BIBLE STUDY #29
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
January 23, 2010
Gospel Matthew 4:12-23
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
We are in chapter 4 of Matthew’s Gospel. The last 5 verses of chapter 3 is Jesus baptism, and the first 11 verses in chapter 4 is the Temptation of Jesus. Now Jesus begins his public ministry.
Our gospel starts out by saying that after John was arrested, Jesus withdrew to Galilee. Since Galilee is the territory of Herod Antipas who just arrested John, Jesus certainly isn’t looking for refuge from Herod. He is going there to take up where John the Baptist left off, knowing he faces opposition just as John did. As John’s ministry ceases, Jesus ministry begins.
Matthew also has Jesus move his base of operations to Capernaum to fulfill prophecy. Remember, Matthew’s followers are mostly Jewish converts, so it is important for Jesus to fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
There is also an apologetic tone here: Jesus maybe fulfilling prophecy, but in Galilee? That would have been scandalous to many Jews of Jesus day. The Messiah was to come from Jerusalem, or maybe the desert, but not Galilee that was full of gentiles and had a reputation for rebelliousness and lax observance of the Law. Matthew explains this move through Isaiah. Jesus is bringing his light to a land darkened by paganism, with many gentiles (an omen of things to come), precisely to the people who need it. It symbolizes the need we all have to see the light, which comes for everybody, and not a select few.
Jesus then takes up John’s preaching concerning repentance but he brings it to fulfillment. John hoped that God would forgive sins if people repented; Jesus is the one who forgives our sins when we repent.
It seems to me that Matthew ties in repentance with the kingdom of heaven for a reason. Can a person believe in the Gospel, be a true disciple, and live in the kingdom if that person doesn't repent? I think not.
This idea of repentance and forgiveness is so important that it is mentioned over 100 times in the Old Testament and over 100 times in the New Testament. It is central to our faith. What keeps us from eternal life? Unforgiven sin. God will forgive us anything if we are truly sorry and sincerely try to change our ways. The only unforgivable sin is the one that is not confessed.
To me, being unrepentant is turning away from God, saying that we don’t need his forgiveness, that we can do it on our own. It is denying Jesus sacrifice on the cross.
Unforgiven sin eventually blocks the avenues of God’s grace. Whenever someone tells me that God seems distant, that they feel like they are losing their faith, I ask them to tell me when they last went to confession. Usually it has been a long time. Confession is an integral part of a spiritual life and is absolutely necessary if we are to progress in the spiritual life.
Soon after Jesus begins his public ministry with his call to repent, he calls his disciples. Matthew inserts this call here because he wants them around for Sermon on the Mount and to show the authority of Jesus. Jesus calls, and these men obediently follow without any prior notice or preparation. In an instant, their lives are totally and irrevocably changed. Notice that he calls Simon by the name Peter, which points towards Mt 16:18.
Jesus is calling them to continue his mission and ministry after his death, resurrection, and ascension. While they are together for Jesus ministry, he gives them some on the job training. After his ascension, he sends the Spirit, and they are empowered and emboldened to carry on Jesus proclamation of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
We are part of that same church with the same mission as the first disciples: to carry on Jesus mission and ministry. We do that in many ways, dictated by our gifts and talents which we put at the feet of the Lord, and he transforms them into something much greater. That is how we become ‘eucharist’; our gifts and talents feed others spiritually. We are nourished on our own journey through our prayer, sacraments (especially eucharist and reconciliation), and good works. Our own Christian lives can then be a great example and source of strength to others
We are not asked to do anything great, just to do what we can. For a very few, that may mean doing something great, but that will become evident to those few as time goes on. Mother Theresa said, “We are not asked to be successful, but to be faithful.” When we do that, we never know who will be affected. Think about this: who was it that inspired Mother Theresa? They might not have ever known. And we never know who will go onto great things because of our example.
Out of this faith community, the Lord calls a few to take up a special task and be priests and religious. We all know about the lack of priests and religious in our country. What can we do to promote vocations?
• Pray: this is the first and best thing on any occasion. I can’t tell you how it works, but I know it does.
