“God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong,” from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1:27) Jesus had a way of confounding the people of the world when he walked among us, and he still confounds them today. The Beatitudes, as they are known, has been called the little catechesis, or teaching of
January 26th, 2020
Fishers of Men
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” From the Gospel according to St. Matthew. At the beginning of his ministry, as recorded by St. Matthew, Jesus went to Caper′na-um by the sea of Galilee. It was there that he found Andrew and Simon Peter, and the rest of the twelve apostles. He began to teach them about repentance and the
January 12th, 2020
The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
“I will keep my love for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.” In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I tell you not only will the covenant stand firm for him, it only stands at all because of him. Isaiah sees this well from his own vantage point in history some 7 centuries before God’s Christ is made
January 5th, 2020
The Twelfth Day of Christmas
This is the last day of our Feast of the Incarnation, the twelfth day of Christmas. To the world around us, Christmas was over eleven days ago. So why do we Catholic Christians observe a long feast that most other Christians ignore? One of the reasons is that the 12 days are framed by Christmas Day and the Epiphany, which is always celebrated on January 6. On Christmas Day, the
December 29th, 2019
In the beginning was the Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” from the Gospel according to St John. This section of the Gospel according to St. John is know as the prologue. Many scholars have read, studied, analyzed, and regurgitated this section in a variety of ways. Some think it’s a bit of a hymn, others a poem, still others think it is elaborate
December 25th, 2019
Christmas Eve
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness– on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7 What does Christmas mean to you? Certainly for Christians, Jesus is the reason for the season, right? The Word made flesh, as St. John would put it. Any child can tell you it’s Jesus’ birthday! For many people, the reasons tend to be
December 22nd, 2019
Fourth Sunday in Advent
This is the long awaited, always expected something we have lived for. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. How can one even imagine Advent without the prophet Isaiah? How is it that this man living a couple hundred years after King David, and 7 centuries before Christ could speak so remarkable about Christ? Prophets are sort of like radios, they have
December 15th, 2019
Gaudete Sunday
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.” From the letter of St. James. This Third Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, because in the old Latin mass, the intro went like this: “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete” which translates to: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say,
December 9th, 2019
Advent 2 – Prepare the Way of the Lord
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” From the Gospel of St. Matthew. St. Matthew here quotes from the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 40. Verses 3 – 5 are these: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and
December 1st, 2019
Advent 1 – The Armor of Light
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.” From St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. Today marks the first Sunday in Advent. The theme of the coming of the Day of the Lord, or the advent of the Lord to judge the living and the dead is a constant in our teaching of the Gospel. Jesus describes it in the context of
