Adult Faith Formation & Initiation

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 to abandon the old Middle English name for the holiday in favor of a more accurate translation of the old Latin name for the feast: Dies Natalis , the Nativity of the Lord. The Word for the Nativity of the Lord If you

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 sp

Joyful anticipation – this is the meaning of Advent!  The First Sunday Advent marks the beginning of the new Liturgical year.  The green vestments and décor of Ordinary Time are put away, replaced with the purple vestments and décor of Advent.  Like Lent, Advent is a season of penitent reflection.  So as our secular culture charges into the beginning of a frantic holiday season, we Catholics are asked to slow down, take a step back, and prayerfully consider if we are prepared for the coming of Christ… that is, his second coming. The Word for the 1st Sunday of Advent Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 Our first reading comes from the second chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah.  The book of Isaiah is one of the longest of all the prophetic books and spans a period from before the Assyrian attack on the Northern Kingdom all the way through (and long after his death) to the end of the Babylonian Exile.  This Sunday’s passage comes from the

This Sunday we close our Liturgical Year with the Solemnity of Christ the King.  During these seemingly divisive times it’s important for us to remember that we owe our attention and allegiance primarily to Jesus Christ.  Everything else is secondary.  This celebration was created in response to the growing nationalism and secularism of the early 20th century.  Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in his 1925 encyclical letter Quas Primas .  At the time the world was still recovering from the first World War while revolutions in Russia, China, and Spain were sparking continued unrest.  All over the world citizens were calling into question their models of governance and economics.  It would seem today the world is in similar turmoil, calling us once again to recognize that above all else, we serve Christ. The Word for the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 Colossians 1-12-20 Luke 23:35-43 Our first reading from 2 Samuel where w

As we near the end of our Liturgical year, our readings take us to “the end of days.”  Jesus is in Jerusalem and he knows the end is near.  Our readings this week remind us that even in the face of adversity we must persevere if we are to gain eternal life: The Word for the 33nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Malachi 3:19-20a Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19 We open with a reading from the prophet Malachi, who’s name literally means “my messenger” in Hebrew.  It was a pseudonym because the author feared retribution.  In this short passage the prophet gives us a view of post Exile Jerusalem, dating to around 445 BCE (around the same time as the Prophet Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem).  Here the prophet warns what will become of “evildoers” and the justice to be had for those who “fear the Lord”.  This was a time of great spiritual upheaval in Jerusalem.  God loves his people, but the prophet finds that love is not being reciprocated.  It’s been almost 100 years since th

The afterlife.  The Apostles Creed teaches that we believe “in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.”  The Nicene Creed substantiates that belief when we profess that we “look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”  These beliefs are integral to our understanding of God and the nature of our souls, but yet we still have some doubts.  Our readings this week help us to lay some of those doubts to rest: The Word for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Luke 20:27-38 or Luke 20:27, 34-38 Our first reading is a from 2 Maccabees, a book written about 100-150 years before Christ.  This week’s passage tells the story of a Hebrew family being tortured and killed by their Greek Seleucid overlords.  The reading shows their valiant desire to keep God’s law, which in itself is noble, But that’s not the point of the story.  Yes, bein

Justification.  What does that mean in a Catholic sense?  According to the Oxford dictionary, it is “the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God.”  In other words, to be seen as being right (or justified) by God.  How do we do right by God?  Some people have some definite opinions when it comes to what they think is considered doing right by God.  Still others say that our mere faith in Christ justifies us before the Lord.  As always, let’s see what our readings have to say on this topic: The Word for the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time Wisdom 11:22-12:2 Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 Our first reading comes from the Book of Wisdom.  Similar to the Book of Sirach (which we heard last week), the Book of Wisdom is newer (dating to about 50 BCE) and comes from the Jewish community in Alexandria instead of Jerusalem.  What makes Wisdom stand apart from Sirach, however, is its perspective – coming from a people who are being oppresse

Humility.  It’s a virtue that seems to have been left behind in our current civil discourse.  To many, being humble is a sign of weakness.  Contrary to popular thinking, humility actually takes courage and strength, and affords even greater rewards as our readings this week will show: The Word for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 Our faith teaches that we must approach our prayer with humility.  Our first reading from Sirach is an example.  Here he reminds us that all our prayers are heard by God, but those coming from the lowest among us “pierce the clouds”.  This sage from the 2nd century BCE reminds us that though we are all equal in God’s eyes, he also hears the cry of those who are marginalized – the weak, the oppressed, the orphan, the foreigner.  This ideal has echoed through the ages, including in our Psalm when we sing, “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” Our second reading concludes our 7

Persistence.  The Oxford Dictionary defines this as “firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.”  Persistence is an important part of our faith tradition, as our readings this week teach us: The Word for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Exodus 17:8-13 Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Luke 18:1-8 Our first reading is a story from the book of Exodus.  Here Moses and the Israelites, not long after their flight from Egypt, are pushing forward into Southern Canaan where they are experiencing resistance from the nation of Amalek (named for the grandson of Esau, Abraham’s other son – though this may just be a literary device).  As they engage in battle, Moses holds out his hands (as he would in a prayer position) and the battle goes in favor of Israel, but as Moses grows tired and lowers his hands, the tide of battle shifts.  With the help of Aaron and Hur, Moses is able to keep his arms up so that Israel wins the day.  So what doe

