SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
On this, the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Church calls us to reflect on the kingship of Jesus Christ. It’s quite different from how we ordinarily think of a king. Rather than a ruler who makes his power known over his subjects, our God is like a shepherd tending his flock. As we hear in this Sunday’s first reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, God will look after his sheep “as a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep” (Ez [...]
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year A)
Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings. The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us. I hope you find it helpful! Ezekiel 34:11 – 12, 15 - 17 This Sunday, as we celebrate the 34th and last Sunday in Ordinary Time with the celebration of the great feast that has the impressive name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we [...]
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year A)
Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings. The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us. I hope you find it helpful! As you may have noticed, I usually begin our Bible Study/Faith Sharing with the first reading and then review the Gospel; if there is time, I then reflect on the second reading. I do this because the first reading is usually selected to [...]
Adopt-a-Family, Christmas Food Basket, Mercy Hospice Giving Tree
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip our nation and - indeed, our world - I’m sure you’re all aware of the impact it’s having on millions of families who have lost their jobs or had their work hours severely reduced. Many parishioners in our sister parish, St. Martin de Porres, are among those struggling families. We also have families in our own parish who could use some assistance as Christmas arrives; it’s less than six weeks away! We have several parish initiatives that will allow you to give to [...]
THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year A)
Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings. The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us. I hope you find it helpful! Wisdom 6:12 - 16 This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Wisdom. Again, the passage was clearly chosen to prepare us for the Gospel. We need to seek wisdom in our lives in order to prepare for the time [...]
Emerency Aid to Hurricane and Wildfire Victims/St. Charles Seminary Annual Appeal
Emergency Aid to Hurricane and Wildfire Victims As if the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t already have us in its fearful grip as the daily count of those infected and killed continues to rise, it seems that very day we hear more tragic stories about new hurricanes obliterating towns in Florida and throughout the Gulf Coast and the seemingly endless wildfires throughout the west. Just as we probably all know someone who has been stricken – and, perhaps, even killed – by COVID-19, we probably have family and friends living in the [...]