Sunday Sermon

In the Twenty-Third Chapter of the Old Testament Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, we hear the following: "BEHOLD, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth" (Jeremiah 23:5) We should take comfort in these words because we are assured that God will take care of His people....

Our Lord shocks the pharisees by healing on the Sabbath! In one instance, we see our Lord on the Sabbath in the Synagogue, healing a woman who had been patiently suffering a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Let us take a lesson from the woman who had been healed on how to bear infirmities with grace.

Christians are not to judge other Christians. And Christians are to judge other Christians. That’s what the Scriptures teaches. In fact, the apostle Paul says both things in the same letter. In our Epistle readings for today he says:

"Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Just a few paragraphs later Saint Paul says, To judge other Christians. "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" (1 Corinthians 5:12)

Is Paul contradicting himself? ...

If there’s anyone who ought to be filled with great joy and spreading joy throughout the world, it’s those of us who are Christians. Because we have more reason to be joyful than anybody else on the face of this earth. That’s why Paul was able to say in our epistles readings today, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.”

Let me start by saying that what we believe, concerning the Immaculate Conception is in both Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and in Sacred Tradition (the teaching of the apostles handed on by the Church). The Immaculate Conception of Our Lady is a dogma of our faith which is in Sacred Tradition although not explicit in the Bible but implicit. There are hints of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady in the Bible.

We are now in the second week of Advent. And as we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus, I think about the meaning of Christmas. There are many words that come to mind. Words like peace on earth, good will toward men. Words like the love of God, and good news of great joy. We think of a babe in a manger and traveling wise men and shepherds keeping watch by night. We think of a Savior sent to save us from our sin.

I want to suggest one more word to associate with the meaning of Christmas. The word, scandal.

Our Lord tells a parable of a rich man who was blessed with such an abundance of crops that his barns were overflowing. Instead of giving of his bounty, the man ordered his barns to be torn down and even larger ones to be built. Little did the man know that he would not see a time to enjoy his riches.

Very often we learn about God from other people: our parents; our grandparents; etc. As children, our parents perhaps take us to church...As we grow, we still are influenced by what we hear and see about God coming from others around us, but as we grow spiritually, we need to experience our own "faith" in God.

Last Sunday After Pentecost: Jesus Is Coming Again!

Jesus came into this world when people weren’t ready for him. And Jesus said the same thing would be true of his second coming as well...

“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” St. Luke 11: 28. Indeed, blessed are they who hear the Word of God in sermons, and keep it in their hearts and act and live according to it! Blessed are they who learn, know and fulfill the law and the holy will of God. And may we not add: Blessed are they who hear the word of their neighbor, and keep it? They who hear secrets and do not divulge them? For on silence in these matters a great deal depends, and the neglect of it occasions much evil and mischief. But how few are there, even amongst Christians, who deserve to be called blessed on that account! How many talkative people there are who commit even grievous sin by revealing secrets! And of those who unnecessarily reveal secrets I intend to speak to-day, by asking and answering three questions...