• Build up the church community: volunteer your time, talent, and treasure to build up the church. Make it lively, show you’re interested, and participate in the Mass. Let people know it makes a difference in your life. It is in this milieu that vocations arise. After all, who would be inspired by a dull church?
• Ask: studies show that the main reason why young people don’t consider a vocation is because no one asked. Don’t you feel good when people say things to you like, “I think you’d be good at….” “or have you considered….” This maybe just the encouragement someone needs. Parents especially need to talk to their children about a vocation.
Let us all follow Christ, spread the Good News, and fulfill our own vocations.
Fr. Phil
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
BIBLE STUDY # 28
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
January 16, 2011
Gospel John 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Today’s Gospel reading is the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus. In the other gospels, John is the forerunner, the one making straight the way of the Lord, and one who baptizes for the forgiveness of sins. In John’s gospel, John the Baptist is more than that; his life is an epitome of a witness to Jesus. His whole life is aimed and directed at witnessing to Jesus and sending others to follow him, even at the cost of imprisonment and death. He has been gifted with faith in Jesus, and knows that he must decrease while Jesus must increase. He is never the center of his mission, but Jesus is always at the center.
The next day Jesus approaches John, and John describes him as “the Lamb of God.” We use this title at Mass. Right before communion is distributed, the priest says, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.” What does “Lamb of God” mean?
In the book of Revelation, the title “Lamb of God” is the main title for Christ, used 28 times. It refers to Christ being the pure and perfect paschal lamb who, by shedding his blood on the cross, saved the new Israel from sin and death.
In Isaiah 53, we have the Suffering Servant, that innocent lamb who gave his life as an offering for sin, who justified many and bore their guilt and who won pardon for many. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus, the innocent lamb, took on our sin and guilt by offering his life for the many, which makes us justified in the eyes of God.
In Exodus 11, we have the tenth plague, the death of the first born male in all the land. The Israelites escaped this punishment by putting the blood of an innocent lamb on their doorpost, and the angel of death passed them by, hence the Jewish feast of Passover. It was the blood of the innocent lamb on the wood of the doorpost that led them from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Jesus is the innocent lamb, whose blood was shed on the wood of the cross that leads us from the slavery of sin and death to the freedom of new and eternal life.
Then John said that Jesus “ranks before me, because he was before me” refers to John 1:1-18, the Prologue that attests to Jesus pre-existence, that he was present when the world began, and who is the Logos, the Word, that reveals God the Father.
John states that he did not know Jesus. John’s Gospel does not tell of any kinship between John and Jesus as does Luke’s Gospel.
In the other gospels, John’s baptism is for forgiveness of sins. In this gospel, it is to reveal Jesus to Israel as the Messiah, the Servant of God and the Lamb of God.
Jesus doesn’t get baptized in John’s Gospel, but there is a sentence reminding us of Jesus baptism in the other gospels, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.” John would have seen that in the other 3 gospels, but here it seems to refer to a divine revelation through which John recognizes the mystery of Jesus. This idea is also in John 1:7: “A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.”
The dove can be seen as a symbol of the new creation (see Genesis 8:8, when Noah sends out the dove to see if the waters had receded; this is God’s new creation), or Hosea 11:11, “Out of Egypt they shall come trembling, like sparrows, from the land of Assyria, like doves; and I will settle them in their homes, says the Lord.”
A second time John says that he does not know Jesus. He is told by the one who sent him (God the Father as per 1:7) that he will recognize God’s chosen one (Jesus, the Lamb of God) when the Spirit descends and remains on him.
John’s gospel uses the word ‘remain’ many times and it has a special meaning. It is one of John’s favorites, and it emphasizes the permanence of the relationship between the Father and the Son and between the Son and the Christian; Jesus is the permanent bearer of the Spirit.
Let’s summarize. What is John saying about Jesus?
• Jesus is the Logos, the Word of God, existing before the world began
• Jesus is the long awaited Messiah promised by God in the scriptures, especially the prophets
• He is the Lamb of God, the innocent one who took on our sins by suffering and dying on the cross; he freed us from sin and death and made it possible to live in the kingdom now and in the next life
• Jesus is our connection to God. He is the permanent bearer of the Holy Spirit who baptizes with the Spirit; not in the sense we normally think of baptism, but in the wider sense of Jesus communicating the Spirit, especially through his word.
