Adult Faith Formation & Initiation

Last week’s readings focused on what kind of people God wants us to be, reminded us of the blessings he bestows on those of us who extend kindness and hospitality to everyone (regardless of their affiliation).  This week our readings focus on the kind of kingdom God envisions for his people.  Not one of military might or laborious worship, but something much different from what we’ve come to expect… The Word for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm 145: 1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 Romans 8:9, 11-13 Matthew 11:25-30 Our first reading is from the book of the prophet Zechariah.  It is helpful to remember that Zechariah’s prophecy comes from the early post-exile era, around 520 BCE, around the same time as Ezekiel and Ezra, and is attributed to two different authors (1st Zechariah forming Chapters 1-8, 2nd Zechariah forming chapters 9-14).  Our passage for this Sunday comes from 2nd Zechariah with a vision of a restored Jerusalem with a new king.  But Zechariah’s vision of a

God takes care of his own.  What does that mean?  Those who love God and show love to others will not be denied their eternal reward.  Our readings this week show us not only what God expects of us as followers, but what rewards could come our way by showing our love to him and to one another: The Word for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19 Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 Matthew 10:37-42 Our first reading comes from the 2nd Book of Kings.  The prophet Elisha (student of the great prophet Elijah) has been traveling, so when he enters the town of Shunem a woman of influence urges him to dine with her.  This eventually became a regular thing so the woman asks her husband to arrange a small room for him in which he can stay when he comes into town.  Elisha is so moved by this gesture that he feels he must do something for the woman.  Seeing that she had no children, he promises that this time next year she will have a baby son.  Now on the surface this s

While we entered Ordinary Time two weeks ago, you might not have noticed it at Sunday Mass with the white colors still up for our Solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity and Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  With all this behind us now, we see the green colors of Ordinary Time as we begin our long journey with Christ as he takes us on his mission to spread the Good News.  This week’s readings remind us that with this mission comes with struggles, but that the Lord is on our side: The Word for the 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time Jeremiah 20:10-13 Psalm 69: 8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 Romans 5:12-15 Matthew 10:26-33 We open with a passage from the prophet Jeremiah.  Here it would seem everyone is against him.  His followers and friends are denouncing him or simply walking away while still others are eager to find ways to bring him down.  But Jeremiah isn’t concerned, because he knows he has the Lord on his side.  The Lord is his champion.  And he praises God for standing by him in his moments of di

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, but for those who remember their Latin, you might better recognize it as the Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ).  The Feast was originally established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Torete, of the Diocese of Liège, Belgium, but not without the 40 year effort of St. Julia of Liège, a Norbertine sister who had a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, who spend most of her life petitioning for this special feast day. The Word for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58 When Jesus established the Eucharist at the Last Supper, his use of bread and wine was deliberate and purposeful.  They were the most ordinary of foods yet represent what was necessary to sustain us.  In Jewish ritual, bread and wine have always been an important part of the Passover meal, and have long been ass

Back in 2016 and again in 2019, I did a reflection on the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time for Cycle C, which lead me to a reflection on the "Black Lives Matter" movement.  Given the civil unrest currently surrounding us, in addition to our frustrations dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought it would be important to revisit my reflections on Black Lives Matter, and how we as Church need to remember how Christ taught us (as did Moses) to love those who are marginalized so that we can all attain the Kingdom of God. >>>>>>>>>>> Humility.  As Christians we are taught that we should be humble before God, not only recognizing God’s greatness but also recognizing that none of us is any better than the other.  This is a difficult concept for us, however, because our human nature seems to push us toward exceptionalism.  Our society has developed a cult of celebrity by putting others up on a pedestal as we do with certain athletes or actors

With Pentecost behind us, the Easter Season has come to a close, but as is typical for the Church, she’s not yet ready to leave the party behind, so for these next two weeks we continue the celebration by looking at the Church’s most sacred mysteries:  The doctrine of the Trinity with this Sunday’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday), and next week with doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also remembered as Corpus Christi). The Word for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18 Our first reading for Sunday comes from Exodus, where God, after having set his wrath upon Israel for the Golden Calf incident, has agreed (with Moses’ urging) to take back his people.  As you may recall, Moses went up the mountain for 40 days and came back with the tablets containing the Ten Commandments.  Upon his return, however, he