We are back into Ordinary Time. Of course this time is not ordinary. As in life, most of life takes place between the great highs and lows of our lives. The same is true for Christianity. All of Jesus’ teaching, miracles and parables generally occur during Ordinary Time. Today in...
The Baptism of the Lord January 12, 2020 The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives four reasons for the Incarnation, why God became man in Jesus Christ. The third reason is “to be our model of holiness.” All of Jesus’ words and actions model for us what we ought to...
During the Christmas Season, social media puts out many sayings, themes and quotes intended to inspire and remind us of the “reason for the season.” One of the sayings I saw posted included a saying about to celebrate Christmas accurately and faithfully, we need to include concern and prayer for...
Here we are at Christmas and the emphasis for us in our faith is still longing and expecting the presence of Christ coming to us in a new, meaningful and tangible way. Sometimes we allow ourselves to become all wrapped up in the details and preparations for Christmas that we...
Today we hear Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus. It is important to remember, while Luke and Matthew likely had Mark’s Gospel and what is known as the “Q Source” (a collection of Jesus sayings and parables that predates all Gospels) in front of them as they wrote theirs....
Today’s Gospel story is rather embarrassing for John the Baptist and his disciples. He is seemingly unsure that Jesus is the Christ or not. We like to imagine John, full of confidence ad certitude, however John is in many ways like us. He is simply unsure sometimes. He wants to...
I always thought John the Baptist would be someone you would hate opposing but would love having on your side. I remember when I was a hospital chaplain, there was an emergency room doctor who at first glance, seemed to be the biggest jerk at the hospital. In the emergency...
Today’s Gospel seems to be misplaced for the First Sunday of Advent. The Gospel from Matthew, is taken from Jesus’ description of the Apocalypse. Why would we have this sort of Gospel on the First Sunday of Advent? We often think of Advent as Christmas shopping season. The theological issues...
As you notice, things are getting real for our remodeling. Carpet is changing, the outside of the building is changing and the roof is changing. It all seems to make sense because this Sunday is the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, concluding with this feast of Christ the King. Next...
Those familiar with the Book of Revelations, will recognize the words, themes and predictions of Jesus concerning the end times. The author of The Revelations, John, we know was familiar with the Hebrew Scripture as well as the emerging Gospels available in the 1st and 2nd century. It is obvious...