<![CDATA[The Pillar: Sunday School]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/s/sunday-schoolhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ktjI!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1d84de5-dbcf-4987-8cad-e8e485283932_300x300.pngThe Pillar: Sunday Schoolhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/s/sunday-schoolSubstackWed, 29 Apr 2026 06:27:11 GMT<![CDATA[Jesus is the Good Shepherd]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/jesus-is-the-good-shepherdhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/jesus-is-the-good-shepherdWed, 22 Apr 2026 12:01:43 GMTDr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

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- Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 8:40

Reading 1 - Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Psalm 23: 1-6

Reading 2 - 1 Peter 2:20b-25

Gospel - John 10: 1-10

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Show notes:

Christ in the Psalms by Patrick Henry Reardon

]]><![CDATA[Impetuous Peter and the road to Emmaus]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/impetuous-peter-and-the-road-to-emmaushttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/impetuous-peter-and-the-road-to-emmausWed, 15 Apr 2026 12:03:24 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter— including the Gospel account of Jesus appearing on the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:45.

Reading 1 - Acts 2: 14, 22-33

Psalm 16: 1-2, 5, 7-11

Reading 2 - 1 Peter 1:17-21

Gospel - Luke 24: 13-35

]]><![CDATA[The boldness of Doubting Thomas]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/the-boldness-of-doubting-thomashttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/the-boldness-of-doubting-thomasWed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:58 GMTDr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, including St. Peter’s letter to the “chosen exiles” and the story of ‘Doubting Thomas.’

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:00.

Reading 1 - Acts 2:42-47

Psalm 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Reading 2 - 1 Peter 1: 3-9

Gospel - John 20: 19-31

]]><![CDATA[From chaos to order, from darkness to light]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/from-chaos-to-order-from-darknesshttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/from-chaos-to-order-from-darknessWed, 01 Apr 2026 12:03:35 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera for a Pardon the Interruption-style Easter Vigil episode of Sunday School.

Are you planning to preach or attend Mass of Easter Day? You can find our episode about those readings here: Sunday School - Mass of Easter Day

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to the time in bold after each reading.

Reading I - Genesis 1:1—2:2 (8:35)

Reading II - Genesis 22:1-18 (15:05)

Reading III - Exodus 14:15—15:1 (23:50)

Reading IV - Isaiah 54:5-14 (29:00)

Reading V - Isaiah 55:1-11 (34:15)

Reading VI - Baruch 3:9-15, 32 4:4 (41:00)

Reading VII - Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 (46:35)

Psalm 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 (50:40)

Epistle - Romans 6: 3-11 (54:20)

Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (58:20)

Gospel - Matthew 28: 1-10 (1:02:30)

]]><![CDATA[Gird your loins! It's Palm Sunday]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/gird-your-loins-its-palm-sundayhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/gird-your-loins-its-palm-sundayWed, 25 Mar 2026 12:02:43 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for Palm Sunday— including the Kenotic Hymn, and Matthew’s account of the Passion.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 22:00.

Gospel with Palm Procession: Matthew 21:1-11

Reading 1 - Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24

Reading 2 - Philippians 2:6-11

Gospel - Matthew 26:14—27:66

]]><![CDATA["Lazarus, come out!"]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/lazarus-come-outhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/lazarus-come-outWed, 18 Mar 2026 12:03:29 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the Fifth Sunday of Lent— including a prophecy of hope in Ezekiel and Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 9:30

Reading 1 - Ezekiel 37:12-14

Psalm 130: 1-8

Reading 2 - Romans 8:8-11

Gospel - John 11:1-45

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Show notes:

Learn more about Venerable Pierre Toussaint

]]><![CDATA[Light, darkness, and the man born blind]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/light-darkness-and-the-man-born-blindhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/light-darkness-and-the-man-born-blindWed, 11 Mar 2026 12:03:27 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent— including Samuel’s secret anointing of David, an excerpt of what could be an encyclical by St. Paul, and Jesus’ healing of a man born blind.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 10:00.

Reading 1 - 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Psalm 23: 1-6

Reading 2 - Ephesians 5: 8-14

Gospel - John 9: 1-41

]]><![CDATA[Holy buckets!]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/holy-bucketshttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/holy-bucketsWed, 04 Mar 2026 13:03:35 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent— including the Israelites grumbling because of thirst, and John’s account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 9:00.

Reading 1 - Exodus 17: 3-7

Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-9

Reading 2 - Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8

Gospel - John 4: 5-42

]]><![CDATA[Suffering in the midst of promise]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/suffering-in-the-midst-of-promisehttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/suffering-in-the-midst-of-promiseWed, 25 Feb 2026 13:03:23 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent— including God’s calling of Abram, St. Paul’s last letter before his martyrdom, and Matthew’s telling of the Transfiguration.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:32

Reading 1 - Genesis 12:1-4a

Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-20, 22

Reading 2 - 2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Gospel - Matthew 17:1-9

]]><![CDATA[Adam and the ganache]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/adam-and-the-ganachehttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/adam-and-the-ganacheWed, 18 Feb 2026 13:03:16 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the First Sunday of Lent— including the second creation story in Genesis and Jesus’ testing in the wilderness.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:55.

