Fifth Sunday of the Year - 2025

Imagine there is a meeting of some amateur botanists, who love to meet and discus all things plants and flowers. They are meeting to plan a trip to some exotic place to experience new and mysterious plants. The chairperson of the group has some brochures to look at but also mentions a place he just heard about that is most exotic but has no further information. Then a person raises their hand and announces they can help. Then the person proceeds to describe a place of utter beauty, saying that they had spent time there as a botany student studying these magnificent plants. No doubt when asked everyone will agree that this will be their trip this year. Travel brochures can be of some help, but eye witness and first-hand experience has so much more to offer.  Today’s First Reading gives us an account of the call of the prophet Isaiah. I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above. They cried one to the other, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!" Isaiah is experiencing the very presence of God. He is seeing and hearing for himself; (my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!") Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?" "Here I am," I said; "send me!" – then an angel purifies his lips with the flame of truth, to become God’s messenger. True prophets are not just person with there own take on theology – so much more. As I have often mentioned all of us baptized believers, gifted with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments, are called to share in the Church’s vocation to be God’s prophets in our time. St. Paul in Roman’s lays it out so very well for us. How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them?  And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to proclaim the good news. Rom. 10:14: Our world needs new Isaiah’s. Now we may hesitate to say, “here I am, send me”, because I am surely no theologian. But look again at today’s gospel. The people Jesus is calling to be his disciples are not the learned Scribes and Pharisees, they are simple fishermen. As prophets, we are called to be living evidence of the gospel of Jesus. When people see and experience your goodness, they will take notice. “Don’t tell me, show me.” Not every one will respond positively to our efforts. So it was with the first disciples Jesus sent out, but many did. In Luke 10:1 we read: After this the Lord appointed seventy-two a others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few . . . . . Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Then in Verse 17: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven . . . . . but, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Did we come to Mass today able to say, “Lord, I am happy to report these good things have happened this week because of the grace you put into my heart.”  And what will this week bring? Think of the final words of the Mass today, “Go in peace, glorify the Lord by your life.”

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 . . .

.