July 3, 2011

Readings for The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Zec 9:9-10: Rom 8:9,

11-13; Mt 11:25-30

 After the reign of King Solomon in 597 B.C. the kingdom of Israel fell into civil war and broke into two different countries.  The Northern wealthier territory retained the name Israel while the Southern poorer area where Jerusalem was located was named Judah after its most predominate tribe.    In 721 B.C. the Northern Kingdom was invaded by the…

June 26, 2011

Readings for this Sunday of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ:

Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10:16-17; Jn 6:51-58

Recently I was conversing with a young lady who was interested in the Catholic Church, and when I began to attempt to explain the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, she responded, "Why not?  Why couldn't the God who created the universe choose to make himself present in His Body and Blood in the Eucharist?"  This is…

June 12, 2011

Pentecost Sunday Readings: Acts 2:1-11;

1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23

As I write this pastor message we are expecting extraordinary thunder storms during the month of June.  I have always been amazed and a little fearful of the power and beauty of thunder and lightning.  I realize that science is able to explain this phenomenon, but it reminds us  of the unseen power that is present in the universe and world that we are a part of.  For the…

June 5, 2011

Sunday Readings:

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord: Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28:16-20

 The Preface of the Eucharist Prayer for major feast often provides a good summary of the Church’s Teaching for the given day.  It is always a prayer that helps us express our gratefulness to God and today, on the Feast of the Ascension this is especially true.  It reads as follows: “Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere…

May 29, 2011

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21.

In her book, Living in Courage, Debra Oakland listed 144 qualities of love: Acceptance, Accountability, Activity, Adoration, Allowance, Attention,  Authority, Awareness, Balance, Beauty, Blessedness, Boldness, Boundless, Bravery, Calmness, Caring, Centered-ness, Charity, Clarity, Command, Commitment, Community, Compassion, Concentration, Confidence, Consciousness, , Consideration,…

June 19, 2011

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9; 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18

 One of the great mysteries of the Ancient world was the origin of the Nile, the longest river in the world.  In ancient Greece, the source of the Nile was considered one of the earth’s most compelling mysteries, written about extensively by the 460 BC historian Herodotus, who believed the river sprang from between two massive mountains. Later, the Emperor Nero ordered his…