This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. In the previous posts in this series we have not yet commented on the verses that comprise the gospel. As noted earlier our verses (Jn 6:51-58) are part of the much larger Bread of Life Discourse (Jn 6:22-69). And so it is good to explore meaning in the verses that precede our gospel passage. Continue reading
The first reading today is again from the Book of Tobit, as are all the first readings from this 9th Week of Ordinary Time. In yesterday’s reading, we meet Tobit, a righteous and pious Jew living in the diaspora of the Assyrian conquest of Israel. We learn that he interrupts a festival meal of Pentecost in order to carry out an act of righteousness and mercy – to bury one of his countrymen and fellow exiles who has been murdered and the body left in the marketplace. His neighbors caution and ridicule him, telling him to play it safe, but is reminded of the warning of the prophet Amos against the unrighteous of Bethel: “All your festivals shall be turned into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation.” And so he does the righteous and charitable thing. Continue reading
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the June 6th “D-Day” landings in Normandy during World War II. It marked a turning Point in World War II as it provided the Allies with a foothold in Western Europe and set the stage for the subsequent liberation of France and the defeat of Nazi Germany. The Normandy landing resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with thousands of soldiers losing their lives. It remains a powerful symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought and gave their lives for the cause of freedom and the defeat of tyranny. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, situated on the shores of Omaha Beach, serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of war and the importance of preserving peace. Continue reading
In Oklahoma on Monday, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved what would be the nation’s first religious charter school. The online school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, is to be run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, with religious teachings embedded in the curriculum. Within minutes of the vote, Americans United for Separation of Church and State announced that it was preparing legal action to fight the decision. The ruling in this case is limited to the Board’s overview of online, virtual schools and is not a broader decision affecting all public schools in Oklahoma. The school’s patron saint is St. Isidore, patron saint of the internet.
Continue readingThis coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. All the gospel writers describe the miracle of the fishes and loaves (Mk 6:33-46, Mt 14:13-23, Lk 9:10-17, and Jn 6:1-15). Through the dialogue that precedes and follows the miracle, Jesus teaches the disciples to trust in him whenever they meet with difficulties in their future apostolic endeavors. He teaches them that they should engage in using whatever resources they have even if they are clearly inadequate. He will supply what is lacking and underscores the meaning of the their continuing mission: Continue reading
The first reading today is from the Book of Tobit, a book considered Deutero-Canonical – meaning Catholic and Greek Orthodox recognize it as part of the canon of Sacred Scripture (as they have since the 4th century), but not so the Reform and Protestant denominations. Continue reading
Today is the Feast of St. Boniface, the Benedictine monk noted for his missionary efforts in the Netherlands (Frisia) and Germania in the 8th century. Born in or near Exeter, England, around 675 AD, and named Winfrid, he was of a respected and prosperous family. Against his father’s wishes he devoted himself at an early age to monastic life. He received further theological training in the Benedictine monastery near Winchester. As a monk, he taught in the abbey school until the age of 30 when he was ordained. It was expected that he would become the next abbot, but upon the death of his abbot, Boniface declined and instead volunteered for a mission to the people of Frisia. The first year was a bust, complicated by ongoing warfare. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a celebration perhaps better known by the Latin Corpus Christi. At its core, the solemnity is a celebration of the Tradition and belief in the Eucharist as the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Many folks wonder why this celebration is not part of Holy Thursday. In the past it was and was mixed in with other themes, e.g., institution of the priesthood. And, all this occurs in the shadow of Good Friday. The placement of the celebration was not one that necessarily lends itself to a joyful celebration. Continue reading
Years ago, while a Franciscan novice, my fellow friars and I attended a gathering of all the Franciscan novices, men and women, who lived in the Eastern United States. During our week-long gathering, each group was responsible for leading morning or evening prayer, or animating the Eucharistic celebration. One morning, a group of Franciscan sisters was responsible for morning prayer. Just before we were to begin, the leader of prayer explained that we would not be using the traditional words associated with the sign of the Cross. Rather, we would say “In the Name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier.” She explained this was a way to remove the gender bias from the opening of prayer and so to make all feel welcomed. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. Verse 16 provides the link between the two parts of the discourse. It sums up vv. 14-15 by reiterating the salvific dimensions of Jesus’ death, but moves the argument forward with its reference to God’s love. God gave Jesus to the world because God loves the world. Continue reading
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