Commentary Intro to Mass Readings for Sunday
CommentaryIntro to Mass Readings for Sunday
March 15, 2026
April 5, 2026
Easter Sunday
⬅️ 
➡️
Video produced, written, and narrated by Larry Broding. Copyright 2017.
Grief in the Night
by Larry Broding
After a thorough rain, the clouds parted and showed a crisp night sky. The moon reflected off the wet stone steps that led to the lower city. Along those steps, a single figure dared to break the city’s curfew.
He reached a door and tapped on it with his knuckle. When the door opened, the figure bowed his head.
“John, I’m sorry,” he said almost in a whisper.
“Simon, come in,” John said. “You’re going to catch cold if you don’t.”
Simon entered. His hair was wet from rain or sweat. His eyes were red from a night of tears and shame. He shivered in front of the fire that blazed in the room. John threw a blanket around Simon and pointed towards a chair. Simon sat, but continued to gaze at the floor.
“Is he?”
“Yes, Simon, we buried him,” John said.
Simon pulled the blanket closer and leaned toward the heat of the fire.
“Simon, you should really eat something.”
“No thanks, John, I’m not hungry.”
Simon looked up at his friend. “I really should have stood by him. I really should have…”
“No, Simon. The master told us he was going to die. This was God’s will for him.
“Why, John? Why did it have to happen that way?”
John looked down for a moment, then back to Simon. “I don’t know, Simon. I just don’t know.”
The next day, the bright sun dried the drenched ground. Others made their way down the stone steps to John’s house. Some brought food and drink. Others told stories that the authorities were looking for Simon and his friends. Simon continued to sit close to the fire despite the pleasant day. Early in the evening, John noticed Simon dozed off. He laid his friend down in front of the fire and added a few logs to keep him warm.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you felt so much shame that you only felt safe turning to one specific person?
- Has a simple act of practical kindness ever meant more to you in a crisis than any words or advice?
- How do you cope with profound “why?” questions when there are no satisfying answers?
- When has a community’s practical support (like bringing food) sustained you during a dark time?
- Does our modern world give people enough “unproductive” space to sit and wait with their grief?
- Has a friend ever quietly anticipated a need of yours and met it with gentleness?
The News from Mary
The sun peeked through the window just from over the horizon. Simon snorted once and rearranged his blanket. Then a knock at the door woke him. He opened his eyes, stretched, and tossed off the blanket.
After a louder knock, he said, “Just a minute.” Simon unlatched the door and opened it just a little.
“Simon, let me in,” Mary said.
Simon opened the door, allowed Mary to enter, then looked both ways before he closed the door and latched it.
“Mary, what are you doing?”
“Simon, the Lord has risen.”
Simon’s eyebrows tensed. John half stumbled in from the other room. He straightened his outer tunic. He looked at Simon, then at Mary.
“Simon, John, the Lord has risen. His tomb is empty. We’ve seen an angel who told us to tell you the Lord would meet you in Galilee.” Only then Mary took a breath.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you felt the need to “latch the door” and protect yourself from external threats?
- What core belief or realization has completely reshaped your understanding of your own reality?
- Have you ever received monumental news that initially left you profoundly disoriented?
Running to the Tomb
“The tomb is empty?” Simon said.
“Yes,” Mary said.
“I have to see this for myself. John, are you coming with me?” Simon moved to open the door.
“Why?”
“Don’t you see, John? This could be the answer. If the tomb’s empty and he’s risen, then everything begins to make sense. Didn’t he tell us he had to die and he would rise three days later? I didn’t understand what he was talking about, but now… “
Simon unlatched the door and turned one more time.
“Are you coming, John?” John didn’t answer. Simon shook his head once, turned and ran out the door. John looked at Mary, shrugged his shoulders, and ran after his friend.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When has a personal failure fueled your resolve to act with a new sense of urgency?
- Has a personal experience ever suddenly brought an abstract truth to life for you?
- When facing monumental news, do you tend to act impulsively or process internally?
The Resurrection Answer
This is the answer. The resurrection of Jesus is the answer to our problems, our worries, our expectations, and our hopes. When the stone to his tomb was rolled away, he walked into a new life, a life without boundaries of physical existence, a life without the evil of the world, a life without end, a life with God.
When he walked out of the tomb, he shared that life with his followers and with us. One day, we too will walk out of our tombs to the same life Jesus has now. Many people look for the answer to the meaning of life.
Christians have found that answer. It’s the resurrection of Jesus. Happy Easter.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- For you personally, is the resurrection a practical answer to your real-world problems?
- How would your priorities change if you viewed “life” as existing without earthly boundaries?
- What new perspective on the Easter story did this particular narrative give you?
Non-profits may freely reproduce this infographic for bulletin use.
