Superior Priest

Woe Man!

13Feb22 (22cO6). Jesus tells us of true blessings and true woes. It is not the blessings and woes that the world gives. How do you count your blessings? Be careful with living in the woes that are so common for our modern world. We need to trust not in men, but God.

Christian Love

30Jan22 (22cO4). St. Paul gives us a beautiful explanation of love. It is often used at weddings as a sappy sentimental love. But as Christians we do not see the love of God or love of neighbor as a sentimental love but an Agape love, most perfectly shown by Jesus on the cross. Help us to meditate not on a worldly, simplistic, sentimental love, but a suffering and enduring love of Jesus Christ.

Good Walls

23Jan22 (22cO3). Some walls need to be torn down, but not all walls. Jesus tears down certain walls but upholds the walls for God’s law. Jesus tells us to remain in His love, follow the commandments. We should tear down some human laws, but always hold to God’s laws that keep us safe and able to realize not who we want to be, but who God made us to be.

Not Just a Miracle in Cana

16Jan22 (22cO2). Jesus works a miracle today, but there is a lot more to the story than just that. In this simple story we also learn the role of Mary, God’s use of our cooperation, and God’s goodness to us today. God wants to take the natural goods of the world and transform them into supernatural goods.

Canon Law of Baptism

9Jan22 (22Baptism). Jesus is baptized today and so I would like to take a deeper look at what the Catholic Church teaches about baptism both in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and Code of Canon Law (CCL). CCC references https://canonlaw.ninja/?nums=1213,1257,1259,1278&v=ccc .CCL references https://canonlaw.ninja/?nums=849,855,856,861,867,868,872-874,878

Sign of Peace?

2Jan22 (22Epiphany). I love the idea that Epiphany is this pursuit of Truth in the world. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. One aspect of truth that we encounter that forms our life is the liturgy and how we celebrate the Mass effects our beliefs and the way we live. I would like to unpack a little more about the Sign of Peace in the liturgy. The wrong intention, the seeming intention and law of the Church. Let’s dive in to what the Vatican and USCCB says…Starting on page 27 of the USCCB’s newsletter is the published direction from the Vatican on the Sign of Peace. https://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2014-07-and-08.pdf.  Continued engagement is Adoremus.org. It is a great organization that dives into the liturgy and here you will find some commentary and explaining of the statements from the USCCB: https://adoremus.org/2014/09/ritual-expression-of-the-gift-of-peace-at-mass/ (these statements are also present in the newsletter after the Vatican’s statements, but I want to direct us towards Adoremus.org). Also, I mentioned about the liturgical rite used in Milan. It is called the Ambrosian rite and you can read more about it here: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2007/03/detailed-explanation-of-ambrosian-rite.html#.YeehBfFBzUI or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosian_Rite

Family Roles

26Dec21 (21Family). Joseph hears God in his Sleep is really good prayer. Explain the Gloria and incense. For the feast day of the Holy Family, we go over one role of each member of the family. Children: live and honor your parents. Be obedient to them. Wives: support your husband. Husbands: lead in love.

The Good News of Giving Away Your Cloak

12Dec21 (21cA3). John the Baptist preaches Good News. It is not just what God has done for us but also what we are called to do for God. One of the gifts is the good news of giving. If you have two cloaks you should give one away (not to one who already has a cloak, but one who doesn’t). It is good news to give alms and tithe to support the church.

Advent Preparation

5Dec21 (21cA2). Advent is a time of preparation. Showing the season, but not yet Christmas. Almost, but not yet. Our life has many things that we are in preparation that are almost, but not yet. How is your Advent going? Do I love God if I can’t make time for Him? What is the largest concern for the Advent season? The decorations, or the relationship with Jesus? The readings of John the Baptist preaching repentance, reminds us that preparation in repentance is so important. Jesus want’s relationship so bad that He becomes a child, we need to also do our work in preparation.

Prepare Your Heart Not Just Your Home

 28Nov21 (21cA1). Advent is a time for preparing not just the tree, but ultimately our souls for judgement.