Carol J. Dempsey
Portland
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Articles by Carol J. Dempsey
August 30, 2026: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's first reading is taken from the book of Jeremiah, a text within the prophetic corpus of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. In its earliest form, the prophetic had its roots in the natural world, the first "word" of the Divine, that proclaimed the wonder, beauty and goodness of the Holy One and Creator of all. Throughout recorded history, the natural world is the place of encounter with the Divine and has shaped spiritual narratives of diverse cultures worldwide.
Aug. 30, 2026: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's first reading is taken from the book of Jeremiah, a text within the prophetic corpus of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. In its earliest form, the prophetic had its roots in the natural world, the first "word" of the Divine, that proclaimed the wonder, beauty and goodness of the Holy One and Creator of all. Throughout recorded history, the natural world is the place of encounter with the Divine and has shaped spiritual narratives of diverse cultures worldwide.
May 31, 2026: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity commemorates a central doctrine of Christianity, the Trinity. This doctrine, which developed over centuries, focuses on the nature of God which it defines as one God existing in three coeternal, consubstantial divine "persons." These "three persons" are said to be distinct, yet they share one essence, one substance and one nature.
Amos and Hosea: The Justice and Mercy of God. By Katherine M. Hayes. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2023. vii + 122 pages. $19.95 (paper).
Abstract Information Type Book Review Information Horizons , Volume 52 , Issue 2 , December 2025 , pp. 321 - 322 Copyright © College Theology Society 2026 Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)
Nov. 30, 2025: First Sunday of Advent
This last day of November ends another calendar month and moves us closer to December 21, the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year, when we will be plunged into deeper darkness. Meanwhile, the liturgical season of Advent begins. These next few weeks will find us waiting for the dawn of a new day, embodied in the arrival of the Christ Child whose birth is supposed to usher in a time of peace, one that is forever on the horizon but yet to be realized. Advent is a time of waiting.
First Sunday of Advent: What are we waiting for?
This last day of November ends another calendar month and moves us closer to December 21, the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year, when we will be plunged into deeper darkness. Meanwhile, the liturgical season of Advent begins. These next few weeks will find us waiting for the dawn of a new day, embodied in the arrival of the Christ Child whose birth is supposed to usher in a time of peace, one that is forever on the horizon but yet to be realized. Advent is a time of waiting.
Aug. 31, 2025: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Humility and hospitality, two central themes that emerge from this Sunday's readings, are two virtues that need to be recovered for the full flourishing of life on the planet. The first reading from Sirach, one of the Bible's Wisdom books, features a father instructing his son on how to conduct his affairs.
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Two life-sustaining virtues
Humility and hospitality, two central themes that emerge from this Sunday's readings, are two virtues that need to be recovered for the full flourishing of life on the planet. The first reading from Sirach, one of the Bible's Wisdom books, features a father instructing his son on how to conduct his affairs.
June 29, 2025: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
In the Matthean Gospel account, Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ — the anointed one — the son of the living God. This title has nothing to do with Christ as the second person of the Trinity. An Old Testament term "son of God" refers to someone who has a special relationship with the deity. Solomon, angels, pious men and the kings of Israel are all referred to as "sons of God." In the Gospel account, Peter acknowledges Jesus as the anointed one, sharing in a special relationship with God.
Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul: Called to be Christians of conscience
Today's readings for the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul provide us with a glimpse into the remarkable lives of two early Christians who endured persecution because of their faith. While the church singles out these two individuals and recognizes them as "saints," their experience of persecution, and in the case of Peter who suffered at the hands of an imperial and authoritative leader, is no different from the oppression that many Christians endure throughout the world today.
Fourth Sunday of Lent: Celebration and reconciliation
A statue of St. Veronica, carved by Francesco Mochi in the 17th century, can be seen in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 8. According to tradition, she was moved by compassion for Christ and wiped his face with a veil during the Way of the Cross. (CNS/Pablo Esparza) Four topics emerge from this Sunday's readings: celebration, reconciliation, God and compassion.
Fourth Sunday of Lent: Celebration and reconciliation
Four topics emerge from this Sunday's readings: celebration, reconciliation, God and compassion. The first, celebration, emerges from the reading taken from the book of Joshua that features the Israelites celebrating the eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover. This celebration is one of Judaism's most sacred events.
March 30, 2025: Fourth Sunday of Lent
Four topics emerge from this Sunday's readings: celebration, reconciliation, God and compassion. The first, celebration, emerges from the reading taken from the book of Joshua that features the Israelites celebrating the eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover. This celebration is one of Judaism's most sacred events.
Ancient Echoes: Refusing the Fear-Filled, Greed-Driven Toxicity of the Far Right. By William Brueggemann. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2023. ix + 132 pages. $16.95 (paper). | Horizons | Cambridge Core
Without a doubt the world is in turmoil. In the United States, religion now intersects with politics to create an ever-growing Christian nationalism movement. Those who espouse this relatively new movement believe that American identity is inextricable from Christianity. This movement can be traced to the Christian right, a United States/American phenomenon, begun in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wise and prophetic spirit poured out upon all creation
Pope Francis waves to an estimated 12,500 people attending a meeting of popular movements and church groups committed to working for peace and justice at the Arena in Verona May 18. Comboni Fr. Alex Zanotelli, one of the event organizers, holds a peace flag. (CNS/Lola Gomez) In times such as these, when faith can be influenced by fundamentalism and Christian nationalism, some believers aspire to become prophets. Others see themselves as prophets already.