• Jesus is also the Servant of God who obediently carries out his mission as the liberating revealer of God’s truth, and as the suffering servant he offers his life for the redemption of the world.
• Jesus is the Son of God. It is interesting to note that the concept of Trinity as we know it is not mentioned in the Bible, but this is one place where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned and, with other references, constitute the scriptural backing for the concept of Trinity.
We are tasked with following Jesus, both as a Church and as individuals. We are tasked with continuing the mission and ministry of Jesus. We each have our own part to play in salvation history. John the Baptist is a good example. He was asked to be the forerunner of Jesus, to give his life as a witness so Jesus could be made known to the world. This is what God asked of him. God didn’t ask John to form a community, or to write anything, or to travel to foreign lands with the gospel. God had a specific task for John, and he tried his best to fulfill his own vocation.
God has a specific role for all of us to play in salvation history. We discern that role through prayer, and trying to listen and look for God in our lives, to see where he is leading us. Each one has a different role. Yours role may be doing something extraordinary, such as being a public religious leader with great influence, spreading God’s word through the media, or being a renowned preacher. More than likely, though your role may seem to be small and go unnoticed: being a good parent, someone who prays, or being a good example to others. Whatever God is calling you to, do it as best as you can. No contribution is too small: God will notice.
Don’t get discouraged. John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing, not knowing who he was preaching about, and he kept going. Sometimes life is like that. It takes time for God’s plan to unfold in our lives. Remember what Mother Theresa said; “God doesn’t ask us to be successful but to be faithful.” Don’t let your worries, troubles, or feelings of inadequacy get the best of you. Remember: Moses started out as a basket case.
Fr. Phil
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
January 16, 2011
Gospel John 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Today’s Gospel reading is the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus. In the other gospels, John is the forerunner, the one making straight the way of the Lord, and one who baptizes for the forgiveness of sins. In John’s gospel, John the Baptist is more than that; his life is an epitome of a witness to Jesus. His whole life is aimed and directed at witnessing to Jesus and sending others to follow him, even at the cost of imprisonment and death. He has been gifted with faith in Jesus, and knows that he must decrease while Jesus must increase. He is never the center of his mission, but Jesus is always at the center.
The next day Jesus approaches John, and John describes him as “the Lamb of God.” We use this title at Mass. Right before communion is distributed, the priest says, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.” What does “Lamb of God” mean?
In the book of Revelation, the title “Lamb of God” is the main title for Christ, used 28 times. It refers to Christ being the pure and perfect paschal lamb who, by shedding his blood on the cross, saved the new Israel from sin and death.
In Isaiah 53, we have the Suffering Servant, that innocent lamb who gave his life as an offering for sin, who justified many and bore their guilt and who won pardon for many. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus, the innocent lamb, took on our sin and guilt by offering his life for the many, which makes us justified in the eyes of God.
In Exodus 11, we have the tenth plague, the death of the first born male in all the land. The Israelites escaped this punishment by putting the blood of an innocent lamb on their doorpost, and the angel of death passed them by, hence the Jewish feast of Passover. It was the blood of the innocent lamb on the wood of the doorpost that led them from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Jesus is the innocent lamb, whose blood was shed on the wood of the cross that leads us from the slavery of sin and death to the freedom of new and eternal life.
Then John said that Jesus “ranks before me, because he was before me” refers to John 1:1-18, the Prologue that attests to Jesus pre-existence, that he was present when the world began, and who is the Logos, the Word, that reveals God the Father.
John states that he did not know Jesus. John’s Gospel does not tell of any kinship between John and Jesus as does Luke’s Gospel.
In the other gospels, John’s baptism is for forgiveness of sins. In this gospel, it is to reveal Jesus to Israel as the Messiah, the Servant of God and the Lamb of God.
