Every once in a while I am asked about this or that from my undergraduate days at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland. I think the #1 question is “do all the midshipmen really eat a sit down meal all at the same time?” The answer is “yes.” How is that possible?
I ran across this video that answers the question. Enjoy
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time in Lectionary Cycle B. The gospel reading starts out with a seemingly ordinary phrase: the next day. Although broader than the context of this Sunday’s reading, be aware that this simple expression “the next day” is part of a counting of days that occurs from 1:19-2:12 in which the Fourth Evangelist enumerates the seven days of a “new creation” in the coming and revelation of Jesus. It is just one of the many ways in which the Fourth Gospel traces/connects the good news of Jesus to the whole of Scripture. Continue reading
Note: our Deacon is preaching at the Masses for which I am presiding – a homily holiday for me! Here is one of my favorite Epiphany homilies from years past.
Today we celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord, traditionally celebrated on January 6th in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches; but here in the West we celebrate it on a Sunday. So, welcome to our celebration of The Epiphany. It is a word taken from the Greek epiphaneia meaning “manifestation, striking appearance; from epiphanes meaning “manifest, conspicuous,” and from epiphainein “to manifest, display, show off; come suddenly into view.” Our liturgy marks the arrival of visitors, identified in Scripture as the magi, to the place where Jesus was born. Although we know virtually nothing about them, we do know they brought three gifts, each with traditional meanings. Continue reading
This coming Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. In yesterday’s post we considered the “Star of Bethlehem.” In today’s post we finish our study with a view toward King Herod and the meaning of “do him homage.” Continue reading
The Gospel of John is perhaps the most subtle of all the gospels with layers of meaning and nuance that can be overlooked in just the daily readings. Today’s gospel starts at John 1:43, but interestingly it leaves out the opening words (underlined): “The next day [Jesus] decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Granted “the next day” is not needed for this pericope/snippet from the longer narrative, but if you have been reading along you’ll have noticed this is not the first occurrence of “the next day.” Continue reading
This coming Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. In yesterday’s post we took a second look at the magi’s identity. In today’s post, we will give some thought to the “Star of Bethlehem.” Continue reading
“…the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.”
Today the Church in the United States celebrates St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American to be named a saint. Born in 1774 she was born into privilege among the prominent people of New York City. She was not born into a Catholic family, but was raised in a dedicated Episcopal family. The practice of the faith was sustaining for her family and Elizabeth. Which was good, as her story is one of a slow unraveling of privilege, security, and family. Her mother died when Elizabeth was three years old. Her father remarried and her new stepmother introduced Elizabeth into social outreach to the poor and sick as a ministry of the church. But that marriage eventually failed. The stepmother left with her own children as Elizabeth’s father moved to London for further medical studies. Elizabeth entered a time of great darkness in her life, grieving the loss of father and a second mother. Continue reading
This coming Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. In yesterday’s post we took a first look at the Magi. Today we will take a second look. Continue reading
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” We hear the same expression at every Mass, but do we hear the words in the same way as John the Baptist would have understood them? For us, the image of a lamb conjures up thoughts of innocence, cuddly and cute. Continue reading
This coming Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. In yesterday’s post we set the context for the gospel reading and what seems to be Matthew’s narrative intent in unfolding the story of Jesus. In today’s post we will take a first look at the Magi. Continue reading
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