EGREDIETUR VIRGA DE RADICE JESSE, ET REPLEBITUR OMNIS TERRA GLORIA DOMINI:ET VIDEBIT OMNIS SALUTARE DEI. A NEW SHOOT SHALL SPRING FROM THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND ALL THE EARTH WILL BE FILLED WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD. ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION BY OUR GOD.” (An Advent Sourcebook, p. 130) The Gospel for the Fourth…
“THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND. THEREFORE, BE SERIOUS AND SOBER FOR PRAYERS. ABOVE ALL, LET YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER BE INTENSE, BECAUSE LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS.” (An Advent Sourcebook, p.77) When the people met John, they wanted to know who he was, why he was there, and what his…
“CONVERTERE DOMINE ALIQUANTUM,ET NE TARDES VENIRE AD SERVOS TUOS.TURN TOWARD US, LORD, IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT,HURRY TO YOUR SERVANTS.” (An Advent Sourcebook, p.50) John the Baptist always appears in the Gospel on the Second Sunday of Advent. He lived in the desert with an extreme group called the Eseenes. He looked different than most folks at…
“JUCUNDARE, FILIA SION,EXSULTA SATIS FILIA, JERUSALEM, ALLELUIA.DAUGHTER SION, BE GLAD!DANCE, DANCE, DAUGHTER JERUSALEM! ALLELUIA.(An Advent Sourcebook, p.29) Today begins the Season of Advent, the new church year. This year is the Year of Mark, and Cycle B of the Sunday readings. Also, we have changed the color of the season from green to blue, which…
Today is the FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING! This feast celebrates that Jesus is the King of the Universe. But his kingship is very different from all other kings. He never wore regal robes, just the purple robe he wore to his execution. His crown was not one of gold and jewels, but of thorns….
We have a new President and Vice-President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. May they work together with the new Congress to move our country forward so that the United States continues to be a sign of hope, strength, and freedom for all Americans and all nations around the world. Congratulations to them and to all…
Now that the political campaigns are over, we can resume our liveswithout all the noise from those commercials. It seems that the politicalcommercials become nastier each year, regardless of what political partysponsors them. As the weather gets colder and we move more of our activities indoors,the chances of contracting COVID-19 become greater if we don’t…
TODAY IS THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS! This is the day when the church reminds us of the thousands of men and women who took the Gospel seriously enough to live according to it and to die because of it. They are models for us to emulate, for as they used their gifts to help…
There is no question that COVID-19 has changed the way Halloween will be celebrated this year. There are restrictions in some towns, and others have canceled house-to- house visits. Even the Trunk or Treat event that will be held here on Friday has been changed to keep the trick or treaters safe. The children have…
Let’s face it. No one likes to pay taxes. When April 15 (or this year, July 15) arrives, we reluctantly place our taxes in the mailbox. Then we are done for another year. The Pharisees and Herodians in today’s Gospel were concerned about whether Jesus would pay taxes to the Romans, who were occupying their…