The Conversion of Cornelius
Breaking the Ritual Barrier: Peter’s Radical Proclamation
What happens when the Gospel collides with a lifetime of rigid religious boundaries? In his commentary on this pivotal moment in the Acts of the Apostles, Larry Broding explores the high-stakes encounter between Peter and the Roman centurion Cornelius. This isn’t just a history lesson; it is a masterclass in the “Personal Witness” that fueled the early Church. Broding deconstructs Peter’s sermon to reveal a lean, powerful summary of the Gospel—one that purposefully ignores the Nativity and the Parables to focus entirely on the transformative power of the Resurrection.
Why this commentary matters for your homily:
- Highlights the Cost of Inclusion: Understand the radical nature of Peter entering a Gentile home, choosing “Gospel proclamation” over “ritual purity” to reach a “righteous” Roman who was technically an idolater by military commission.
- Identifies the “Gospel Core”: Analyze why Peter’s summary focuses strictly on Jesus’ public ministry, death, and resurrection, providing you with a roadmap for preaching the “essentials” of the faith.
- Emphasizes the Power of Personal Witness: Explore how Peter uses his own experiences as a bridge between historical events and divine commission, helping you encourage your congregation to share their own “God-moments.”
- Connects Tradition with Testimony: See how the early Church balanced personal stories with the authority of the “Prophets,” offering a balanced framework for modern teaching that honors both Scripture and lived experience.
- Focuses on Universal Forgiveness: Delve into the climax of Peter’s message: that forgiveness is a gift offered to all, regardless of nation, class, or culture, provided they believe in the “Name.”ized for doing good.ival.
Read Larry Broding’s full commentary to help your congregation understand that the Good News is a bridge built to cross every human-made divide.
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics on this page were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com.
Non-profits may freely reproduce this infographic for bulletin use.
Think and Act from Above
Word-SundayPreaching on Colossians 3 can sometimes feel like trying to anchor the clouds. How do we explain to our parishioners that they have already died and been raised with Christ, yet still have to navigate the very real, very grounded challenges of everyday life? Larry Broding’s insightful commentary on Colossians 3:1-4 tackles this beautiful tension head-on, unpacking the profound “already, but not yet” reality of the Christian experience to help you craft a deeply impactful message.
Why this commentary matters for your homily:
- Decodes “Realized Eschatology”: Broding breaks down complex theological concepts into accessible, pastoral language, helping you explain how the resurrected life is already actively working within your parishioners, even as we wait for Christ’s return in glory.
- Deepens the Meaning of Baptism: It provides a clear, compelling framework to remind your congregation that their baptism wasn’t just a symbolic past event, but a radical, transformative entry into Christ’s new life—death to self, life in God.
- Bridges Heavenly Mindsets and Earthly Ethics: The commentary perfectly sets up the crucial pastoral pivot from lofty theological truths (“seek the upward things”) to the practical, daily call for upright, moral living in a modern world.
Read Larry Broding’s full commentary to help your congregation grasp the profound reality of their baptism and inspire them to view their daily lives through the eyes of God.
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics on this page were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com.
Non-profits may freely reproduce this infographic for bulletin use.
The Empty Tomb
From Crime Scene to Catalyst of Faith
How do we move a modern congregation from the “facts” of the Resurrection to a lived, unshakable faith? In his insightful commentary on John’s Gospel, Larry Broding peels back the layers of the Easter morning narrative, revealing that the empty tomb wasn’t just a mystery to be solved—it was a legal and theological battlefield. By contrasting the skepticism of Mary Magdalene with the immediate “sight” of the Beloved Disciple, Broding offers preachers a profound framework for exploring how love paves the way for belief.
Why this commentary matters for your homily:
- Navigates the “Johannine Twist”: Understand why John prioritizes the empty tomb over the angelic appearances found in the Synoptic Gospels, positioning the void itself as the primary cause for faith.
- Provides Historical and Polemical Context: Gain a deeper understanding of the “legal” necessity of the two male witnesses (Peter and the Beloved Disciple) and how their testimony served as a defense against early critics of the Resurrection.
- Explores the Theology of Caring for the Dead: Discover the cultural weight of burial rites and how the act of “unclean” charity elevated the reputation of the early Christians, turning a moment of shame into a testament of honor.
- Connects Love to Spiritual Sight: Leverage the powerful distinction that the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was the first to believe because those who remain faithful in the hour of testing are the first to recognize the Lord’s hand.
- Bridges the Text to Modern Experience: Use Broding’s reflection on “testing the aftershocks” of God’s work to help your parishioners recognize the Resurrection in their own lives when faced with the unusual or the miraculous.
Read Larry Broding’s full commentary to help your congregation see that in the emptiness of the tomb, we find the fullness of the Resurrection.
THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics on this page were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use the them in any non-profit ministry. Proper attribution, however, must be given to Larry Broding at Word-Sunday.com.