GOING GREEN!
As you surely know, we joined with other counties in southeastern Pennsylvania on Friday in moving to the Green Phase. More businesses are allowed to open and more industries are allowed to resume operations as we slowly and carefully emerge from a near-total lockdown required to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The only difference for churches and other houses of worship, however, is that we are now allowed 75% occupancy rather than 50% occupancy, as was allowed during the Yellow Phase. Maintaining a 6’ distance between those of different households continues [...]
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year A)
2 Kings 4:8 – 11, 14 – 16a 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. This Sunday, we will hear one of Elisha’s miraculous pronouncements, one of a series of miracles performed at his hand. It prepares us for the Gospel. We haven’t read from 2 Kings for a long time, so let’s place [...]
FATHER’S DAY
In June of every year, we honor our fathers. For many fathers, their special and demanding vocation has taken on added meaning as they have spent more time with their children over these past three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Fourth Commandment calls us to honor our father and our mother so allow me to offer some reflections on this important national holiday. Mother's Day was established by presidential proclamation in 1914, but a holiday honoring fathers did not become official until 1966. This doesn't mean, however, that [...]
TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year A)
Matthew 10:26 - 33 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. We return to Ordinary Time, picking up where we left off before Lent and Easter. Remember, the Gospel of Matthew is the featured gospel this year - Year A. Ordinarily, we begin with the first reading. This week, however, I would like to begin [...]
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
“Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread come down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world’” (Jn 6:51). Last week, we explored the central mystery of the Church – the Blessed Trinity. Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi), I would like to explore with you another great and important mystery of our faith – the [...]
THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (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. Today’s solemnity – those of us who are my age and older recall it as Corpus Christi – has its origin in the Middle Ages as an expression of the faithful’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament during a time when very few felt worthy to receive our Lord [...]