Jesus doesn’t get baptized in John’s Gospel, but there is a sentence reminding us of Jesus baptism in the other gospels, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.” John would have seen that in the other 3 gospels, but here it seems to refer to a divine revelation through which John recognizes the mystery of Jesus. This idea is also in John 1:7: “A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.”
The dove can be seen as a symbol of the new creation (see Genesis 8:8, when Noah sends out the dove to see if the waters had receded; this is God’s new creation), or Hosea 11:11, “Out of Egypt they shall come trembling, like sparrows, from the land of Assyria, like doves; and I will settle them in their homes, says the Lord.”
A second time John says that he does not know Jesus. He is told by the one who sent him (God the Father as per 1:7) that he will recognize God’s chosen one (Jesus, the Lamb of God) when the Spirit descends and remains on him.
John’s gospel uses the word ‘remain’ many times and it has a special meaning. It is one of John’s favorites, and it emphasizes the permanence of the relationship between the Father and the Son and between the Son and the Christian; Jesus is the permanent bearer of the Spirit.
Let’s summarize. What is John saying about Jesus?
• Jesus is the Logos, the Word of God, existing before the world began
• Jesus is the long awaited Messiah promised by God in the scriptures, especially the prophets
• He is the Lamb of God, the innocent one who took on our sins by suffering and dying on the cross; he freed us from sin and death and made it possible to live in the kingdom now and in the next life
• Jesus is our connection to God. He is the permanent bearer of the Holy Spirit who baptizes with the Spirit; not in the sense we normally think of baptism, but in the wider sense of Jesus communicating the Spirit, especially through his word.
• Jesus is also the Servant of God who obediently carries out his mission as the liberating revealer of God’s truth, and as the suffering servant he offers his life for the redemption of the world.
• Jesus is the Son of God. It is interesting to note that the concept of Trinity as we know it is not mentioned in the Bible, but this is one place where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned and, with other references, constitute the scriptural backing for the concept of Trinity.
We are tasked with following Jesus, both as a Church and as individuals. We are tasked with continuing the mission and ministry of Jesus. We each have our own part to play in salvation history. John the Baptist is a good example. He was asked to be the forerunner of Jesus, to give his life as a witness so Jesus could be made known to the world. This is what God asked of him. God didn’t ask John to form a community, or to write anything, or to travel to foreign lands with the gospel. God had a specific task for John, and he tried his best to fulfill his own vocation.
God has a specific role for all of us to play in salvation history. We discern that role through prayer, and trying to listen and look for God in our lives, to see where he is leading us. Each one has a different role. Yours role may be doing something extraordinary, such as being a public religious leader with great influence, spreading God’s word through the media, or being a renowned preacher. More than likely, though your role may seem to be small and go unnoticed: being a good parent, someone who prays, or being a good example to others. Whatever God is calling you to, do it as best as you can. No contribution is too small: God will notice.
Don’t get discouraged. John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing, not knowing who he was preaching about, and he kept going. Sometimes life is like that. It takes time for God’s plan to unfold in our lives. Remember what Mother Theresa said; “God doesn’t ask us to be successful but to be faithful.” Don’t let your worries, troubles, or feelings of inadequacy get the best of you. Remember: Moses started out as a basket case.
Fr. Phil
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2011
The quote of the month by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
SNOW REMOVAL HELP
Anyone home on weekdays or weekends or students who might be available during snow days, who might be interested in earning some money by helping with snow removal, please call Fr. Phil to put your name on a list to be called [973.696.4411, x16].
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK. As Catholic Schools Week approaches, I encourage all parents to consider a catholic school education for their children. Here is some information about Holy Spirit School in Pequannock to aid in your decision making (all this information is taken from their brochure).
K-8 Profile
• Fully Accredited by Middle States Association
• NJ certified teachers, certified librarian
• Comprehensive, full day kindergarten
• Before & after care programs
• Small class sizes for individualized attention
• Children from all religious denominations welcome
• Ongoing registration
• Holy Spirit School in Pequannock is excited to announce the expansion of its three-year old preschool program. Beginning in January, the Pre-K 3 program will be available Monday thru Friday mornings from 8:30 to 11:15 am only. Two fully certified teachers provide a nurturing.
