Children are precious. We as a society value children, but parents, understandably, treasure their children. This was, perhaps, even stronger in the ancient world where children often died. At the time of Moses, and of Jesus, starvation was never very far away. The first born of livestock, sheep and cattle, were really important for …
Doesn’t the second reading today- Paul’s letter to the Corinthians-get at an issue that is still very common today? Way back then, Christians were tempted to splint into factions, just as we are now today. Factions are differences taken up a notch. Among all who call themselves Christian, there are …
When St Matthew (Matthew 4:14 – 15) cites the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1); “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” he invokes a lot of Israelite history. …
With Christmas season over for this Liturgical Year, our readings this Sunday offer us three invitations. First, we are invited to be servants. The first reading [Is 49:3, 5-6] says, “You are my servant.” Later it says, “I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation may …
The Mass is important because, by the words of Jesus Christ, spoken at the altar, bread and wine become His Body and Blood. The Church teaches us that, as the context for that wonderful event, the prayers of the Mass are inspired by the Holy Spirit (CCC 1124). Think about …
This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. What human mother or father, or child for that matter, would not hear parental pride in God’s voice at this moment of Jesus’s baptism? His is the voice of a loving, encouraging, and protective parent speaking to his son …
