Today’s Gospel shows Jesus speaking an unpalatable truth to His listeners. Just like Jeremiah in the first reading, who had to tell people that they faced disaster, Jesus has to tell truths that no one wants to hear. At first, when He sticks to the text, and says nothing too challenging, they are happy to […]
IV Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle “Câ€, January 31, 2010 Read More »
The ancient people of Israel, as we see in the first reading, greatly prized the written Law. To be a scribe was a position of respect and veneration. The Law is read in the presence of the community, a liturgical assembly. It is really an act of worship; the written part only comes alive as
III Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle “Câ€, January 24, 2010 Read More »
When Jesus entered into the marriage celebrations at Cana, He not only took part in the joyous scene, He added to it. The presence of Jesus, His mother and His disciples at a village wedding is a lovely picture. We see them sharing the lives and the happiness of ordinary people in a domestic setting.
II Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle “Câ€, January 17, 2010 Read More »
The prophet Isaiah’s words today were originally addressed to a people who had spent many years away from their homeland, the victims of war, living as captives, exiled to their conquerors’ land. He offers them hope that their time of warfare is over, the time for their homecoming is drawing near, that God is going
Solemnity – Baptism of our Lord – Cycle “Câ€, January 10, 2010 Read More »
In the Gospel today, Mary and Joseph have been with the 12 year old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a custom for all Jewish males to visit the Temple three times a year, to commemorate three major festivals: Passover, Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles. By recording this journey, St. Luke shows
Solemnity – Holy Family – Cycle “Câ€, January 3, 2010 Read More »
“This Solemnity reminds the members of the Polish National Catholic Church to pray for the living and departed clergy of the Church, to support the need for the increase of vocations to the holy orders of our Church as well as our Savonarola Theological Seminary with their prayers, labor and finances. “It is not you
Solemnity – Humble Shepherds – Cycle “Câ€, December 27, 2009 Read More »
The account of the visitation in St. Luke’s Gospel culminates in Elizabeth’s proclamation that Mary is blessed because she has put her faith in what the Lord has said to her. Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, who herself was pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth’s greeting gave complete confirmation to all
IV Sunday of Advent – Cycle “Câ€, December 20, 2009 Read More »
St. John the Baptist is someone who quickly took center stage and enjoyed a fair measure of success as a preacher, to the point where people began to wonder whether he was the Christ. John was a success but he knew his limitations. If you are looking forward to Christmas, full of expectancy, then you
III Sunday of Advent – Cycle “Câ€, December 13, 2009 Read More »
Isaiah points a powerful poetic vision: “Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid down, winding ways will be straightened and rough roads made smooth.†The writer of the book of Baruch, which we heard as our first reading, would have been familiar with this passage and echoes it in his
II Sunday of Advent – Cycle “Câ€, December 6, 2009 Read More »
The Advent season has always had a dual focus. We prepare for Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s first coming. But we also think about the second coming of Christ, when God’s kingdom will finally be fulfilled and God’s plan of salvation for the whole of creation will reach its ultimate completion. Today’s Gospel reminds us
I Sunday of Advent – Cycle “Câ€, November 29, 2009 Read More »