•
Academics
• Terra Nova testing in grades 1-8
• Core curriculum includes: reading, spelling, phonics, science, religion, mathematics/algebra, English, language arts, literature, penmanship, social studies, geography & vocabulary
• Music, art & physical education round out the core studies
• Spanish taught in grades 1-8
• Speech therapy, supplemental instruction for gifted & extra assistance
Facilities
• Online communication & grading system for parent, student, and teacher interaction
• Technologically advanced computer and science labs and library
• Nurturing and safe environment
• Hot lunch program
• On site Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.)
• Honeywell Instant Alert System – instantly notifies parents and caregivers of closings and emergency information
• Nurse on premises, staff members CPR certified
Extracurricular/social activities
• Performing Arts
• C.Y.O. Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Forensic League
• Jr. Leadership Program
• Student Government
• Music Lessons
• Book Club
• Health & Fitness Club
• Computer Club
Test Scores
• 50% of students in grades 3-8 are in the top 5% of those tested across the country – which qualifies them for the special Johns Hopkins University Talent Search Testing Program and can lead to special course offerings and enhanced academic experiences.
Awards
• Sister Marie Antonelli, M.P.F., principal of Holy Spirit School, is the recipient of the Distinguished Principals Award from the National Catholic Education Association
Tuition Assistance
• If you are currently enrolled as a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Parish, contributing to our parish through time, talent, and treasure, we will be able to assist you with your tuition
Contact Information:
• Website: www.holyspiritschoolpequannock.org
• Phone number for Sr. Marie: 973-835-5680; call her for an appointment
• Email for Sr. Marie: mantonelli@worldnet,att.net
• School address: 330 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock, NJ 07440
Final Thoughts
• The teachers I know at DePaul High School tell me that graduates of Holy Spirit School are very well prepared for high school
• I can’t think of a better gift you can give your child or a better way to prepare them for the future than a catholic school education
NEW ALTAR SERVERS
Boys and girls in Grades 4-6 who are interested in becoming altar servers should call Sr. Ellen at 973.696.4411, x17 to inquire about the training schedule.
This is AWESOME ...
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. ‘I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
‘Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
January 22, 2011 marks the thirty-eighth anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. We are still burdened with this grave sin. While we will be doing something at the parish to pray for an end to abortion, here is some prayers from our Bishop that you can pray on your own for an end to this terrible scourge.
Supplications for All Nascent Human Life
Let us pray to God, the Father of Life and Font of all Mercy:
Lord, have mercy on all who have sinned against life.
You knit us in our mother’s womb,
— Preserve all children from bodily harm
From the moment of conception.
Your Son ennobled all human life when he became flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
— Enlighten our minds to see the dignity of every human life
From its earliest embryonic beginnings.
You are author of science and knowledge,
— Bring an end to the destruction of human embryos
In research facilities and IVF clinics.
You are the law-giver and ruler of the world,
Help us to overturn unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent lives,
And guide our public officials to defend the littlest among us.
You love those who are afflicted,
Help parents of unborn children with disabilities
To cherish the baby you have entrusted to their care.
Your Son, Jesus, healed the sick,
— Guide all doctors to be guardians of life,
Especially the lives of unborn children with serious health conditions.
Lord, you are love and mercy itself,
Draw all who have acted against innocent human life
To repentance and forgiveness,
And heal them through an outpouring of grace.
VOCATIONS. The week of January 9-15, 2011 is designated as Vocations Awareness Week. What can we do to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life?
Pray – no one knows how or why this works, but it does. Keep praying that God will inspire people to take up the joy of a vocation;
Church – we all need to work together to make our church a lively, faith filled place that encourages people to be disciples. Out of this will come one or two that will feel God’s call and follow. Who would be inspired to a vocation in a dull church?
Encourage men and women to consider a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement. Don’t forget to encourage older men and women – both Fr. Dave and myself are delayed vocations;
People in ministry, clergy, religious, and lay people, need to express joy in their lives, a joy that come from serving God. We need to show people that meaning in life comes from our relationship with God and what we do for others, not what we accumulate for ourselves.