Reading 1 - Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7

Psalm 51: 3-6, 12-13, 17

Reading 2 - Romans 5: 12-19

Gospel - Matthew 4: 1-11

]]><![CDATA[From scales to symphony ]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/from-scales-to-symphonyhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/from-scales-to-symphonyWed, 11 Feb 2026 13:01:36 GMTJD Flynn and Kate Olivera talk about the readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Special appearance by Dr. Scott Powell.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 8:20.

Reading 1 - Sirach 15: 15-20

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10

Gospel - Matthew 5: 17-37

]]><![CDATA[What does it mean to be the salt of the earth?]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-the-salthttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-the-saltWed, 04 Feb 2026 13:02:58 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time— including an ill-fated Yom Kippur detailed in Isaiah and Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew about the salt of the earth.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:10

Reading 1 - Isaiah 58: 7-10

Psalm 112: 4-9

Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

Gospel - Matthew 5: 13-16

]]><![CDATA[A better Adam, and Beatitude week!]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-better-adam-and-beatitude-weekhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-better-adam-and-beatitude-weekWed, 28 Jan 2026 13:03:48 GMTIt’s Beatitude Week! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time— including a reading from Zephaniah about the day of the Lord and the beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:50

Reading 1 - Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13

Psalm 146: 6-10

Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31

Gospel - Matthew 5: 1-12a

]]><![CDATA[A great light, and an inversion of the exile]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-great-light-and-an-inversion-ofhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-great-light-and-an-inversion-ofWed, 21 Jan 2026 13:01:26 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead at the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time— including an Advent-y passage from Isaiah, St. Paul’s strong message about unity to the church in Corinth, and Jesus’ withdrawal to Galilee.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 6:50

Reading 1 - Isaiah 8: 23—9:3

Psalm 27: 1, 4, 13-14

Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13, 17

Gospel - Matthew 4: 12-23

]]><![CDATA[Origin stories]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/origin-storieshttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/origin-storiesWed, 14 Jan 2026 13:03:42 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time— including a servant song in Isaiah, a Davidic psalm, and new creation in the Gospel of John.

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- Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 6:15

Reading 1 - Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6

Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-10

Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 1: 1-3

Gospel - John 1: 29-34

]]><![CDATA[Turning points]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/turning-pointshttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/turning-pointsWed, 07 Jan 2026 13:03:21 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Baptism of the Lord— including the first of the servant songs in Isaiah, a turning point in the New Testament, and Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 5:10

Reading 1 - Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7

Psalm 29: 1-4, 9-10

Reading 2 - Acts 10:34-38

Gospel - Matthew 3: 13-17

]]><![CDATA[A wicked king, a puppet king, and the king of kings]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-wicked-king-a-puppet-king-and-thehttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-wicked-king-a-puppet-king-and-theWed, 31 Dec 2025 13:01:37 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Epiphany of the Lord— including a psalm for the coronation of a wicked king, one of the Church’s first encyclicals, and the retelling of the magi’s search for Jesus.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 5:56

Reading 1 - Isaiah 60: 1-6

Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13

Reading 2 - Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6

Gospel - Matthew 2: 1-12

]]><![CDATA[Submissive wives, and the Holy Family flees to Egypt]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/submissive-wives-and-the-holy-familyhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/submissive-wives-and-the-holy-familyFri, 26 Dec 2025 13:02:39 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family— including St. Paul’s heavily misunderstood words to Christians in Colossae about family structure, and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:11

Reading 1 - Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14

Psalm 128: 1-5

Reading 2 - Colossians 3: 12-21

Gospel - Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

]]><![CDATA[A new genesis, and genealogies]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-new-genesis-and-genealogieshttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/a-new-genesis-and-genealogiesTue, 23 Dec 2025 19:51:06 GMTDr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Christmas Vigil Mass— including St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and the genealogy that launches the New Testament.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 11:40

Reading 1 - Isaiah 62:1-5

Psalm 89: 4-5, 16-17, 27, 29

Reading 2 - Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25

Gospel - Matthew 1: 1-25

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Listen to our episode for Christmas Mass During the Day here: The past days and the last days

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Jingle Bells by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

]]><![CDATA[The underground king, and a new genesis]]>https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/the-underground-king-and-a-new-genesishttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/the-underground-king-and-a-new-genesisWed, 17 Dec 2025 13:00:52 GMTJoin Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent— including a royal narrative in Isaiah, St. Paul’s understanding of the word ‘gospel,’ and the angel’s appearance to St. Joseph.

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Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:25

Reading 1 - Isaiah 7:10-14

Psalm 24: 1-6

Reading 2 - Romans 1:1-7

Gospel - Matthew 1:18-24

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