The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalm 112; I Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16 “You are salt…” “You are light…” What does it mean to be light and salt? Do you know? A kaleidoscope of prophecy, parable and poetry does. “Share your food with the hungry. Shelter the oppressed and homeless. Clothe the naked. Do not turn your back on your own.” [Isaiah 58:7ff] “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [Sunday of the Word of God] Isaiah 8:23-9:3; Psalm 27; I Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Matthew 4:12-23 Our story began with conversation. God engages Eve and Adam in dialogue about various aspects of life in the Garden. And even when this dialogue is ruptured by sin, God continues to speak. “Where are you?” he asks. And whether we answer or not; whether we hide ourselves in the bushes like Adam and Eve; God never lets up. God is always trying

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 18-25 January] Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40; I Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34 As much as we say we desire unity and peace, division seems to be a hallmark of the human condition since Eve and Adam partook of the fruit. Self-knowledge put distance between humanity and God. Nakedness caused us to hide from God. Mutual blame revealed the division between Adam and Eve. And the natural world, child birth a

Christmas V – The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 “I should be baptized by you, and yet you come to me.” Unlike the Sacrament of Baptism into the Death and Resurrection of Jesus we experienced, John trying to prevent Jesus from his baptism of repentance? Why? And John will not be the first to try and dissuade Jesus from his mission. When Jesus predicts that he will be killed, Peter becomes an obstacle.

Christmas IV – The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Like the magi, are we not all seekers? We go by various names. Nones [None, claims no religious affiliation]. NiNOs [Nones in name only]. Spiritual but not Religious [SBNR]. Dones [Done with institutional church]. Some still believe in God. Some still pray daily. Some are actively searching. And some have simply drifted away. Others of us? We claim… Cath

Christmas II – The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Jospeh Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 The Holy Family Parish. It is the only Catholic community in the Gaza Strip. 7 October 2023. Hamas attack on Israel. Holy Family. A refuge for hundreds of civilians, elderly people, people with disabilities, women and children. Holy Family. A shelter for families. Hot meals. Fresh fruit. Vegetables. Nursing formula. Water.