Adult Faith Formation & Initiation

The first Sunday of the Christmas season is always dedicated to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  Having just celebrated the birth of Jesus, nothing could be more fitting than to give special recognition to the family this moment created. The Word for The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 Mathew 2:13-15, 19-23 Our first reading comes from the Wisdom of Ben Sira, which we also know as the Book of Sirach.  This ancient catechism comes from a Jewish sage from Jerusalem at about 175 BCE (and later translated into Greek by his son around 117 BCE).  Our passage fittingly comes from the chapter reflecting on our responsibilities to our parents.  Our 4th Commandment reminds us to “honor your father and your mother.”  This Commandment, along with other requirements under the Mosaic Law code, provides for special consideration for one’s parents.  Family was the social and economic engine that drove the ancien

Typically I only comment on the readings for Sunday, but since the celebration of the Nativity is such an important holiday (and Holy Day of Obligation), I thought it best to include some thoughts on these readings: It is fairly well known that the word “Christmas” is derived from the Middle English “Christ’s Mass.”  While our name for this holiday still resonates with most people today, this name, along with many of its modern traditions are derived from England and English speaking countries.  But even though the name is fairly modern, the purpose of the celebration, giving recognition to the birth of Jesus, or the Nativity, goes back to the early 4th century.  In pagan Rome, it was not unusual to celebrate the birthdays of their gods.  The early Christians, therefore, in an ironic twist, took this opportunity to celebrate the day when our God was born into this world as a man.  To this day the celebration of the birth of Our Lord remains a major feast day, but the Church has begun

Throughout this season of Advent we have been focused on the ancient prophecy of the coming of a messiah, and how through Jesus we have the fulfillment of that prophecy.  This Fourth Sunday of Advent is no different as we read more about what to expect with the coming of this savior: The Word for the 4th Sunday of Advent Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Romans 1:1-7 Mathew 1:18-24 Our first reading is again from the book of the prophet Isaiah.  This week we go back to an earlier time where King Ahaz is in trouble.  The Assyrian Empire is on the move.  The Northern Kingdom of Israel is under threat and King Ahaz of Judah is concerned that Jerusalem and his kingdom are next.  Rival forces are converging on Jerusalem, so Isaiah is called by the Lord to go and meet with Ahaz and begs him to stand firm in his faith in the Lord.  Ahaz, on the other hand, is more comfortable putting his trust in the might of the Assyrians.  Our passage this Sunday picks up the story.  The Lord is upset w

Patience.  Good things are coming, and are almost here, so Rejoice!  This is Gaudete Sunday (from the Latin “to rejoice”), the Third Sunday of Advent.  We celebrate this Sunday because we are now past the halfway point of our Advent observance.  For this one day we put away the violet color of Advent and bring out the Rose colored vestments and décor – the color you get when you mix the purple of Advent and the white of Christmas.  We light the rose colored candle in our Advent wreaths as we joyfully count the remaining days to Christmas.  Our readings remind us of the good things to come, but good things only come to those who wait… The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 Psalm 146, 6-7, 8-9, 9-10 James 5:7-10 Mathew 11:2-11 Our first reading, again, is from Isaiah.  Here the prophet sings of the great things to come, and the land itself will rejoice and bloom.  Isaiah goes to great lengths to paint us this glorious picture of Zion but we must also recognize that thi

The Messiah is coming… Emmanuel.  How do we know this?  Prophets through the ages have been telling us and their scribes have been preserving those words so that we can recognize the signs.  Our readings for this coming Sunday give a picture of who this deliverer will be, who he’s come for, and how we should respond: The Word for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Romans 15:4-9 Mathew 3:1-12 Our first reading is from the prophet Isaiah.  Here he describes for us a vision of the ideal king, the one who will “fear the Lord” and be a just judge; whose words will be his only weapons and whose reign will bring universal peace.  It will be so glorious that all the nations will seek it out.  To our Christian ears, this “shoot of Jesse” (King David’s father) sounds very much like Jesus himself.  But wait, This passage dates back some 720 years before Jesus.  Sometimes when we get a prophecy like this we need to pause and remind ourselves that Isaiah wasn’t spe