Sunday, January 31, 2010

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2010

May we never grow so familiar with Jesus Christ that we forget who He really is and why He came! The residents of His hometown cannot accept Him because they know His family. Jesus chides them on this, and compares them to the widows and lepers of the Old Testament during the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. These two prophets helped a pagan woman (from Sidon) and a pagan leprous military leader (from Syria) respectively. The townspeople could not have been pleased, but Christ stands his ground. We must come to the Lord, place our perceptions of Him at His feet, and let Him tell us who He is and who we are in His light.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

That we may have certainty, St. Luke writes his own ordered sequence of the events of the life of Christ. This is the prologue of his gospel, and in it he gives the purpose of writing. While the next part of the Gospel passage we have this weekend is 4 chapters later, we hear Christ saying that the message of justice and peace is being fulfilled in their hearing. Jesus gives us the motivation for our treatment of the poor, sick, and disenfranchised: To treat them with love and compassion.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2010

This weekend, we hear of Jesus' first miracle - the transformation of water into wine for the wedding feast at Cana. Jesus transforms 120-180 gallons of water, in jars used to stay kosher according to the Mosiac Law, a true super abundance, at the request of His mother. The headwaiter states that this is the best wine, saved for last.

Is not that exactly what the Father does with the Covenants? Jesus does not undo the covenant, but fulfills it and makes it better, giving the very best. Jesus blesses this marriage, and transforms marriage into a sacrament. For those called to marriage, may they seek the grace of Christ, inviting Him into their lives. But even those not called to Marriage, we should take the Blessed Mother's words "Do whatever He tells you" as our task: To listen to the Lord, and to ask for His grace

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Baptism of the Lord, 2010

After the celebration of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we enter Ordinary Time in the Church. Perhaps, this is most fitting. The readings we have this weekend remind us of the preparation of our hearts still needed, we hear of Christ's baptism by John. Though he was sinless, He accepted it as a sign of His unity with and embracing of the human race. In doing so, He begins to transform the ritual of John into the Sacrament of Baptism, in which we are baptized, which allows us to be children of God. The mystery of the incarnation needs to be lived out, and we need to allow it to transform us.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Epiphany, 2010

Like the magi in today's Gospel, we have come to worship Christ. They followed the light of the star, while we follow the light of Christ. They brought gifts coffers full of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; we bring hearts full of love and praise. The magi left the comforts of home to worship - do we bring Christ home with us?