“Thank you.”  It’s a phrase we hear and use every day.  It’s an accepted and expected courtesy for a variety of interactions.  In fact, when we don’t hear it when we expect to, we feel slighted and unappreciated.  Here’s a question:  Does God feel slighted and unappreciated when we don’t give him thanks for his great gifts?  Let’s see what this week’s readings might say on the subject… The Word for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2 Kings 5:14-17 Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 Our first reading comes from 2nd book of Kings.  Naaman, a Syrian military commander, seeks to thank Elisha for curing him of his leprosy (an act that King Joram of Israel isn’t likely to appreciate).  Not only does Naaman wish to give thanks to Elisha, but also to his God.  This is nothing short of a complete conversion for Naaman, who not only sees the glory of God but recognizes the importance of the land in this covenant relationship.  In fact, in recognition of God’s covenant with the pe

Patience.  It’s a quality that many people have lost in our world of instant gratification.  Items can be purchased on Amazon and delivered the same day.  Not only have we eliminated that whole strolling through the mall way of shopping, but we’re even eliminating that bothersome next day delivery, because waiting even a day would be just too long.  Studies show that even our minds are impatient!  With ready access to the instantaneous knowledge available through our mobile devices our own minds have developed a kind of “input anxiety” when we don’t have that ready access to that information.  Our readings this week, however, tell us a different story - that good things will come but not as soon as we would like: The Word for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10 Our first reading is from the book of the prophet Habakkuk, a “minor” prophet from whom we only hear from this once in the full three year cycle of th

What is Social Justice?  Our readings last week gave us a basic understanding, giving us a warning about how our eternal fate is based on how we treat others, especially the poor.  Not only will the Lord remember how we treat the poor, but our Gospel last week reminded us that we must be honest stewards, both of others and the message of the Gospel.  This week our readings give us a warning of what will become of us should we not heed the cry of those in need: The Word for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 We open with another passage from Amos, our fiery Southern prophet giving a warning to those who have become complacent.  The imagery Amos uses speaks of excessive wealth, and while taking a jab at David, foretells of what will happen (and did happen) if they don’t change their ways.  It is a stinging indictment that is very much relevant today as we see an increasing disparity between rich and poor in our contempor

At the heart of the Mosaic Law is this idea that we, the people of God, need to protect those who are in need:  The poor, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner.  These were those individuals who traditionally have no rights under the Law because they have no property (since inheritance of the land was reserved for the patriarchy).  God not only taught that we needed to love our neighbor, but that we need to go out of our way to make sure even those who have the least are loved and protected. The Word for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 (or 16:10-13) We open with a reading from the prophet Amos – and if there ever were an example of fiery prophetic rage and divine justice, it’s Amos.  A Southern prophet during the height of the Jewish kingdoms (some 150 years before the Exile), Amos is a shepherd by trade but was called, somewhat reluctantly, by God to the life of a prophet and to rail against the injustice and hypocris

As Christians we must never underestimate the power and importance of forgiveness.  But forgiveness is a two-way street:  While we must seek it for ourselves we also must offer it to others.  Our readings for this Sunday highlight some of the best examples of forgiveness that we are meant to emulate: The Word for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 (or 15:1-10) Our first reading from the book of Exodus shows us God as extremely angry against the Israelites, who he sees as having turned their back to him by worshiping a golden calf.  Moses, however, using God’s own words in his argument, is able to talk him down, revealing God’s ever-present offer of forgiveness.  God relents from destroying the Israelites, showing us that a God who can wield great power can also show great mercy.  This is the God who protects us, even though we may stray.  All we need to do is ask the Lord for mercy, as we hear in our Psalm a

“For everything there is a price.”  This idea is so ancient and so well known that there’s no one person to whom this quote or idea can be attributed.  It’s practically built into our human nature and human condition.  Put another way, there’s always trade-offs to be made when we have to make decisions.  We can’t have our cake and eat it too and those who think otherwise are fooling themselves.  There’s no such thing as a “free ride.”  When we elect to follow Christ there is a cost.  Our readings this week remind us that following the way of Jesus is not going to be easy: The Word for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Wisdom 9:13-18b Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17 Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17 Luke 14:25-33 Our first reading comes from the book of Wisdom, a work that dates back to some 50 years before Christ.  Given its date and origins, we can consider this to be a contemporary work for Jesus and his Apostles.  Like last week’s first reading from Sirach (dating about 200 years before Christ)

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 people up on a pedestal as we do with certain athletes or actors while at the same time fighting to get on that pedestal ourselves.  But our readings this week suggests a different path: The Word for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a Luke 14:1, 7-14 Our first reading comes from the book of Sirach.  Though this book is not included in the Jewish and Protestant canons, Catholics have included it as inspired.  The work dates back to the second century before Jesus and is attributed to Yeshua ben Sira, a notable sage who lived in Jerusalem.  Like most wisdom literature in t

Judgment Day.  Christian teaching tells us that at the end of our lives, or at the end of days, we will be called to account for everything we’ve done (or not done) in this life.  This has led to some very powerful sermons (particularly from our Protestant brothers and sisters) on the need to repent and follow the Lord.  While we Catholics tend to shy away from this kind of fire-and-brimstone preaching (seeking instead to focus on God’s ever-present mercy), the truth remains that not everyone is going to be welcomed into paradise: The Word for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalm 117:1, 2 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 Our first reading comes from the final chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah.  The reading itself seems pleasant enough, a story of bringing the nations together under the Lord.  What we miss, however, is the larger context from which this passage comes, which is from Isaiah’s “Final Judgment” discourse.  Note that the passage says, “I will sen