theophilus September 30th, 2007
Today’s readings send a very powerful message to all of us . . . be careful how we spend our time and resources while we are alive . . .
The first reading is from Amos 6, where he continues his dire warnings from last Sunday about how the people of the time were wasting their lives.
The gospel is from Luke 16, where Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the poor man who sat outside his door. The rich man lived the high life while Lazarus suffered and starved. They both died . . . one went to heaven . . . the other went the other direction. The rich man cried out to Abraham to save him . . . and Abraham replied . . .
Continue Reading »
theophilus September 29th, 2007
Today is the Feast of the Archangels – St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael.
St. Michael is commemorated as the angel who led the victorious fight against Satan when he and his henchmen rebelled against God in heaven.
Today’s second reading, from Revelations 12, tells the story:
“War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.”
Now that is a great script for a Hollywood epic! Continue Reading »
theophilus September 28th, 2007
Today is the feast of St. Lawrence Ruiz and his companions. Who is Lawrence Ruiz and why is he important to the church . . . to us?
Imagine you are in your home, nestled in for the night with the kids in bed . . . and the police arrive. They search your home and confiscate your Bible, rosary, crucifix, religious medals, spiritual books, prayer books, mass bulletins, flyers left over from your parish’s fish fry and festival, and your kid’s RFC materials. The next day, you find that the doors of your church have been locked and your parish pastor arrested. The police return a couple of nights later and arrest you for possession of banned materials. You are thrown into jail. You are then tortured and told you are going to die . . . unless you deny Christ and your Catholic beliefs . . . unless you promise never to exercise your faith again. Continue Reading »
theophilus September 27th, 2007
Today’s gospel is from Luke 9 and continues the story of Christ’s early ministry. In this reading, Herod is “greatly perplexed” about what he was hearing about Jesus. He couldn’t figure it out . . . it couldn’t be John the Baptist because as Herod put it, “John, I beheaded.” Herod wondered “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” The reading concludes with “And he kept trying to see him.”
Why was Herod trying so hard to see Jesus? Was it pure curiousity? Or was it something more . . . something deeper? Continue Reading »
theophilus September 26th, 2007
Today’s gospel is from Luke 9 . . .
“Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.’
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
Alright, let’s be honest . . . how many of us would go to strange towns and meet with strange people without the benefits of a car, hotel reservations, cash, credit cards, convenience stores, a change of clothes, and soap and shampoo to clean ourselves up? Who among us could give up our internet, TiVo, Sirius, BW-3s and fantasy football? Continue Reading »
theophilus September 26th, 2007
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