Browsing Pastor's Message

3rd Sunday of Advent

Posted by Christy .. on 1/30/20

My Dear People,

At last mention, John the Baptist was taken into custody (4:2). This event prompted Jesus to begin his kingdom ministry (4:17). How much time had elapsed between then and the present episode is uncertain, but it was long enough for uncertainty to take hold of the ... Read More »

2nd Sunday of Advent

Posted by Christy .. on 1/30/20

My Dear People,

John the Baptist’s ministry was based at the Jordan River, probably on the southern stretch of the river that flows by the Judean desert, just before emptying into the Dead Sea. To get there, the crowds from Jerusalem would travel about twenty miles through rugged terrain ... Read More »

1st Sunday of Advent

Posted by Christy .. on 1/30/20

My Dear People,

Today we begin (liturgical) year A. This means that for Sundays, we will read from the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus asserts that the day of his arrival is a mystery known only to the Father. To illustrate this point, Jesus turns to the story of Noah. ... Read More »

Christ the King 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 11/27/19

My Dear People,

Today is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It is reserved for Christ the King. The gospel of Luke takes us to Jesus on the Cross and the sign for his crime “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”, and Jesus mentions to the good ... Read More »

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 11/12/19

My Dear People,

Jericho was located about seventeen miles northwest of Jerusalem and a mile south of its Old Testament counterpart.

Unique to Luke is a man whose name is given: Zacchaeus. In this town that was near the border between Roman-controlled Judea and Perea and on an east-west trade ... Read More »

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 11/01/19

My Dear People,

Another parable about prayer immediately follows, directed at some who are confident in their own righteousness. Fittingly, a Pharisee represents such self-righteous people who despise everyone else. Appropriately, the other character is a tax collector. The parable compares these two people, as earlier parables compared “two ... Read More »

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 10/23/19

My Dear People,

Today we have two readings that deal with healing of leprosy. The first reading is regarding Naaman the Syrian who goes back to Elisha and wants to give gifts to him in thanksgiving of being cured of his leprosy. Elisha does not accept them. Naaman then ... Read More »

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 10/23/19

My Dear People,

The apostles, those chosen disciples whom Jesus entrusts with leadership responsibility, find the teaching very challenging (6,13; 22:30).  They ask the Lord for an increase of faith. They already have faith but consider it to be too weak. Jesus’ paradoxical reply indicates that even a little ... Read More »

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 10/23/19

My Dear People,

Jesus speaks about the necessity that his disciples pray always— “Your Kingdom come”! (11:2) without becoming weary. When Jesus earlier taught them how to pray, he also told them a parable (11:5-8) about perseverance in prayer, involving two people. He does the same thing now.

Jesus first introduces ... Read More »

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019

Posted by Christy .. on 10/03/19

My Dear People,

 Today’s reading is about a rich young man who celebrated splendidly every day. He dressed like a king and had many banquets. He did not do anything for the poor man Lazarus [which is short for Eleazar] whose wounds were licked by the dogs and who ... Read More »