Fourth Sunday - 2021

My Church is a spaceship

Created to carry all who board
Across the universe to beyond the stars

Once a simple boat for fishing
It changed when the Teacher came aboard
Telling everyone to leave their nets on the shore
And follow Him from port to port
Inviting everyone with a sailor's heart
To sail with us across the sky
To that distant shore called Peace
And the port called Home
To live with Love forever

My Church is a spaceship

And its doors are opened to all

Come aboard and join us

As we journey among the stars

The Covid-19 lockdown has given us a new perspective on space travel. Our travel to, and gathering together is now "virtual". We must always keep in mind that there is no physical barrier that prevents the coming and going of the Holy Spirit. Church doors may remain closed for now but the Spirit can carry us up into union with God when we pray - even when we pray and worship virtually.

Third Sunday - 2021

Dr. Brant Pitre Commentary on the Gospel Text . . . LINK . . .

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Second Sunday 2021

There are many in the Church today who are very worried about the growing detachment from the practice of the faith by many of today’s younger generations. These elders seem to be at a lost how to respond – often fearing that if they try to say something it will only drive the young further away. In today’s first reading, there is an interesting verse that gives us some insight into the young Samuel’s state of faith.  We read: “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” Another translation reads it: “At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.” “… did not yet KNOW the Lord, … not yet been REVEALED to him.” Knowing about someone or some thing is not the same as knowing them personally. The response the elder Eli makes, has some interesting insight for today’s elders concerned for their younger one’s faith – an approach that might help us. To be concerned for the state of our young people’s faith is a valid one and must never be written off. The obstacles to the development of a practical faith by young people today are enormous and complex. It is vital for the elder generation to be there for the younger generations to be there with guidance and encouragement as was Eli for Samuel. Now we must not think that we are more concerned for the faith of our young generations than is the Lord. God is calling, to be sure, and I believe God has a plan for this generation and the next, already working. It took a couple of wakeup calls before Eli was able to recognize that God had a plan for Samuel, and what his role was to be. Just so for us elders today. How does God want us to cooperate in his plan for our young generation? Here are some suggests 👉    Do not judge them or condemn their lack of religious practice – rather be discerning – think of Eli’s affectionate tone when he said: “It was not I calling you my son …” Let your concern be seen as love. 👉   Realize that God is already working within them, speaking to their hearts, preparing them. 👉  Be models of a living faith which demonstrates the reality of a living faith in a positive light. 👉 Look for the signs, the openings that they may give you, and encourage them to keep seeking. 👉 Tell them to go directly to God, in the midst of the confusing values surrounding them and trying to influence them today. 👉 Pray for them without ceasing. Dedicate them to their Mother Mary.

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Baptism of the Lord

From a Sermon on the Epiphany Attributed to Saint Hippolytus, priest That Jesus should come and be baptized by John is surely cause for amazement. To think of the infinite river that gladdens the city of God being bathed in a poor little stream of the eternal, the unfathomable fountainhead that gives life to all men being immersed in the shallow waters of this transient world!  He who fills all creation, leaving no place devoid of his presence, he who is incomprehensible to the angels and hidden from the sight of man, came to be baptized because it was his will. And behold, the heavens opened and a voice said: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." The Father of immortality sent his immortal Son and Word into the world; he came to us men to cleanse us with water and the Spirit. To give us a new birth that would make our bodies and souls immortal, he breathed into us the spirit of life and armed us with incorruptibility. Now if we become immortal, we shall also be divine; and if we become divine after rebirth in baptism through water and the Holy Spirit, we shall also be coheirs with Christ after the resurrection of the dead. Therefore, in a herald’s voice I cry: Let peoples of every nation come and receive the immortality that flows from baptism. This is the water that is linked to the Spirit, the water that irrigates Paradise, makes the earth fertile, gives growth to plants, and brings forth living creatures. In short, this is the water by which a man receives new birth and life, the water in which even Christ was baptized, the water into which the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. Whoever goes down into these waters of rebirth with faith renounces the devil and pledges himself to Christ. He repudiates the enemy and confesses that Christ is God, throws off his servitude, and is raided to filial status. He comes up from baptism resplendent as the sun, radiant in his purity, but above all, he comes as a son of God and a coheir with Christ. To him and to his most holy and life-giving Spirit be glory and power now and for ever. Amen.

Epiphany 2021

We commonly think of the Epiphany as that one event in Christ's life where the Magi, led by a star, make their way to see him and offer him gifts fitting a new king. However, the Catholic liturgy considers the Epiphany to be threefold, the visit by the Magi, the baptism of Jesus by John, and the miracle of the wine at the wedding feast of Cana. The Greek word, "epiphaneia", was used to signify the coming of a king or emperor. It was also used for the self-manifestation of a god or for his miraculous intervention; this later, likely the original use of the word.  St. Paul used the word "epiphany" three times; first in reference to Jesus first coming.          He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance (epiphaneias) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  2 Tim. 1:9-10 The other two uses refer to Jesus second coming; (Titus 2:13) and (2 Thess. 2:8) For this blog I thought it appropriate not only to behold these wondrous appearances but also to listen to the voices of those who were the first to see. THE MAGI          "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." Prayer: O Lord, where in my heart is such wonder and awe, such hunger to find you, that I might surrender my whole heart to your kingship? My eyes are no longer fixed heaven ward, but rather on the empty and passing things that surround me, like dark clouds covering my view of the stars. Let the brilliance of your true presence break through my darkness and lead me once again in search of you. Jesus Baptism by John          "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Prayer: O Lord, is there a day, soon to come, when a new fire will burn in my heart. Has my baptism become but a single ember, barely glowing? Fan into flame once again, that fire of faith I was given. Baptize me anew in your Holy Spirit, and awaken in me the fire of your Love. Let me hear once again, in my heart, your voice speaking to me, "You are my child, my beloved; with you I am well pleased." CANA          Mary said, "They have no wine." ... "Do whatever he tells you." Prayer: Mary, these words you speak are now about me. The wine of my faith and the wine of my hope and the wine of my love have surely run out. I am but a clay pot, idle and empty. Where would I be now, if your motherly love for me was not speaking to me these words of wisdom. I will do what your Son now tells me. I will take the water of my humble prayers, the water of my study of his word, the water of my examination of mind and heart to fill my idleness and emptiness, while I await his transforming grace of renewal.