BIBLE STUDY. I just realized that I have been doing the internet bible study for over 6 months now. I have been doing it for 4 reasons; 1) it helps me tremendously in my own homily preparation; 2) I hope it helps you in your faith life and to be a little bit prepared for Sunday Mass; 3) it is a way of reaching out to people who can’t come to the parish for bible study, and 4) I hope it encourages you to read the bible a little more.
Reading the Bible can be a daunting task. You need to do a little bit more than just sit down and read. Do you know what type of literature it is? When was it written? To whom was it written?
We need help to understand what we are reading. It is easy to interject what we think it says, or what we want it to say, but this isn’t bible study. This should only be done after we have a little understanding of what we are reading.
The first thing to do is to get a good bible. I use the latest edition of the Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible. This is approved by the Church and is the translation used at Mass. This bible has several aids for studying and learning. It has the Vatican II Constitution on Divine Revelation which tells us what Vatican II says about the bible. It has a section on how to read the bible, which should be the first thing read. There is a historical survey of the lands of the bible. A bible dictionary is included; if you see a word like Kadesh and you don’t know what it means, just look it up. There is a liturgical index of Sunday readings. I don’t include all the reading for that Sunday, so now you know what they are should you want to read them ahead of time. A doctrinal bible index is included; let’s say you want to know what the bible says about anger; just look up anger in this index and it will give you appropriate passages. My bible also has over 100 photographs and maps to help put things in perspective.
My bible also has a preface to each book describing themes, giving outlines, dates it was written, the author, and much other information. There are also copious footnotes, which need to be read along with the passage.
I also think that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a good companion in bible study. Let’s say you look up anger in the doctrinal index in the bible, but need more of an explanation. You can look up anger in the catechism for a fuller explanation, which will be cross referenced to the bible and other church documents. I also think a good dictionary of theology and a bible dictionary can be useful. For more in depth information, a good commentary series, such as the New Testament Message Series can be invaluable. There is also lots of stuff online. Be careful, because many of the non-Catholic bible studies online are going to have different interpretations than Catholics, especially with anything concerning the Eucharist.
This may all seem too much, but try it anyway. You’ll get the hang of it. Let me know if you have any questions.
MINISTRY MEETINGS
Eucharistic Ministers: 1/10/11 @ 7:30 pm in Church following 7:00 pm Mass
ATTENTION ENGAGED COUPLES
Attention all engaged couples: our parish, in conjunction with St. Pius X in Montville, will be holding Pre-Cana on February 11 & 12, 2011. If you are planning on being married in the next year, this will be the only Pre-Cana conducted by our parish in 2011. Registration must be completed by January 31st. Please contact Lorraine at 973.696.4411, x10.
FOOD PANTRY
The item requested for the month of January is solid white tuna in water only. Please leave your donations in the back of church. Thank you.
CONFIRMATION PROGRAM SUBS NEEDED
We are presently in need of substitute teachers for our Confirmation Program. The classes are the first Sunday of each month. If you are willing to help, please call the Rectory or email jenshirkey@hotmail.com and your name will be placed on a list to call in the event a sub is needed. Thank you.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
GRADES K-8
Grades K-4 Classes resume this Sunday at 9 or 11
Grs 7 & 8 will resume on Tuesday, January 11th
Confirmation Program
Check out our Youth Ministry information on Facebook at “St. Joe's Youth Ministry.” The page will host a calendar, service projects and other pertinent info. If you have any digital photos to be added, I will take them.
Questions regarding the Confirmation Program should be directed to our Youth Ministers, Kenneth & Jennifer Shirkey at 973.694.5844 or email jenshirkey@hotmail.com.
MORRIS CATHOLIC HS CLOTHING DRIVE
The Project Graduation Committee of MCHS will be holding a clothing drive on the following dates:
January 15 from 9 am to 1 pm, January 22 from 9 am to 1 pm and January 29 from 9 am to 3pm.
