Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus does everything He does from his own authority. In Greek, the work for authority is literally "from one's being". While the crowds did not understand that He was God, they did understand that He was working from his own power. He taught and healed as who He was.
We who follow Him work with His authority. But He also gives us authority as sons and daughters of God. Do we use it for the purpose with which it has be given?

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Did the fishermen understand what this seemingly simple explanation mean, or did they just follow, knowing that in time all would be revealed? They were asked to be formed in Jesus Christ, and with that formation to bring men into the Kingdom of God by sharing the good news.
We hear that some call in our lives. We are called to conform our lives to Christ and to transform the world around us by proclaiming the good news.

Second Sunday In Ordinary Time

Speak. Lord, your servant is listening! Samuel opens his ears and heart to the Lord, who called to him but he did not recognize who was calling. He lived in a time and culture when, as the verses before this reading relate, revelations were infrequent and visions rare. But the Lord was calling - the people were accustomed to not listening. Even Eli, the priest, missed the signs the first two times. But the beauty is that once he realizes what is going on, he is able to instruct Samuel, who then never ceases to listen to the Lord.
Andrew does not struggle with listening to the God. He, as a follower of John the Baptist, hears John point of Christ Jesus, calling Him the Lamb of God. He follows Jesus. When asked what he is looking for, he answers not with a desire to see the house of Jesus, but to know Him, to see where he lives. Andrew finds Simon, and tells him. Simon and Andrew both are able to hear the Lord, and they in turn help others.
We live in time that has distanced the Lord, by and large. But we have some people like Eli, John the Baptist, and Andrew. They can help us listen to the voice of the Lord, and help us to open our hearts to Him.

Newest Edition of Vocations View

I have posted the newest volume of the Vocations View Newsletter. Click to go to the page, or Right click to download!

The Epiphany of the Lord

Christ is revealed to the nations as God made flesh, and wise men, following the star, come to worship. They open up their treasures to the Lord, giving Him gold, a symbol of His kingship, frankincense, a symbol of divinity, and myrrh, as symbol of suffering sacrifice.
While star no longer shines and leads us to Christ, we follow Christ Himself as he is true light. We come to worship all the same, and we offer not treasures contained in coffers, but the gift of our hearts, redeemed by Christ.

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Mary is the Mother of God, and on this octave of Christmas, we take a further look at her Son. To proclaim Mary is the Mother of God is a proclamation that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God. The Blessed Mother is often titled Theotokos, the God-bearer. It is not that she gave Christ existence - He was begotten by the Father before the ages - but gave Him flesh. Mary, Mother of God, reveals Christ to us. So we honor her, and we worship her Son who was born for our salvation.

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

Jesus Christ is born for us, having been conceived 9 months prior, nourished and nurtured in the Blessed Mother's womb with love beyond all telling. Here is salvation at last. We call to mind that fly night in which the heavens and earth united in the praise of God who sends His Son for our salvation.

Today, the twenty-fifth day of December

Unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth
And then formed man and woman in his own image.

Several thousand years after the flood,
When God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.

Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah;

Thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges;

One thousand years from the anointing of David as king;

In the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.

In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
The seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome.

The forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;
The whole world being at peace,

Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
Desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
Being conceived by the Holy Spirit,
And nine months having passed since his conception,
Was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.

Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

Amen.