2013

How fitting that we begin ordinary time with such a common scene, a wedding reception where a couple are celebrating the start of a life long relationship. At a glance we are drawn to the transformation of water into wine but this isn’t about alcohol. Some listeners might be offended by the manner in which Jesus spoke to his mother, but this isn’t about etiquette either. Perhaps a good way to approach this incident in Cana would be to remember a line that Jesus said elsewhere in John’s gospel, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Jesus took something basic and essential to our lives, water, and transformed it into wine, which scripturally is a sign of joy, warmth, celebration, and abundance. He took something good and made it even better.

Unlike the relationship between a parent and child or between siblings, marriage is a bond that people freely enter into. A man and a woman freely choose to stand before witnesses and proclaim to each other their commitment to love and honor each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do they part. Their goal is to take a good relationship and make it an even better one.

…

2nd Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

My earliest recollection of baptism was as a teenager back in the mid sixties in a rather empty, somewhat cold church on a Sunday afternoon. Less than ten people were present: the baby, her parents, my family and the priest. That wasn’t much of a congregation yet that scenario was rather common in Catholic churches for years until the bishops meeting at Vatican II asked themselves, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Back then, baptism’s purpose was seen simply as washing away original sin. While that remains true, that isn’t the whole point of this important sacrament. Until St. Augustine arrived on the scene in the fifth century, the notion of original sin wasn’t even an issue in the early church. Jesus certainly had no need to be freed from original sin, so what did baptism mean back then?

…

Baptism of the LordRead More »

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Scripture: 1st reading Isaiah 6-:1-6
2nd reading Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel Matthew 2: 1-12

Today (tonight) we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. This is the story of God’s appearance to us, becoming man and taking the name Jesus. It is also a story of three Wise Men, Gentiles, following a star to find out who this important person is. But just suppose what would of happened if it had been three wise women who came to see the Christ child?

They would have asked for directions along the way, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts. However, that is not how it happened.

…

EpiphanyRead More »