Religious Education - Children
Catechist BlogExaltation of the Cross
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We hear in today’s second reading that Jesus “humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” The Romans used crucifixion not only as an instrument of torture but also of...
The Image of a True Human Being
Luke’s version of Jesus’ first central sermon takes place on a plain rather than a mount as in Matthew’s Gospel. Luke remembers it a bit shorter, but substantially the same. Rather than continue with an emphasis on an external law and individual happiness and...
Mature Faith
Sometimes it is good to know the “big picture” in order to more deeply appreciate the details. Let me suggest that the “big picture” of St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians is his hopes and prayers for a maturing faith community founded on the life, death and...
The Economy of Mercy
Today’s gospel from Luke tells of Jesus’ encounter with the scribes and Pharisees centered around what is proper action on the Sabbath. There were 913 regulations and guidelines arising from the reading of the Torah (Pentateuch). To the modern mind, it is hard to...
Nativity
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity or birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today’s Gospel tells the story of the nativity or birth of Jesus: “This is how the birth (genesis) of Jesus Christ came about.” Matthew connects the birth of Jesus with the first book...
From Failure to Astonishment to New Life in Mission
This week in the Gospel we have been looking at the beginning moments of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Actually, this is the beginning of our faith community, the Church. Today we see that Peter and the other fishermen had spent the whole night at work fishing with no...
Eucharist
Today we begin reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the “holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae.” This letter begins with a Eucharist or Thanksgiving: “We always give thanks” (eucharistoumen). The Greek word eucharist means to give...
Astonished and Amazed
Many people experience life as boring, a routine sameness that repeats itself season after season. This attitude can even invade our relationship with God. The life of the Jewish people in the times of Jesus was centered around a strict, rigid, rituals in the temple...
A Necessary Tuneup
In our gospel from today’s readings, we find a powerful and transformative moment in the life of Jesus. He has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and on the Sabbath day, he enters the synagogue. As was custom, someone was asked to read. Jesus is handed the scroll...
Duped
The opening words to our first reading is strong: "You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped” Wow…strong words from the prophet Jeremiah. Duped, tricked, suckered, fooled, hoodwinked. No one likes to be the unwitting tool in another’s hands, the butt of a...