2013

There is this old fable told about a far-off land which was ruled by a tyrant. The tyrant had an ironclad grip over all parts of his kingdom, except for one frustrating area. He was unable to destroy the people’s belief in God.

He summoned his counselors and put this question to them: “Where can I hide God so that the people will end up forgetting him?” One counselor suggested that God be hidden on the dark side of the moon. This proposal was debated for some time, but voted down because it was believed that one day scientists would discover a means of space travel and God would end being found again.

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Thanksgiving DayRead More »

1st Reading: Wisdom 11:22-12:1
2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1″11-2:2
Gospel: Luke 19 1-10

In today’s gospel we meet one of the singular characters in scripture. Zacchaeus has some social problems. He is small and he is a tax collector for the dominating Roman Empire which is taking money from the Jewish people, his kinfolk. He is also rich himself which puts him above his neighbors. In a strange way, he is-by being small, below others, but by his occupation he has made himself above others.

He climbs a tree to just catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass by that way. Zacchaeus literally put himself above his neighbors but a safe distance from Jesus, not wanting to be seen or encountered. The text says that Zacchaeus put himself in a position to see Jesus, but Jesus is the one who sees him first.

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31st Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

SCRIPTURE:

1ST Reading—Exodus 17:8-13
2nd Reading— 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Gospel— Luke 18: 1-8

Imagine that your child or grandchild for some of you, wants an ice cream cone. The child keeps asking and asking and yet you tell the child many things to hold off their constant persistence: “You just had lunch”. “You’ll spoil your dinner”. “You’ll get your good clothes dirty”. “You didn’t do what I asked you earlier”. “We do not have time to stop”. But the child is persistent asking and asking until you finally can not stand it anymore and you give in and buy that ice cream cone.

I see some kids in this congregation. Now kids, this is not a lesson into how to get things from your parents or grandparents. If you listen real close you will learn how God always wants you to reach out to him in prayer. O.K ?

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29th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

Luke combines two short yet interesting parables in today’s Gospel, the mustard seed and the useless servant. With a bit of irony, Jesus is asking the apostles to respond to his love by proclaiming the Kingdom of God for that task will never be done.

We too must proclaim God’s kingdom and love to our fellow citizens. Some don’t realize how much God loves them! So they downplay or even ignore God.  Many feel that religion is on the decline in the United States but not so. The US Census shows that only 15% of the country claims to be atheist, agnostic or irreligious yet they are impacting our society with their values. We who are committed to the Kingdom of God need to stand up for our faith for there is a deep malaise in our society.

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27th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

Pope Gregory the Great sent missionaries to England in the year 597 to convert the Angles and Saxons to the Christian faith. When King Edwin heard the gospel message, he held a council of his nobles to discuss this new religion. One wise nobleman concluded the discussion, “Your majesty, it seems to me that our human life is like a banquet hall. You are sitting at table feasting, with the warm fire blazing in the hearth, while outside the wintry storm rages. A sparrow enters through a window, flies the length of the hall, enjoying the light and warmth, and then flies out back into the cold wintry darkness from which it came. So with us.  At birth we emerge from who knows where, and for a short time we live here on earth, with its light and comfort, but then we fly out back into the darkness. We know nothing of what went before and what comes after. If this new teaching can lighten the darkness for us, let us follow it.”

The good news is that this new teaching does lighten the darkness for us.  By his death and resurrection, Jesus has revealed that there is new life beyond the threshold of death and many who have had near death experiences testify to the beauty that awaits those who seek to be there.

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26th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »