TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
We’ve all heard the phrase: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” It’s straight from the Bible; in fact, you’ll find it in three books of the Old Testament: Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It follows right after the Ten Commandments and is offered as a practical application of the 5th Commandment: Thou shalt not kill. After decreeing that “whoever strikes someone a mortal blow must be put to death,” the text goes on to decree the appropriate punishment for lesser injury. It ends with, “if injury ensues, […]
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY
“I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you” (1 Cor. 11:23)
Our school has opened and our children have returned! I’m so happy to see them back and I know they’re happy to be back as well; I suspect many of their parents are happy to have them out of the house at last. Many other parish activities are resuming, as well, although in new and different ways in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We are working very hard to make sure that everyone remains […]
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
In writing to the Christians in Rome, we hear St. Paul say in today’s second reading that the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. He is reiterating the teaching that Jesus often offered, indeed, his greatest commandment. The commandment to love – God, oneself, and one another – is emphasized over and over again in all four of the Gospels.
God’s love for us is also very clearly presented in the Old Testament, although it is easy to miss this in the midst of all of the messages […]
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we experience God’s presence in two amazing ways: in his living Word and in our Lord’s life-giving Body and Blood. As I mentioned at the beginning of this Mass, we are excited for several of our young parishioners who will experience God’s presence in a new way for them as they receive Holy Communion for the first time. It is, indeed, a special moment for you and we rejoice with you!
But, we also experience God’s presence as we hear him speak […]
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Today’s Gospel begins in a somewhat unusual way. Rather than starting with the typical “Jesus began to teach them,” or “Jesus told his disciples another parable,” it starts with a statement about geography, about a particular city called Caesarea Philippi. I’ve been there and can tell you that it’s well worth visiting, although it’s hard to get access to it these days. Located some 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, it is today an uninhabited no-man’s land in the hotly disputed Golan Heights. Well before the time of […]