All wearable and usable clothing will be accepted including accessories such as pocketbooks, backpacks, belts, hats, gloves, scarves, ties, baby accessories and briefcases. Household items made of fabric in good condition such as blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillows, quilts, curtains, towels, bath rugs, kitchen and bath accessories made of fabric and tablecloths. Also both soft (stuffed animals, beanie babies, rag dolls) and hard toys will be accepted. All hard toys must fit a box 24” x 24” x 21”. Bicycles are also accepted (as long as they are in working order).
All items should be put in well-tied plastic bags. Shoes and soft toys should each be bagged separately, please.
Drop off is at MCHS, 200 Morris Avenue, Denville (container is located in the back near upper soccer field),
Or please contact Lorraine Thierry in the parish office @ 973.696.4411, x10 to arrange for pick up.
God bless everyone, and I hope you all have a happy and blessed New Year.
Fr. Phil
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2011
The quote of the month by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
SNOW REMOVAL HELP
Anyone home on weekdays or weekends or students who might be available during snow days, who might be interested in earning some money by helping with snow removal, please call Fr. Phil to put your name on a list to be called [973.696.4411, x16].
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK. As Catholic Schools Week approaches, I encourage all parents to consider a catholic school education for their children. Here is some information about Holy Spirit School in Pequannock to aid in your decision making (all this information is taken from their brochure).
K-8 Profile
• Fully Accredited by Middle States Association
• NJ certified teachers, certified librarian
• Comprehensive, full day kindergarten
• Before & after care programs
• Small class sizes for individualized attention
• Children from all religious denominations welcome
• Ongoing registration
• Holy Spirit School in Pequannock is excited to announce the expansion of its three-year old preschool program. Beginning in January, the Pre-K 3 program will be available Monday thru Friday mornings from 8:30 to 11:15 am only. Two fully certified teachers provide a nurturing.
•
Academics
• Terra Nova testing in grades 1-8
• Core curriculum includes: reading, spelling, phonics, science, religion, mathematics/algebra, English, language arts, literature, penmanship, social studies, geography & vocabulary
• Music, art & physical education round out the core studies
• Spanish taught in grades 1-8
• Speech therapy, supplemental instruction for gifted & extra assistance
Facilities
• Online communication & grading system for parent, student, and teacher interaction
• Technologically advanced computer and science labs and library
• Nurturing and safe environment
• Hot lunch program
• On site Automated External Defibrillator (A.E.D.)
• Honeywell Instant Alert System – instantly notifies parents and caregivers of closings and emergency information
• Nurse on premises, staff members CPR certified
Extracurricular/social activities
• Performing Arts
• C.Y.O. Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Forensic League
• Jr. Leadership Program
• Student Government
• Music Lessons
• Book Club
• Health & Fitness Club
• Computer Club
Test Scores
• 50% of students in grades 3-8 are in the top 5% of those tested across the country – which qualifies them for the special Johns Hopkins University Talent Search Testing Program and can lead to special course offerings and enhanced academic experiences.
Awards
• Sister Marie Antonelli, M.P.F., principal of Holy Spirit School, is the recipient of the Distinguished Principals Award from the National Catholic Education Association
Tuition Assistance
• If you are currently enrolled as a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Parish, contributing to our parish through time, talent, and treasure, we will be able to assist you with your tuition
Contact Information:
• Website: www.holyspiritschoolpequannock.org
• Phone number for Sr. Marie: 973-835-5680; call her for an appointment
• Email for Sr. Marie: mantonelli@worldnet,att.net
• School address: 330 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock, NJ 07440
Final Thoughts
• The teachers I know at DePaul High School tell me that graduates of Holy Spirit School are very well prepared for high school
• I can’t think of a better gift you can give your child or a better way to prepare them for the future than a catholic school education
NEW ALTAR SERVERS
Boys and girls in Grades 4-6 who are interested in becoming altar servers should call Sr. Ellen at 973.696.4411, x17 to inquire about the training schedule.
This is AWESOME ...
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. ‘I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
‘Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
January 22, 2011 marks the thirty-eighth anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. We are still burdened with this grave sin. While we will be doing something at the parish to pray for an end to abortion, here is some prayers from our Bishop that you can pray on your own for an end to this terrible scourge.
