Wednesday, December 26, 2012

"Son, why have you done this to us?"


In these days following our Lord's birth, we contemplate the mysteries of his hidden life at Nazareth. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

On this Sunday's Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, DEc. 30, 2012, we hear about the finding of Jesus in the temple. It is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus.

You will find all of the Sunday homilies we have compiled for you this week at this link. You can also read our full coverage of this week's Catholic world by clicking here.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed New Year.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief

BURNING QUESTION: Why was Jesus born in a manger?
FEATURED BLOG: Pope Benedict XVI's Urbi et Orbi Message
PASTORAL HISPANA: La Sagrada Familia es fuente de inspiración

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

"Blessed are you among women"


Christmas is at the door. For the past three Sundays, we have reflected on the significance of Advent: (1) the coming of the Lord, which is (2) the fulfillment of God’s saving plan, giving us reason (3) to rejoice with deep longing for the Savior. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

On this last Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23, 2012, the gospel reading from Luke 1:39-44, invites us to look at Mary during the Visitation, the event which follows the Annunciation. Our Church invites us to meditate on the “moment when she said her ‘yes’ to the Will of the Lord.”

You will find all of the Sunday homilies we have compiled for you this week at this link. You can also read our full coverage of this week's Catholic world by clicking here.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief


BURNING QUESTION: Do Catholics "worship" Mary?
FEATURED BLOG: Why Midnight Mass?
PASTORAL HISPANA: Preparemos el pesebre de nuestro corazon 

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Thursday, December 13, 2012

"Rejoice in the Lord always."

This Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, is the Third Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel the people asked John ‘what must we do to prepare for the One who is to come?’ He tells them that it is in their daily life situations that they are expected to act honestly and peaceably for the good of their neighbours as each of us is. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

"Rejoice" Sunday

This Sunday is known as ‘Gaudete Sunday’, The name comes from the opening line of the Latin version of today’ second reading, - ‘Rejoice’ or ‘Be happy’. Why all this exultation? Are we finally getting a break from the somberness of Advent? Yes, but there is more to it than that. Fr. John Foley, S. J. reminds us of the importance of us realizing that this joy does not depend on external circumstances, but on the nearness of God. Advent is designed to give a serious electrical shock to one's spiritual nervous system.

Let's all remember that Advent is like a retreat that the worldwide Church is making. Our joy is not in our circumstance. Indeed it is often in spite of our circumstance. Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB reminds us that we become even stronger and more intimate in times of persecution. And while it is true that Jesus cannot be born again, Fr.James Gilhooley notes that we can. And that really is what Advent is all about.

Rejoice always. Joy is a Christian duty. This Sunday St. John teaches the basic steps to joy. First, strive to keep the moral law. Second, find your proper place in the order of things - above all, in relation to God. And third, practice patient waiting. Joy comes from God, not from our meager efforts. Three things then, Fr.Phil Bloom points out -- good conscience, humility and patience.

"What are we to do?"


In Sunday's Gospel, John the Baptist preached to all including tax collectors and soldiers, and he caused a stir. He had something that they longed to hear, even as they were challenged by his words. Stricken with fear at St. John's message, they asked him, "What are we to do?" Father Cusick narrates how John instructed them to live in charity -- give a coat to him who has none, share your food, act with justice. These are the fruits of the virtue of charity.

But, as Fr. Alex McAllister SDS points out, the Baptist’s message was a difficult one. It involved real change. It was no mere lip service. The people of various professions that approached John with the question also knew what they had to do. However, they just could not get themselves to doing them. Do all these sound familiar? Fr. Orly Sapuay, MS challenges us all, “Oftentimes the very thing you find difficult to do is the only thing worth doing.

Nowadays when we think of repentance we tend to mean sorrow for sin. We feel remorse or sadness that we have transgressed and wish we had done better. But this is not the way John the Baptist intended. Conversion means a change of perspective, a turning around.

‘The Lord is in your midst’


The key of it all, according to Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA, is found in those insights we find scattered through this Sunday’s liturgy of the word -- ‘The Lord is in your midst’. ‘Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel’. 'The Lord is my strength, my song’. 'The Lord is very near’.

And indeed the most ordinary and most surprising way of all that the Lord comes to us is in the reality of the Present Moment. Each moment becomes a sacrament of divine presence if we say in faith, "It is the Lord." Christ was born into our world when, trusting in the Father, he let go of the things of heaven to embrace us. Christ is born in our hearts when, trusting in Christ, we let go of the things of earth that keep us from embracing Him.

Christ is already here. But, still we need to sing: "O come, O come, Emmanuel!" Christmas is upon us. How can we prepare the world for the Kingdom of God? We should rejoice, exclaims Fr.Joseph Pellegrino. And John the Baptist makes it clear. We proclaim the Kingdom in the way we treat others. We should live our lives in the joy of the Lord. Related to this, Fr. John McCloskey offers a number of ways in which we can more fully enter into the spirit of Advent – a spirit of expectation, watchfulness, repentance and joy.

