Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - 2025

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Lk. 2:22 Points for Consideration & Meditation [...... their purification according to the law of Moses ......] ·         While we see our faith as a deeply personal matter, it belongs to a greater reality, part of a family of believers to which we belong, in who's company our portion of the faith was awakened. [...... had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit ......] ·         Consider how much we appreciate the guidance of another as we delve into new and hidden things about our lives. In our faith journey, that One is the Holy Spirit. Talk to the Spirit - invite the Spirit into each and every prayer time you begin - "Spirit show me, what should I see, what are you teaching me?" [.....the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.....] ·         To have prejudged what we think the Spirit has in store for us is likened to one covering their ears, lest they hear. Be amazed. "Eye has not seen, ear heard, or we ever imaged, what God has in store for those who love Him." (1Cor. 2:9)

Third Sunday of the Year - 2025

The Bible Speaks We Listen

Third Week in Ordinary Time | Sunday, January 26, 2025

In the Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis, Pope Francis instituted the Sunday of the Word of God, which is celebrated on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are encouraged to spend this day learning how The Bible Speaks and how We Listen.

"Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world."

Pope Francis, Aperuit illis, 2

To live out the Sixth Sunday of the Word of God, Pope Francis has chosen as the theme, “I hope in your Word” (Psalm 119:74). It is a cry of hope: man, in a moment of anguish, tribulation, and confusion, cries out to God and puts all his hope in him. We invite you to partake in the Liturgical and Pastoral Handbook for this theme.

For more information and suggestions visit the Diocese of Hamilton web page ----

Diocese of Hamilton

The Third Epiphany - The Wedding at Cana - 2025

Jesus did this, the first of his signs in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believe in him. The seven signs John lists are: 1.       Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11 - "the first of the signs" 2.       Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54 3.       Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15 4.       Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14 5.       Jesus walking on water in John 6:16-24 6.       Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7 7.       The raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-45 The seven signs are seen by some scholars and theologians as evidence of new creation theology in the Gospel of John, the resurrection of Jesus being the implied eighth sign, indicating a week of creation and then a new creation beginning with the resurrection. So why are these signs important – what are signs anyway? Simply, they are visible markers pointing the way. For example, as you drive around this area of the mountain, you see signs pointing the way to the airport. These signs are important to those wishing to board a plane and fly away. But first they must get to the airport. But to others who have no plans to fly – they are of no interest. John is writing his gospel account for people who are searching for direction for their lives – there must be more to life – how will I find it – who can help me get there? The miracles of Jesus are clear and dramatic signs. Here is One who has control over the natural world surely, he is able to lead us to the fullness of life. When we are onboard with Jesus we will fly away home to heaven. Now the signs John sights are dramatic, they have to be. They must be clear and convincing. As John’s gospel unfolds it demonstrates who are the true seekers and who are not, those who stubbornly refuse to see – I am perfectly fine thank you, just as I am. So how about us – are we seekers or stay-at-homer’s? The fact that we here in this place or worship suggests we are seekers. Yet we must always examine the motives of our hearts. There are so many distractions, so many misleading signs, redirecting our hearts to seek other ways – shortcuts to happiness. Spiritual writers call this discernment and the prayer of examine where we ask the Holy Spirit to point out if we have taken any wrong turns alone the way. So the three Epiphanies have been manifested, and the signs laid out. Let us take up the gospels anew and follow him who is the Way, the Truth and Life eternal. + + +  For more on the Prayer of Examine go to:  . . . LINK . . .

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The Second Epiphany - The Baptism of Jesus - 2025

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; 1. the visit by the Magi, 2. the baptism of Jesus by John, and 3. 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. The first was 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) “. . . not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began.”  What an extraordinary statement Paul is making here. We need to unpack it and ponder it. “. . . not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace”. In one of his Sunday Sermons,  Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire) identified a trend that is becoming more and more common in society today. People are leaving the tradition practice of their Christian Faith and embracing what they call “spirituality”. They describe themselves as no long religious but spiritual. Being spiritual is their seeking to attain an inner peace by their own efforts using things like meditation, yoga, communing with nature and the like. The opposite to this, Bishop Barron points out, is Faith, faith in divine revelation. It is not us seeking God bur God seeking us. A Voice outside of ourselves is calling us to go outside of ourselves to hear and embrace truth and wisdom being taught by the very voice of God. A person of faith recognizes that Jesus is the very Voice of God incarnate, speaking and teaching. A person of faith also realizes that if God did not reveal Himself, did not come down to us and teach us by his very own word, we could never arrive at such truth on our own. This is why these days of Epiphany, days of making him visible are so important. “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My Son the beloved; with You I am well pleased’. Later in Mark’s gospel in the Transfiguration, “Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Mk. 9:7 So the question for today is, am I listening? And a further question as well, to whom am I listening? There is a great competition happening today for our attention, made so by the rapid advances of electronic communication: radio, T.V., internet etc. So many voices speaking at us. But which voices are speaking the true Word of God? Jesus warned us this challenge. “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.” Lk. 21:8-9 The responsibility of discerning and protecting us was given to the Church which Jesus founded on Peter, promising that He would remain with his church in every age. That is why we are not surprised when we see Satan waging vicious attacks against the church. So now we are entering a new period of Ordinary Time, Year C in the liturgical cycle. This year we take up Luke’s gospel as our main focus, our main instrument for hearing the voice of God speaking, teaching us and protecting us from the deceiver. * * * * * * 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.

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Epiphany - 2025

I always enjoyed watching the little children visiting the Nativity scene in the church each Christmas. Their attention to the details and their innocent commentary on what they were seeing was both delightful and interesting. Yet do we not remember this verse in Luke’s gospel: At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. Lk 10:21 The word “epiphany”, means a manifestation, a showing forth, something seen and recognized, the beginning of understanding; we say, “ah, now I see, now I understand!” And what is being made manifest here is nothing less than God, our God made visible. Recall Jesus’ words to Philip: “… anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jo.14:9. In John’s gospel, we are actually given three epiphanies, three manifestations to ponder. The first epiphany is the birth of Jesus, with the three Wise men representing all nations and peoples coming to see. The second, the proclamation from heaven at Jesus baptism by John. The third manifestation seen is the first miracle of Jesus, the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana. The church takes us back to these first three epiphanies to get us started in a new year of grace. But now it is for us to have our own epiphanies. This starts when we start, when we too go in search of him. This “searching is non-other than our personal prayer life. Without this practice of prayer, we will remain in the dark; simply guessing about God. Recall again Jesus’ words to Philip:  “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Lk 10:22 The Christmas season in the Church is not simple meant to be a sentimental trip down memory lane. It is a serious time, of highest importance. It is a new gift of the Lord’s presence, a new gift of time and opportunity to become ever more attached to Jesus, to join with those who follow, and prepare for what the future holds for us.  *.*.*.*.*

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