Love for one’s country includes the duty to serve that country out of love and gratitude and to be of service to our fellow citizens in pursuit of the common good. The golden thread this week seems to be the connection between civil authority and the duty of all citizens to contribute to the good of society in the spirit of justice and freedom.
This week, it is a metaphor for eternal happiness in that state of existence we call heaven; with or without the rich foods and fine wines. But it is not open to everyone; there are conditions. We can only attend the banquet in the wedding garment of faith, repentance, reconciliation, and good deeds.
The “golden thread” that binds Isaiah and Matthew together for us this week is the infidelity of the rulers, Pharisees and Sadducees of ancient Israel. And if we are aware of the history of ancient Israel, then we are aware that God punished the nation for that infidelity. That should also be a warning for us today
The message for us is to avoid being like the Pharisees who seemed to think they were paragons of virtue. Rather, let us be like the tax collectors and prostitutes who hear and recognize the truth of Jesus’ teaching and turn to God acknowledging their sinfulness, seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness.
God sees all things and knows the secrets of our hearts. If we turn to God with contrition in our hearts and with confession on our lips for the sins we have committed, and if we firmly intend to amend our ways, God will hear our prayer and know our intentions to reform so that we may receive the grace of redemption.
God’s forgiveness, which we have already received through the Passion of Christ and the sacraments of the church, can be withdrawn in the final judgement if we do not forgive the “much smaller amount” of minor offences we have received from others.
We are to call attention to evil in our midst and not simply look the other way. Easier said than done! But the more we are reminded of it by the scriptures and the teaching of the church, the more likely we are to respond.
If we search our hearts, we will find God’s will, and then we have to make the conscious decision to follow that will, even if it means persecution or rejection by others.
What the church binds on earth is bound in heaven; what it loosens on earth is loosened in heaven.
The “chosen people of God” is not related to ethnicity. The promise made to the Jews is irrevocable and will be fulfilled in time, but we are all welcomed into that community of the “chosen people,” and we become members of the “chosen people” through faith in the teachings of Christ as professed in the church and by doing our best to live by those principles.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Is 45:1, 4-6 Reading 2: 1 Thes 1:1-5b Gospel: Mt 22:15-21 Our first reading this week is from chapter 45 of Isaiah which is part of “Second Isaiah” (chapters 40 – 55), composed during the Babylonian Captivity of 587 to...
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Is 25:6-10a Reading 2: Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 Gospel: Mt 22:1-14 It is probably important now and then to be reminded that when we read the books of the prophets, we are not reading documentaries. We are reading about the...
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Is 5:1-7 Reading 2: Phil 4:6-9 Gospel: Mt 21:33-43 Our reading from chapter 5 of Isaiah and our gospel from chapter 21 of Matthew are almost identical, using the image of a vineyard as the house of Israel. And in both...
Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever! Praise be His most Holy and Honorable Name. Praise Him who was, is, and is to come - the past, present, and future. Thank You, God, for all thy benefits. Thank You for moments of experiencing Your Kingdom here and now. Thank...
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Ez 18:25-28 Reading 2: Phil 2:1-11 Gospel: Mt 21:28-32 Quite often, the readings we get at Mass are short excerpts from a larger story and so they don’t make a lot of sense to us unless we know the larger story. And...
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Is 55:6-9 Reading 2: Phil 1:20c-24, 27a Gospel: Mt 20:1-16a Our first reading is from that portion of the Book of Isaiah generally referred to as “Deutero-Isaiah” (chapters 40-55) and is believed to have been composed...
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Sir 27:30—28:7 Reading 2: Rom 14:7-9 Gospel: Mt 18:21-35 Our gospel passage this week directly follows last Sunday’s gospel and so the message of that gospel carries on to this week, but with a little twist. Last week...
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Ez 33:7-9 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Reading 2: Rom 13:8-10 Gospel: Mt 18:15-20 Ezekiel is unique among the prophets of Israel as he was the only one called to the prophetic office outside of the Holy Land;...
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1: Jer 20:7-9 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 Reading 2: Rom 12:1-2 Gospel: Mt 16:21-27 Jeremiah’s prophetic mission began in 628 B.C. and therefore occurred about 100 years after that of Isaiah in 742. Whereas...
Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever! Praise be His most holy Name. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. He is, was, and ever shall be. He sanctifies and blesses! Thank You, God, for all thy benefits. Thank You for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Thank You for older...
Para el segundo año de preparación sacramental, los padres siguen siendo los primeros maestros de la fe (CCC n.º 2226). Este es un rol continuo tanto para los padres como para la vida de los estudiantes.
La preparación sacramental se llevará a cabo una vez al mes. Se pide a las familias que asistan semanalmente a la misa dominical, compartan el Evangelio en casa, participen en un retiro, recen el Rosario y que los padres asistan a una charla mensual con nuestro querido sacerdote.
Se ponen recursos a disposición de los padres, especialmente en lo relativo a la misa. Se pide a los estudiantes que traigan un misal para que lo firmen al finalizar la misa de su elección (sábado o domingo).
A continuación, se presentan las fechas de las charlas dirigidas a los padres. Los estudiantes asistirán a clases en un aula en la misma fecha y horario: de 6:30 p. m. a 8:00 p. m.
Se realizarán evaluaciones a los estudiantes; por favor, consulten las Pautas Sacramentales.
La preparación para la Primera Reconciliación y la Primera Comunión está abierta a todos los jóvenes bautizados - a partir del segundo grado escolar - que cumplan con los siguientes requisitos del programa:
El Párroco, el Coordinador de Preparación Sacramental y los padres determinarán conjuntamente la disposición del niño - tanto catequética como espiritual - para recibir los sacramentos.
For year 2, sacramental preparation, parents are still the first teachers of faith CCC#2226. This is an ongoing role for the parents and for the students' lives.
Sacramental preparation would be once a month. Families are asked to attend weekly Sunday mass, share the Gospel at home, participate in a retreat, pray the Rosary, and have parents attend a monthly talk with our beloved priest.
Resources are available to parents, especially for Mass. Students are asked to bring a Mass book to be signed by the end of the Mass of their choice (Saturday or Sunday).
Here are the dates for parent talks. The students will be in a classroom setting on the same date and time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Evaluations will be held for students, please refer to the Sacrament Guidelines.
First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation is open to all baptized youth, second grade or older, who meet the following program requirements:
The Pastor, Sacramental Preparation Coordinator, and the parents together determine the child’s readiness, both catechetical and spiritual, to receive the sacraments.
Last year, first-year families followed the new Faith at Home curriculum. Even though we have a lot to grow in, we are very happy that our families have completed the year and are now practicing their faith and following a new way of life.
Faith at Home is a new program where our families do not have to come in person weekly, but once a month. Families are asked to attend weekly Sunday mass, share the Gospel at home, participate in a retreat, pray the Rosary, and have parents attend a monthly talk with our beloved priest.
Resources are available to parents, especially for Mass. Students are asked to bring a Mass book with them to be signed by the end of any Mass of their choice (Saturday or Sunday).
Here are the dates for parent talks. The students will be in a classroom setting on the same date and time:
April 20th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
