talk. God bless! Dad

We have three short readings for today's Holy Day of Obligation, but they pack a theological wallop. As we honor Mary, today's Dad Talk will focus on how our relationship with God our Father changed as a result of the incarnation. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

This Sunday’s first reading and Gospel reading are a juxtaposition of someone who lacked humility (King Ahaz) and someone who was truly humble (Joseph).  We'll discuss that in more detail—and why we shouldn’t assume that Joseph believed Mary had committed adultery when he learned she was pregnant—in this week’s Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

Today’s Gospel reading starts with John the Baptist asking if Jesus is the Messiah (“the one who is to come”) or if they should wait for another.  Did John have doubts about Jesus’ identity?  Or did he have another purpose for his question?  We’ll discuss that, plus the three exhortations in the second reading from James, as we continue our Advent journey in this week’s Dad Talk. Please share with...

Today we celebrate a special Holy Day of Obligation - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We know that the Church teaches that Mary was born without Original Sin and remained sinless her entire life; but where can we find this belief in the Bible? As it turns out, in many places! We'll discuss them in this Bonus Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

So many questions from today’s readings!  We know Jesus is the “stump of Jesse” in the first reading from Isaiah, but  how  do we know that? If John the Baptist wants to encourage conversion and repentance, why did he center his ministry in the desert and the Jordan River? Matthew mentions that John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt; what is this fashion statement doing in...

Happy Advent and happy Church New Year! It's that time when we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But this preparation period is not simply to celebrate Jesus's birth; it's a time to prepare for the second  coming of Jesus at the end of Time, when all people and all nations will be judged. In today’s Dad Talk, we'll discuss how today’s Advent readings instruct us to p...

Today, we close our Church year with an important Solemnity. But do you know why Pope Pius XI instituted it? If so, then you can appreciate why we need this feast – and today’s readings – more than ever.  Learn all about it in today’s Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

As we near the end of our Church year, the readings shift to discussing the Four Last Things: Final Tribulation, Return of Christ, Judgment, and Resurrection. We'll discuss the Final Tribulation (today's Gospel reading) and the Last Judgment (today's first reading) in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

Today's Feast celebrates the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome, the "mother and head of all churches in the city and the world." To go along with that Feast, our readings beautifully explain how we should think about our church buildings and communities as places where God can dwell. We'll dive into the topic in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and...

All Souls' Day is a great reminder to pray for the souls in Purgatory. But why is Purgatory necessary? And what does the Bible have to say about it? We'll explore those questions in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

Today’s Gospel reading is the origin of a famous 4th century petition called the “Jesus prayer” or “prayer of the heart.” It's a beautiful expression of humility, recognizing that we are creatures, not the creator. Equally beautiful is Paul’s reflection in the second reading as he prepares for his martyrdom. We’ll dive into the details of both in today’s Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, a...

God already knows our needs; he doesn't require us to bring those needs to his attention or to ask for them. So why does God ask us to pray unceasingly? We'll answer that question in this Bonus Dad Talk.

In today’s first reading, Moses persistently prays to God using the “orans posture” that is distinctive to priests at Mass. Why should we refrain from using that posture at Mass - even during the Our Father? The Gospel then picks up on the importance of persistent prayer to God in the Parable of the Persistent Widow, promising that God will “see to it that justice is done for [those who pray] spee...

Faithful Dad Talk listeners will immediately look for the connection between the first reading and the Gospel reading and say, "Aha!  Both of these readings involve curing leprosy!" But the connections and meaning run much deeper than that. To see them, we need to study Elisha and this mysterious Naaman figure in the reading from 2 Kings. Learn all about that, and much more, in today’s D...

Today's beautiful readings have the common theme of "faith." But they speak about that topic in some surprising ways. We'll explore them in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

Lots of questions from today’s readings. What was the big deal with eating lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall? Who was the “Timothy” to whom Paul was writing? What was the “bosom of Abraham,” and why didn’t anyone warn the rich man that merely calling to Abraham was insufficient to save his eternal soul?  Answers to all these questions and more in today’s Dad Talk. Please share...

Today’s Gospel reading from Luke is a puzzler.  Why would Jesus praise the dishonest steward?  Here’s a hint: it has to do with his shrewdness.  Learn all about the first century Jewish context of the reading and what Jesus is asking us to do in today’s Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God Bless! Dad

Today's Feast Day - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - has an amazing history. In today's Dad Talk, we'll discuss how the True Cross was discovered, the beginning of public veneration of the Cross, why the crucifix is not a forbidden "graven image," and what Christ's crucifixion means for the way we live. Don't miss this episode, and be sure to share it with a friend....

Today’s first reading from Wisdom makes clear that God’s ways are not our ways.  Jesus makes that abundantly clear in the Gospel reading from Luke, when he says we must hate our family and give up all we own to follow him.  But don't Jesus's demands make us his slaves?  Not at all!  In today’s Dad Talk, we’ll explore how giving up earthly things makes us truly free - and why we must always...

Pride is considered the first and worst of the deadly sins, and it's the subject of our first reading and Gospel this weekend.  We'll discuss pride and its antidote, humility - and also unravel a very dense and confusing second reading - in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless!  Dad

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that “many” who know Him will not be welcomed at the heavenly banquet. What do we need to do to make sure we have a seat at the table? And what tools does God give us to help? Believe it or not, it is afflictions and discipline! We’ll discuss those helps and more in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

In today’s first reading, the prophet Jeremiah is dropped into a cistern.  How does  that  story connect to today’s Gospel reading about divisions in the family, or to the second reading about running a race with our eyes fixed on Jesus?  Quite beautifully.  We’ll put all the pieces together in today’s Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad

In the final portion of today's Gospel reading, did you catch the foundational principles regarding the doctrine of purgatory? We'll discuss those - and what it means to have the faith of Abraham - in today's Dad Talk. Please share with a friend, and God bless! Dad