Today we begin a new season, a new time in the church year, we entered into the season of Advent, the season of preparation for a new birth. Steve, our parish manager, and his wife just gave birth to their third addition to their family; thanks be to God a healthy Michael James was born a couple of days ago. Steve and Jamie have been preparing themselves and their household both spiritually and financially for the coming of the new birth into their lives. Likewise, the rest of the parish staff and I are trying to prepare ourselves for work without Steve’s presence in the office for a little while, even though we are happy for them and know it is coming, we’re still not fully ready. So, like it or not, ready or not, this season is indeed a time of change, a time of preparation, and like the Mandarino household, time for a new birth in our lives. Let’s look at today’s readings to help ready and prepare us for this new birth.
READ MOREToday, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time is aptly called Christ the King Sunday, in which we celebrate Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, our King. The word ‘king’ probably summons many images in our minds. We might think of dictator over a kingdom. We might define the king as the one who rules, the one who has all power and authority. Maybe we think of a king who makes the rules that are for his own gain or serve his needs and desires, or makes rules to further his power and prestige and safeguard his authority; a king who forces the people to obey his rules, or else they are punished or die. What such strong emotion that word can bring up, it’s no wonder in today’s society people don’t like to obey authority. People don’t like being treated like serfs, slaving away just to serve the king, and really get nothing in return.
READ MORENext week is the end of the liturgical year in which appropriately celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King; and ready or not in 2 weeks Advent and the start of the new liturgical year begins. So today, as we approach the end, our readings talk about the end times. Some priests don’t like to preach about the end times. So Deacon, you’re in luck, I don’t mind it. Many people don’t want to think about death or the end of their lives, let alone the end of the world as we know it. We might think of the Apocalypse- and the scary meaning that word has portrayed in all the books and movies which deal with the apocalypse or the destruction of the world. However, the word apocalypse, in Greek, literally means “a lifting of the veil or revelation. Let’s be brave and look at these perhaps daunting but very informative readings to see what they reveal.
READ MOREToday we celebrate All Saints day. We celebrate not only all the canonized Saints (with big S), but indeed all the people who are in Heaven, for everyone in Heaven is a saint (at least with small s). Raise your hand if you want to go to Heaven? Good I think I see everyone’s hands raised. How many of you desire your loved ones to go to Heaven? Good. How many of you want every person on earth to go to Heaven? If we want every person to go to Heaven, then we have a lot of work to do, don’t we?
READ MORE