Sept. 29, 2024: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Pope Francis waves to an estimated 12,500 people attending a meeting of popular movements and church groups committed to working for peace and justice at the Arena in Verona May 18. Comboni Fr. Alex Zanotelli, one of the event organizers, holds a peace flag. (CNS/Lola Gomez) In times such as these, when faith can be influenced by fundamentalism and Christian nationalism, some believers aspire to become prophets. Others see themselves as prophets already.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Transformative healing
(Unsplash/Natalie Grainger) In the Bible, the Book of Wisdom, or better known as the Wisdom of Solomon, is one of the seven deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. In Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches, the book is considered canonical. In the Anglican and Protestant churches, the book appears among the and was part of the Greek version of the Old Testament but not part of the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, the Wisdom of Solomon is also not included in the Hebrew Bible.
June 30, 2024: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Unsplash/Natalie Grainger) In the Bible, the Book of Wisdom, or better known as the Wisdom of Solomon, is one of the seven deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. In Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches, the book is considered canonical. In the Anglican and Protestant churches, the book appears among the and was part of the Greek version of the Old Testament but not part of the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, the Wisdom of Solomon is also not included in the Hebrew Bible.
Easter Sunday: Doing the work of Easter
"The Resurrection," a 1683 engraving by Claude Mellan (Metropolitan Museum of Art) March 31 — the end of another calendar month — ushers in a season of profound hope as Christians everywhere celebrate Easter, the commemoration of Christ's resurrection. Many times Easter and the Jewish feast of Passover overlap, but not this year. Easter symbolizes new life and often coincides with the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere.
March 31, 2024: Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord
"The Resurrection," a 1683 engraving by Claude Mellan (Metropolitan Museum of Art) March 31 — the end of another calendar month — ushers in a season of profound hope as Christians everywhere celebrate Easter, the commemoration of Christ's resurrection. Many times Easter and the Jewish feast of Passover overlap, but not this year. Easter symbolizes new life and often coincides with the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph: Turning the page
(Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez) As 2023 draws to a close, we recall major events that have happened this year in our church and world. In Rome, Catholic clergy and laypeople gathered at the Vatican Oct. 4-29 for a synod to discuss synodality, with an emphasis on communion, participation and mission. As Carolyn Weir Herman wrote for America, the synod working document underscores the problem of sexism in the church and highlights the need for women to have meaningful roles in ecclesial life.
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph: Turning the page
(Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez) As 2023 draws to a close, we recall major events that have happened this year in our church and world. In Rome, Catholic clergy and laypeople gathered at the Vatican Oct. 4-29 for a synod to discuss synodality, with an emphasis on communion, participation and mission. As Carolyn Weir Herman wrote for America, the synod working document underscores the problem of sexism in the church and highlights the need for women to have meaningful roles in ecclesial life.
Dec. 31, 2023: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
(Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez) As 2023 draws to a close, we recall major events that have happened this year in our church and world. In Rome, Catholic clergy and laypeople gathered at the Vatican Oct. 4-29 for a synod to discuss synodality, with an emphasis on communion, participation and mission. As Carolyn Weir Herman wrote for America, the synod working document underscores the problem of sexism in the church and highlights the need for women to have meaningful roles in ecclesial life.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: The struggle for transformation
Migrants, whose boats sank in the sea and who were rescued by the Libyan Coast Guards at the Mediterranean Sea, arrive on a boat at the port in Garaboli, Libya, June 8. (OSV News/Reuters/Ayman al-Sahili) When we peruse the Bible, especially the Hebrew Scriptures, we encounter narratives and poems describing the many hardships, struggles and injustices of biblical times. Nations and kingdoms rival one another. Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires rise and fall.
Oct. 29, 2023: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Migrants, whose boats sank in the sea and who were rescued by the Libyan Coast Guards at the Mediterranean Sea, arrive on a boat at the port in Garaboli, Libya, June 8. (OSV News/Reuters/Ayman al-Sahili) When we peruse the Bible, especially the Hebrew Scriptures, we encounter narratives and poems describing the many hardships, struggles and injustices of biblical times. Nations and kingdoms rival one another. Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires rise and fall.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: The struggle for justice and transformation
When we peruse the Bible, especially the Hebrew Scriptures, we encounter narratives and poems describing the many hardships, struggles and injustices of biblical times. Nations and kingdoms rival one another. Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires rise and fall. Monarchs, princes, wealthy landlords and dishonest merchants enforce corrupt laws to enrich themselves — leaving many people, especially small farmers, disenfranchised.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: A divine gift of virtue
One of the divisions of the Hebrew Bible is the Ketuvim, the Writings, or otherwise called Wisdom literature. The wisdom tradition is an ancient one, originating in Mesopotamia, Canaan and Egypt. Ancient Egyptian wisdom consisted of formal instructions and lessons taught by parents and elders to children in their communities and societies. In the ancient cultures, of which Israel is a part, wisdom was oftentimes understood as either practical or speculative.
