Numbers 11:25 – 29
This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Numbers. As usual, it is a passage that prepares us for the Gospel. And, as has been the case over the past few weeks, it is taken from a book that we have not heard from in a while, so let’s review the who, what, when, where, why and to whom. It is the fourth book in the Torah and derives its name from the Vulgate title, “Numeri” which is taken from the Greek αριθμοι. What word do […]
Wisdom 2: 12, 17 – 20
Welcome back, everyone, as we return to Bible Study/Faith Sharing in person and virtually. I hope you all had a great summer and that you and your families have continued to successfully navigate this pandemic. Our God has continued to remain with us and his plan for us continues to unfold, just as it has throughout the ages. We just need the wisdom, humility and courage to understand and accept it. This upcoming Sunday’s readings help us to do just that so let’s begin by […]
When a man is ready to join the Knights of Columbus, a short application is filled out. The next step is taking his first of four degrees, Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. After the first degree he is an official Knight in the order. All four degrees at this time can be taken either online or in person.
I’m delighted to see so many of you returning to church for Sunday Mass; it’s so important for us as faithful individuals and as a community of faith! For the few of you who have not yet returned, I offer you this short but very informational video from Bishop Robert Barron. I hope it will inspire you to join us in person and look forward to seeing you in church! Msgr. Brouwers
As you have probably read or heard on the news, the U.S. bishops have been engaged over the past several months in a sometimes heated debate regarding the Eucharist and who should be receiving it. Abp. Jose Gomez, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, provided a press release last week; it includes a statement from him and Q and A on the issue. Although it appears to me to be a bit of damage control and an attempt to rewrite the story, I offer it for your reflection. Msgr. […]
Deuteronomy 4:32 – 34, 39 – 40
We have returned to Ordinary Time, that is, time ordered according to God’s plan for our salvation. As we do so, the Church has offered us over these next two Sundays the opportunity to reflect on two very important aspects of our faith: the Blessed Trinity and The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. These are two fundamental beliefs that inform everything else we believe about God. This Sunday, we focus on the mystery of the Holy Trinity. As we read in the […]
On this, Pentecost Sunday, we come to the end of the Easter Season as we celebrate the birth of the Church and hear an exhortation of how we are to live as the Church. Different readings are prescribed for the Vigil Mass than for the Mass on Sunday and that there are options for both sets of readings. I will reflect on the readings for Sunday that I will use at the Masses I will celebrate. I don’t know which readings Fr. Waters and Fr. Reilly will use, so don’t […]
John 15:9 – 17
This Sunday, we hear a continuation from last week of Jesus’ address to the apostles at the Last Supper as presented in John’s Gospel. Whereas last week we heard Jesus provide a parable about the vine and the branches, this week, we hear Jesus speak of the Father’s love and his call to his disciples to love in the same way. As you will read in your footnotes, most scholars consider the section of 13:31 – 17:26 to be Johannine compositions, modeled on farewell discourses found in […]
John 15:1 – 8
Last Sunday, we heard Jesus speak of himself as the Good Shepherd. He used that image against the Jewish leaders, whom he, by inference, characterized as bad shepherds, mere hirelings who are in it for themselves. He, on the other hand, was the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for his sheep.” As I mentioned last week, this is the only occasion in the Gospel of John where Jesus uses a human image as an analogy for himself.
This Sunday, we hear Jesus speak of himself in […]