Contemporary society of Jesus’ day wanted a messiah to throw off the Roman yoke and restore the sovereign nation of Israel. In reality Jesus brings a message of liberation and a ministry of healing leading us home to the Father. ~ Fr. Matt
Author: Mary Ann Kleinfelder
Second Sunday of Advent
During the advent season we are called to listen and respond to John the Baptizer’s cry of “Reform your lives, the kingdom of God is near.” ~ Fr. Matt
Second Sunday of Advent
On the second Sunday of Advent we are introduced to another great Advent figure, John the Baptist. Matthew has him preach, like Jesus, about the coming of the kingdom of heaven. His preaching fulfils the words found in the prophet Isaiah about ‘a voice crying in the wilderness’.
John is dressed like a prophet and lives in the wilderness. Those who come to him receive a baptism of repentance for their sins. John fiercely attacks those who have relied on their status and their traditions for their salvation. They have relied on being ‘children of Abraham’ and have become complacent. For John, the love of God is not limited to the chosen race, and all men and women are called to produce good fruit.
John’s principal task is to point to the ‘one who follows me’. This one is more powerful and will bring a new baptism, in the Holy Spirit. With the preaching of John the Baptist, the liturgy is preparing us for the coming of Christ.
First Sunday of Advent
Do you believe in Jesus? During the next few weeks the scriptures will confront us with the abiding presence of Christ in the world, the church, the Word, and the Living Bread. How will this revolutionize our lives this year? ~ Fr. Matt
First Sunday of Advent
Reflection
“READY TO GREET HIM WHEN HE COMES”
“You must be prepared in the same way. The Son of Man is coming at the time you least expect.” —Matthew 24:44
Happy Advent! Advent is about the three comings of Christ:
1) Jesus first came to earth as a Baby, humble and lowly, at Bethlehem (Lk 2:4ff).
2) Jesus will come again at His Second Coming on the last day (Mt 24:30-31). This coming will be as majestic as His first coming was humble (1 Thes 4:16; Lk 21:27).
3) The third coming of Jesus is the coming of the Eucharistic Jesus into our souls today. Jesus’ coming in Holy Communion is a humble coming, just as He came humbly to earth in Bethlehem. His Eucharistic coming is as easy to miss as was His coming at Bethlehem.
How prepared are we to meet the Eucharistic Jesus when He comes to us today? If we’re prepared for this “third” coming, we’ll welcome His first coming at Christmas and be prepared for His Second Coming.
Therefore, on this first day of the new Church Year, this day of new beginning, invite Jesus to come and reign in your life. “Seek first His kingship over you” (Mt 6:33). Be “sober and alert” (1 Pt 5:8), ever ready to greet Him when He comes. Live so that Jesus may never have to ask: “Why was no one there when I came?” (Is 50:2)
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
THE CRUCIFIX AND THE KING
“There was an inscription over His head:
‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ ” —Luke 23:38
Many people have crucifixes on their walls, in their pockets, in their purses, or around their necks. Usually at the top of this crucifix are the letters I. N. R. I. This stands for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” On Calvary, hardly anyone believed this inscription. In fact, “the chief priests of the Jews tried to tell Pilate…‘This man claimed to be King of the Jews’ ” (Jn 19:21).
What about you? Do you believe the letters on your crucifix? Or are the letters I.N.R.I. just an inscription to which you’ve never paid any attention? If you decide to take your crucifix seriously and be a faithful subject of King Jesus, you must:
- be rescued “from the power of darkness” (Col 1:13),
- repent,
- contradict leaders, soldiers, criminals, and the many people who continue to mock His kingship (Lk 23:35, 36, 39),
- be willing to be persecuted,
- worship King Jesus, for He is the King of kings (Rv 19:16) and God Himself, and
- tell everyone about the perfect King, Who is God and Love (see 1 Jn 4:16).
Are you willing to accept Jesus as your King? If so, kneel down before Him now and give Your most precious gifts to Him (see Mt 2:11). Give your whole life to King Jesus. Start talking to Jesus. Ask Him to show you Who He is. Begin to repent. Keep talking to Jesus until you can again honestly see or carry a crucifix not out of habit but out of love.
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
The taunts and mockery of the people ultimately give the theological interpretation of the cross namely SALVATION. “If you are king of the Jews save yourself, He saved others let him save himself, the criminal said save us.” Let us give thanks to God for saving us. ~ Fr. Matt
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Being committed to Christ in a hostile environment persists in our own time. Whatever the persecution we are duly equipped to manage and accept it as a proof of our loyalty to Christ and his church. ~ Fr. Matt
Pope Francis and Eucharistic Formation
Bishop Persico is encouraging us to continue reflecting on the Eucharist. One rich source for reflection is Pope Francis’ apostolic letter on liturgical formation, Desiderio Desideravi, released on June 29 of this year.
Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
RISEN LIFE
“The King of the world will raise us up
to live again forever.”—2 Maccabees 7:9
Both today’s first reading and the Gospel deal with life after death. Both show that we humans have no idea of what risen life will be like. In today’s Gospel, the Sadducees demonstrate this by their misguided assumptions. They were “badly misled” and failed “to understand the Scriptures or the power of God” (Mk 12:24).
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an historical fact. It is not merely an idea. Throughout the centuries after Jesus rose from the dead, people have given their lives in martyrdom to defend the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection. Numerous martyrs “were tortured and would not receive deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection” (Heb 11:35).
The key to life is to have an encounter with the risen Jesus. After we have met the risen Christ, we become “a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new” (2 Cor 5:17). Even in this earthly life, our lifestyle changes completely as we see everything through the perspective of the kingdom of God rather than with the eyes of the world (see Mt 6:19-34).
Since Jesus has risen, we who are baptized into Christ can share even now in this risen life (Col 1:10-13). Our life is hidden in Christ (Col 3:3). We are citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20) while living on this earth. Accept the risen Jesus as your Lord.