This Advent, may the example of John the Baptist give us the strength and courage necessary to transform our deserts into gardens, and our emptiness into rich Catholic meaning and experience. May the boldness of St. Paul and the example of Mary, Virgin Daughter of Zion, teach us how to rejoice in the Lord, whose coming is very near.

Year of Faith


Benedict XVI sent out his first tweets this week to more than 700,000 inaugural followers. The Twitter account, @pontifex, which was announced Dec. 3 by the Holy See Press Office, is being used as a way for the Holy Father to communicate with the faithful and answer their questions on faith.

The Holy Father also continued with his weekly Wednesday catechesis on the Year of Faith. The phases of Revelation, conveyed in the Scriptures and culminating in the Advent of Jesus Christ, were his themes this week. The Pope renewed his invitation to read the Bible more frequently and to pay closer attention to the readings at Sunday Mass, to provide "valuable nourishment for our faith."

Similarly, Msgr. Charles Pope reminds us how God, like any good Father, tells us our Biblical story and asks us to tell our own children. But he laments that most people no longer “get it” because the whole point has been lost. He says it’s time to rediscover the central element of the “plot” of Sacred Scripture -- Sin. It’s time to speak of it, creatively, in a compelling way to help people rediscover the greatest story ever told.

Meanwhile, the U.S. bishops have announced a five-part pastoral strategy that is aimed at creating a movement dedicated to penance and prayer for a renewed culture of life, marriage and religious freedom. It's not meant to be another program but rather part of a movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty, which engages the New Evangelization and can be incorporated into the Year of Faith.

Hobbits, Holidays & Staying Safe

One of the developing traditions I picked up from my rapidly grown extended family is watching a nice movie together on Christmas Day. And this year, we've all chosen to watch The Hobbit. Bro. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P. offers us "The Hobbit’s Guide to the Spiritual Life." He says J.R.R. Tolkien imbued meaning and purpose into his literary work. The Hobbit tells the classic adventure story, the kind of story ordinary people naturally crave. And I am one who is surely looking forward to this nice Christmas treat.

Finally, most of us are deep into holiday preparation and festivities by now. Amid all of the hectic activity — decorating, shopping, partying and so on — don’t let your guard down and forget about home security. Here are four tips that may help protect your home, family and belongings throughout the holiday season, and beyond.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief

BURNING QUESTION: What is the Old Testament root of Baptism?
YEAR OF FAITH: "Advent reminds us of God's presence in the world"
FEATURED BLOG: 8 prayers to help you through the workday
PASTORAL HISPANA: Adviento tambien es tiempo de alegria 

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

"And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

John the Baptist speaks this Sunday. The coming of the promised Messiah is the most fundamental meaning of Advent. His coming is the fulfillment of God’s plan to save mankind. Jesus the Messiah indeed came, and he will return to bring redemption to a definitive fulfillment. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

The theme of all the readings for this Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, is salvation. Luke’s gospel (Luke 3:1-6) and the first two readings (Baruch 5:1-9 and Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11) speak about it in different ways. Salvation is God’s free gift. He saves us out of His love and from him alone can our salvation come. The Responsorial Psalm describes it very well with this phrase: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”

You will find all of the Sunday homilies we have compiled for you this week at this link. You can also read our full coverage of this week's Catholic world by clicking here.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief


BURNING QUESTION: Can non-Catholic people go to heaven?
FEATURED BLOG: Delivered From All Stain
PASTORAL HISPANA: Juan Bautista Proclama La Palabra en el Desierto 

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

"Be vigilant at all times"

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent and begin a whole New Year in the liturgical calendar. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

The first two readings for this Sunday, from the prophet Jeremiah and from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, are very, very different from the Gospel, part of the apocalyptical section of the Gospel of Luke. Jeremiah ends his book of gloom and doom with today’s reading speaking about a time of God’s abundant love for his people. Thessalonians also speaks about love. But the Gospel is full of gloom and doom.

The Three Comings of Jesus

If our Church is celebrating the start of a new year, then why is this Gospel all about the End of the World? Fr. Alex McAllister SDS says this is surely one way to set our sights on our goal so that we can lay out our priorities for the coming year. And it is very much in line with the Advent themes of preparing for the "comings of Christ." Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA explains further that there are indeed three comings of Jesus. The First was his being born in Bethlehem, which is what Christmas celebrates. The Third coming will be his coming at the end of time. The Second Coming is right now as each day he comes to us. He knocks on doors of our hearts through others and through the events of our lives.

