Living Word Catholic Biblical Ministries
Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. - Los Angeles, CA

Webinar Series for 2020-2021:

Living Word:
The Scriptures of the 2021 Liturgical Year

A series of Zoom Webinars, open to the general public.
Co-sponsored by the Ecclesia program of Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

Mount Saint Mary's University - Ecclesia Program
(Click here for a PDF Flyer)

Saturdays, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm (Pacific Time)
FREE (but donations are requested and appreciated - see below)


November 21, 2020
The Readings of Advent

The scriptures of Advent help us to prepare for Christmas, and are perhaps especially important for our spiritual lives in this time of pandemic. 
Whether or not we are able to physically participate in Mass right now, the biblical texts of the liturgy can nourish our reflection. 
Which texts have been chosen for this year’s Advent Season? How are they arranged? How might they strengthen our hearts and lives as we wait in hope?
In this webinar, we will look closely at the scripture readings used during Advent, both on Sundays and on Weekdays.
Since the First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 29, 2020) begins the new liturgical year, we will focus especially on this year’s readings, from “Year B” of the three-year Lectionary cycle.

Powerpoint: Sundays of Advent / Powerpoint: Weekdays of Advent
PDF Handout: Readings for Advent Sundays / PDF Handout: Readings for Advent Weekdays
Video Recordings: Part I / Part II / Part III


December 19, 2020
The Readings of the Christmas Season

For secular culture, the Christmas Season may be over on December 25; but for liturgically-minded Christians, that day is just the beginning of several weeks of celebration.
The Christmas season not only includes the beautiful celebrations of Jesus’ birth, but also several other important liturgical celebrations
(St. Stephen, St. John, the Holy Innocents, the Holy Family, Mary Mother of God, the Epiphany), and it does not end until the Baptism of the Lord on January 10.
The biblical readings chosen for all of these celebrations, as well as for the rest of the weekdays of the Christmas season, are especially helpful for our spiritual life and that of our families and communities. 
Whether or not we are able to participate in Mass during this pandemic, the biblical texts of the liturgy can be foundational for our celebrations. 
Which texts have been chosen for this year’s Christmas Season? How are they arranged? How might they deepen our understanding of the mystery of the Incarnation and give us joy at the birth of our Savior?
In this webinar, we will look closely at the scripture readings used during the Christmas Season, both on Sundays and on Weekdays.
We will focus especially on this year’s readings, from “Year B” of the three-year Lectionary cycle.

Powerpoint: Christmas Season / Video Recordings: Part I / Part II / Part III
PDF Handout: Readings for Christmas Solemnities and Feasts / PDF Handout: Readings for Christmas Weekdays


January 9, 2021
The Gospel of Mark (for Liturgical Year B)

Christians normally read various selected stories from any of the Gospels, mixing them all together to form our own composite picture of Jesus.
That's fine, in many ways. After all, isn't it the same Jesus in all four Gospels? Well, the best answer is both yes and no!
All four of the canonical Gospels are, of course, based on the same historical character (Jesus of Nazareth) and they all proclaim faith in the same divine person (Jesus, the Son of God).
Yet each Gospel presents a very distinctive portrait of Jesus, with its own literary features and significantly theological emphases... a very different Jesus in each Gospel, so to speak.
So there is great value in looking carefully at each of the four Gospels separately, to see the distinctive themes presented by each Evangelist.
Throughout 2021, which is Year B in the Lectionary for Mass, the liturgical readings are taken mostly from the Gospel according to Mark.
It is the shortest and oldest of the four Gospels, and is often described as a Gospel of action, of suffering, and of faith.
In this webinar, which is free and open to the public, we will look closely at the Sunday reading selections from Mark's Gospel,
in order to help us better understand the distinctive themes that this Evangelist chose to emphasize.

Powerpoint: Gospel of Mark / Video Recordings: Part I / Part II / Part III
Related Webpages: Mark in the Lectionary / Gospel of Mark Study Materials


February 13, 2021
The Readings of Lent

The Lenten scriptures prepare us for Easter, and are perhaps especially meaningful in this time of pandemic.
Whether or not we are able to physically participate in Mass these days, the biblical texts used in our church’s liturgies can nourish our hearts and guide our lives.
To strengthen us on this year's Lenten journey, we’ll explore in this webinar the scriptures of the season, as well as the Church’s choice and arrangement of texts, and how they can help us grow closer to our Lord.

Powerpoint: Season of Lent / Video Recordings: Part I / Part II / Part III
Related Webpages: Readings for the Sundays of Lent / Readings for the Weekdays of Lent


March 27, 2021
The Readings of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum
(Palm Sunday is March 28; the Triduum begins at sundown on Holy Thursday, April 1).

Powerpoint: Holy Week, Easter Triduum, and Easter Octave / Video Recordings: Part I / Part II / Part III
Related Webpages: Readings for Holy Week / Readings for Easter


April 17, 2021
The Readings of the Easter Season
(Easter begins on the night of April 3 and continues through Pentecost Sunday, May 23.)

Powerpoint: The Easter Season / Video Recordings: Part I / Part II / Part III
Related Webpages: Readings for Easter Season Sundays / Readings for Easter Season Weekdays

 

Catholic Liturgical Calendar

 

Donations:

Please support our ministries with a tax-deductible donation,
so that we can offer such webinars and other programs to anyone, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Online donations can now be made using Venmo (https://venmo.com); just search for our account: "Jesuits-LMU."
We plan to enable PayPal and other online donation options also soon.

Meanwhile, you can also write a check, payable to "LMU Jesuit Community," and mail it to me:

Fr. Felix Just, SJ
LMU Jesuit Community
PO Box 45041
Los Angeles, CA 90045

People have asked about a recommended donation amount.
On the one hand, most university-level Continuing Education programs charge $10 per instructional hour (which would mean $35 for our monthly sessions).
On the other hand, MSMU's Ecclesia Program has in the past usually charged $25 per Saturday session, or $20 when part of a series of related programs.
So, we are grateful if you can donate $10 or $20 per person per session; but any amount you choose to give is highly appreciated.
You can make separate donations for each monthly session, or one larger donation for this whole series... whatever is best for you!

Many Thanks for Your Generosity!
 

Lectionary for MassRelated Resources:

 

See also the Homepage of Fr. Felix Just, SJ

This page was last updated on April 24, 2021
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