Our opening reading today is from the 1st Letter of Peter. In just two short verses, the author provide a summary of the main themes and an outline of the whole letter:
(1) God gave us a new birth,
(2) this birth leads to a hope,
(3) which is based on Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and
(4) Christians have a heavenly inheritance which is incapable of fading.
Today our nation celebrates Memorial Day. Lots of people confuse it or conflate it with Veteran’s Day. It is the latter which honors all the men and women who have served our nation in the military. It is the former that remembers and honors all those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a difference of which I receive weekly reminders as I am honored to serve veteran families during the internment of their loved ones at Quantico National Cemetery. Continue reading
This coming Sunday, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – is more popularly known as Corpus Christi, Latin for the “Body of Christ.” From one perspective, every Sunday is a feast of the Eucharist, because by participating in the Mass, and in receiving Communion, we are honoring and celebrating the Eucharist. Still, the celebration of Corpus Christi has its own history. Continue reading
Almost every culture has looked into the world and concluded there is a higher power at work to create the wonder of nature, the change of seasons, storms, and everything we experience in this life. It is as St. Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans: “For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them” (1:19). Every culture has come to different conclusions and I have always wondered if there is a correlation between culture and the perception of God. I am sure there is an academic treatment of the topic that has studied the culture and its mythology. For example, is we were Vikings we’d have Odin (wisdom, knowledge, war, and more), Frig (Marriage, Family, and Motherhood), Thor (Odin’s son: thunder, storms and strength), Loki (trickster, and tempter, father of Hel), Hel (guardian of the underworld) and Freya (goddess of fate, love, beauty, gold, war and fertility). If they made up the pantheon of our deities, what should we the people be like? I suspect it makes a difference. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus’ universal reign demands a universal mission. The restriction of the disciples’ mission to Israel alone in 10:5–6 can now be lifted, for the kingdom of the Son of man as described in Daniel 7:14 requires disciples of all nations. Continue reading
This morning in the parish we are celebrating a school Mass in which we celebrate the children of 2nd grade who recently celebrated their First Holy Communion, the students being inducted into the Jr. National Honor Society, and the “Ceremony of Light.” The ceremony is where the soon-graduating 8th grade students “pass the light” of leadership and example to the current 7th graders, who next year will assume the example of moral and spiritual leadership among the student body. As such the gospel for this special Mass comes from Matthew:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mt 5:14-16)
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. One should be struck by the repetition of the word “all” in this passage:
The universality of Jesus’ power and his continuing presence provide the dynamic for the universal discipleship mandate. The disciples will be able to make disciples of all the nations only as they recognize that Jesus has been given all authority and that he will be with them all the days until the end. The universal task is daunting, but it can be done because of the continuing power and presence of Jesus. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Many English translations offer “but some doubted.” Unfortunately the word “some” does not appear in the Greek text. The only two valid translations are “they worshiped, but they doubted (hesitated)” or “they worshiped and they doubted (hesitated).” It is hard to avoid the simple statement of the text: those who worship are also those who doubt. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. 16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:16-20) Continue reading
The first reading for today is from the Letter of James. It is a passage structured in three parts: the problem is identified (4:1–3), its incompatibility with God is described (vv. 4–7), and the cure of the vice is indicated (vv. 7–10).
In Jewish and Hellenistic thought all problems arise from four prime vices: desire, pleasure, fear, and grief. Earlier, James described “desire” as the root of temptation ever in conflict with heavenly wisdom: “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) These conflicts stem from “desire,” which cannot yield anything good: “You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain.” This is James’ parallel saying to the well-known: “the love of money (desire) is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). Continue reading
friarmusings 