The End of Our Worlds


The gospel passage surely addresses the terrifying experience of one's world coming to an end. However, Fr. Campion P. Gavaler, OSB says it is not only is it about the final end of world. But also about our individual worlds such as our financial security, our marriage, our health, our life in dying. These are terrifying experiences not only because of the physical suffering they may entail, but because the tribulation may lead to despair about the meaning of life itself.

So, is this intended to sow fear? Definitely, says Fr. Orly Sapuay, MS. But not in the sense of being afraid of something. Rather, he says it is the reverential awe of God; a reverence for His power and glory. In other words, the fear of the Lord is a total acknowledgement of all that God is, which comes through knowing Him and His attributes. And with so much stress in our world, society and Church, we need to hear Jesus: "Stand erect, raise you heads, your redemption is at hand." Fr. Phil Bloom reminds us that God will fulfill his promise.

A Time to Prepare

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio explains that Advent is simply the Latin word for “coming.” Fr. Joseph Pellegrino tells us maybe we should look at the things that busy us in December as an analogy. The frantic shopping and card writing, and cooking, are just an analogy of the determined effort we must have to prepare for the Lord. But the finish line is not December 25th. The finish line is the end of our lives or the end of the world, whichever comes first. We must be ready to stand before the Lord.

Advent celebrates human longing. Fr. Ron Rolheiser says it asks us not to deny our longings but to enter them, deepen them, and widen them until we become insane enough for the light so that, like the butterfly, we open ourselves to undergo a metamorphosis. Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB tells us that our Lord invites us to quietly prepare our hearts and our lives for the coming of the ever-greater one in the flesh.

The new season confronts us and wakes us from our stupor. It invites each of us to become all that we can be. Fr. James Gilhooley points out that while God does not require us to be the best in the several weeks ahead, Christ surely wants us to try our best. Go back to the Responsorial Psalm of this Sunday and pray, Fr. John Foley, S. J. advise each of us. Beg that Christ be given birth in your soul and in so many others in this world that need it so badly.

"Keeping the flames burning"

The local radio stations are already playing Christmas music and everyone is already talking about the "Christmas" season--but it's not yet Christmas. Simcha Fisher explains that one of the great things about any kind of Advent preparation is that, by definition, you have to keep it simple and spare. Taylor Marshall also gives us this week his list of "Top Ten Things to Know about Advent."

And to better brace ourselves for the weeks ahead, the Catholic Spirit newspaper (from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis) has this terrific and practical primer on how to give Advent meaning and keep its flame burning.

Called to Be Holy

Bishop Michael J Sheridan explains one of the many achievements of Vatican II -- the council’s teaching on the universal call to holiness. Our Burning Question thjis week touches on this very topic: What is Holiness? Share your answers with us.

The teaching is found primarily in chapter five of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Because the Church is oly by reason of her establishment by Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, so every member of the Church is endowed with that same holiness which belongs to the Church. Holiness is first and foremost an attribute of God Himself, who alone is holy.

Which brings us to Meals and Mass. When Jennifer Fulwiler first converted to Christianity, one of the biggest changes in her daily life was saying a prayer before eating. It's no surprise that almost all major religions take special care to offer thanks to the divine for the privilege of eating. But what is it that makes this particular act so special? She also talks about her recent efforts to dress well for Mass. Noting that when she does make the small sacrifices necessary to transform the way she looks on the outside for Mass, she finds that it transforms her on the inside as well.

When Pat Archbold thinks about him fulfilling his evangelical duty, it conjures images of a man on a soapbox on the corner or walking door to door like the Jehovah Witnesses do. This causes him to get intimidated and then does nothing. So what can a regular Catholic Joe like him do to evangelize? He explains his "Accidental Evangelism." Meanwhile, for thiose intimidated by daily prayer, Simcha Fisher offers this: Ten Silly Reasons You Won't Pray Today (and Why You Should Reconsider).

Letting God Find You

Before her feet touched the floor on January 1st, 2012, Cheryl Dickow offered a simple prayer, "Please Lord, before the year is over, find me where you want me to be." Up to that point, she had been suffering from a decades-long chronic condition and although imagined health in her future, that morning she offered every cell in her body to the Lord. From that point on, all hell broke loose. Now 2013 is upon her. And whatever the new year brings, she is letting God find her. And she is sure God will be listening.

Finally, let's talk about the holidays. It’s that time of year again. The holidays are filled with all sorts of fun activities and while we’re busy shopping and celebrating, there are potential hazards lurking in unexpected places. This is the perfect time to do a few safety checks. We offer a few tips to insure that your holidays are safe and stress free.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief

 

BURNING QUESTION: What is Holiness?
FEATURED BLOG: Why do the souls in purgatory suffer so?
YEAR OF FAITH: "Speaking about God in our times"
PASTORAL HISPANA: Adviento tiempo de contrastes y esperanza

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