July 30, 2023: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the divisions of the Hebrew Bible is the Ketuvim, the Writings, or otherwise called Wisdom literature. The wisdom tradition is an ancient one, originating in Mesopotamia, Canaan and Egypt. Ancient Egyptian wisdom consisted of formal instructions and lessons taught by parents and elders to children in their communities and societies. In the ancient cultures, of which Israel is a part, wisdom was oftentimes understood as either practical or speculative.
All Creation Is Connected: Voices in Response to Pope Francis's Encyclical on Ecology. Edited by Daniel R. DiLeo. Winona, MN: Anselm Academic, 2018. 238 pages. $25.95 (paper). | Horizons | Cambridge Core
Hostname: page-component-d59c9c6dd-6zpj9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2023-06-19T09:29:14.332Z Has data issue: false Feature Flags: { "corePageComponentGetUserInfoFromSharedSession": true, "coreDisableEcommerce": false, "corePageComponentUseShareaholicInsteadOfAddThis": true, "coreDisableSocialShare": false, "useRatesEcommerce": true } hasContentIssue false Review products All Creation Is Connected: Voices in Response to Pope Francis's Encyclical on Ecology. Edited by Daniel R. DiLeo.
Fourth Sunday of Easter: New life, new theologies
Help us reach our goal of $200,000! We have raised $53,975 from 281 supporters. We are 26.9% of the way to our goal! The spring season refreshes, revives and reinvigorates the natural world. Remnants of winter snows melt away, streams swell with runoff, days become longer as nights grow shorter, flowers blossom and baby birds fledge. Is it no wonder that the liturgical season of Easter occurs during the season of spring?
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Alternative choices
The responsorial psalm presents a portrait of the divine and an implied description of holiness and godliness. The divine one favors the oppressed, those in need and those who suffer. This one actively acts on their behalf to break the bonds of captivity while "waking" others to an understanding of the root causes of their disenfranchisement and suffering. This one safeguards the "other" and sustains unprotected classes.
The Oxford Handbook of Jeremiah. Edited by Louis Stulman and Edward Silver. New York: Oxford University Press, 2021. v + 683. $150.00.
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Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Are all things vanity?
"Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" and "Take care to guard against all greed ... for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions." The phrases from this Sunday’s reading are a prophetic voice addressing the 1% of people who own the world’s wealth. It is no secret that money has power, and power is gained through money. Some of the wealthiest oligarchs reside in the world’s wealthiest empire nation, the United States.
Seventh Sunday of Easter: Unifying gift of love
To encounter the divine in an intimate, transcendent way is not an experience reserved for certain people because they are faithful, pious, godly, virtuous or holy. An encounter with the mysterium tremendum is pure gift, initiated by the gift-giver, and meant to be transformative and informative for the recipient and the recipient's community.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: All creation is prophetic
We can no longer view the prophetic as a gift and activity reserved for human beings alone. All creation is prophetic because, from a faith perspective, all creation is infused with the prophetic and wise spirit of the divine. Thus, all creation communicates the wonder, the mystery, the complexity, the beauty of the divine as we hear in Psalm 19:1-4: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night declares knowledge.
Feast of the Holy Trinity: Joyful laughter
Trinity Sunday affords us the opportunity to reflect on the oneness of the divine permeating and pulsating through all creation, filling Earth's creatures with fecundity, beauty, wonder and the marvelous capacity to relate, to love. Using traditional terms for the Trinity, 14th-century Dominican mystic Meister Eckhart once wrote: "Do you want to know what goes on in the core of the Trinity? I will tell you. In the core of the Trinity, the Father laughs and gives birth to the Son.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Prophetic work is justice work
This fourth Sunday in ordinary time marks the end of the first month of the new year 2021. Yet, this time is hardly ordinary. Still immersed in a global pandemic, separated from one another by masks and social distancing, we take to heart the comforting words of today's second reading, "I would like you to be free from anxieties" (1 Corinthians 7:32). These days continue to be anxious times, as all of the planet's communities struggle to deal with yesteryears' challenges and crises.
Is 63:16b-17,19b, 64:2-7; Ps 80; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37.
Rarely do we take time to think about and explore the rhetoric and imagery for "God" in Scripture and lectionary texts. We merely pray with texts, listen to texts, preach on texts, set texts to music and even teach texts. Little do we realize that the rhetoric and imagery for the divine is deeply embedded in our religious culture, affects our religious consciousness and imagination, and even influences our politics, policies, how we live our lives and how we view life.
Sunday Resources
NCR offers these Sunday planning resources two months in advance as a complimentary service.
Isaiah's vision of leadership
Shown is a detail from the cover of the Lincoln Bible. The velvet-covered Bible was used when Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president of the United States in 1861. (CNS/Nancy Wiechec) The wondrous season of Advent invites us to enter into deep time to reflect on our lives and our global reality. Many of the liturgical readings for Advent are taken from the book of Isaiah.
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