Fr. Scott Lewis is an associate professor of New Testament at Regis College, a founding member of the Toronto School of Theology.

He is a past president of the Canadian Catholic Biblical Association.

Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 21 (Year A) Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21

The Samaritans were depicted in a positive light throughout the New Testament, despite the tension and negative feelings between them and mainstream Jews.

Jesus sets the pattern for harmony with God

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Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 14 (Year A) Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

Dissension and resentment in the Christian community is nothing new.

God’s authentic message brings peace, joy, new and abundant life

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Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 7 (Year A) Acts 2:14a, 36b-41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

The Spirit gives us the courage and strength to speak and act despite our fear.

We can all share in Jesus’ victory

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Third Sunday of Easter, April 30 (Year A) Acts 2:14, 22b-28; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35

Death could not hold Jesus. This was an important part of the first proclamation of the Risen Lord after the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Filled and emboldened with the Spirit, Peter recounted the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and he cast it as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

A new birth and living hope is offered to all

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Second Sunday of Easter, April 23 (Year A) Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

God’s power was revealed in the early Christian communities in dramatic ways. Why then and not now? How did they make it happen?

Resurrection is a journey of transformation

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Resurrection of the Lord, April 16 (Year A) Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18

The first Christian creeds were simple, direct and unadorned. The apostles proclaimed who Jesus was, what He did, what happened to Him, and His role in the universal judgment of humankind.

Suffering Servant is a model for service

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Passion (Palm) Sunday, April 9 (Year A) Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

Speaking and acting on behalf of God is not for the fainthearted.

Recognizing our blindness gives us sight

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Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 26 (Year A) 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Samuel must have been perplexed and exasperated.

Living water can satisfy our deepest thirst

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Third Sunday of Lent, March 19 (Year A) Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42

Doubt and fear are very powerful negative forces. All hope, joy, peace and faith flee before them.

Our challenge is to put total trust in God

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Second Sunday of Lent, March 12 (Year A) Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9

When we depart on a journey, preparations and planning are the order of the day.

Temptation can help us on path to God

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First Sunday of Lent, March 5 (Year A) Genesis 2:7-9, 16-18, 25; 3:1-7; Psalm 51; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

The story of the Garden of Eden and the Fall is deeply embedded in the consciousness of the West. Even those who are not at all religious are familiar with it and it has found its way into art, literature and music.