Supplications for All Nascent Human Life
Let us pray to God, the Father of Life and Font of all Mercy:
Lord, have mercy on all who have sinned against life.
You knit us in our mother’s womb,
— Preserve all children from bodily harm
From the moment of conception.
Your Son ennobled all human life when he became flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
— Enlighten our minds to see the dignity of every human life
From its earliest embryonic beginnings.
You are author of science and knowledge,
— Bring an end to the destruction of human embryos
In research facilities and IVF clinics.
You are the law-giver and ruler of the world,
Help us to overturn unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent lives,
And guide our public officials to defend the littlest among us.
You love those who are afflicted,
Help parents of unborn children with disabilities
To cherish the baby you have entrusted to their care.
Your Son, Jesus, healed the sick,
— Guide all doctors to be guardians of life,
Especially the lives of unborn children with serious health conditions.
Lord, you are love and mercy itself,
Draw all who have acted against innocent human life
To repentance and forgiveness,
And heal them through an outpouring of grace.
VOCATIONS. The week of January 9-15, 2011 is designated as Vocations Awareness Week. What can we do to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life?
Pray – no one knows how or why this works, but it does. Keep praying that God will inspire people to take up the joy of a vocation;
Church – we all need to work together to make our church a lively, faith filled place that encourages people to be disciples. Out of this will come one or two that will feel God’s call and follow. Who would be inspired to a vocation in a dull church?
Encourage men and women to consider a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement. Don’t forget to encourage older men and women – both Fr. Dave and myself are delayed vocations;
People in ministry, clergy, religious, and lay people, need to express joy in their lives, a joy that come from serving God. We need to show people that meaning in life comes from our relationship with God and what we do for others, not what we accumulate for ourselves.
BIBLE STUDY. I just realized that I have been doing the internet bible study for over 6 months now. I have been doing it for 4 reasons; 1) it helps me tremendously in my own homily preparation; 2) I hope it helps you in your faith life and to be a little bit prepared for Sunday Mass; 3) it is a way of reaching out to people who can’t come to the parish for bible study, and 4) I hope it encourages you to read the bible a little more.
Reading the Bible can be a daunting task. You need to do a little bit more than just sit down and read. Do you know what type of literature it is? When was it written? To whom was it written?
We need help to understand what we are reading. It is easy to interject what we think it says, or what we want it to say, but this isn’t bible study. This should only be done after we have a little understanding of what we are reading.
The first thing to do is to get a good bible. I use the latest edition of the Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible. This is approved by the Church and is the translation used at Mass. This bible has several aids for studying and learning. It has the Vatican II Constitution on Divine Revelation which tells us what Vatican II says about the bible. It has a section on how to read the bible, which should be the first thing read. There is a historical survey of the lands of the bible. A bible dictionary is included; if you see a word like Kadesh and you don’t know what it means, just look it up. There is a liturgical index of Sunday readings. I don’t include all the reading for that Sunday, so now you know what they are should you want to read them ahead of time. A doctrinal bible index is included; let’s say you want to know what the bible says about anger; just look up anger in this index and it will give you appropriate passages. My bible also has over 100 photographs and maps to help put things in perspective.
My bible also has a preface to each book describing themes, giving outlines, dates it was written, the author, and much other information. There are also copious footnotes, which need to be read along with the passage.
I also think that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a good companion in bible study. Let’s say you look up anger in the doctrinal index in the bible, but need more of an explanation. You can look up anger in the catechism for a fuller explanation, which will be cross referenced to the bible and other church documents. I also think a good dictionary of theology and a bible dictionary can be useful. For more in depth information, a good commentary series, such as the New Testament Message Series can be invaluable. There is also lots of stuff online. Be careful, because many of the non-Catholic bible studies online are going to have different interpretations than Catholics, especially with anything concerning the Eucharist.
This may all seem too much, but try it anyway. You’ll get the hang of it. Let me know if you have any questions.
MINISTRY MEETINGS
Eucharistic Ministers: 1/10/11 @ 7:30 pm in Church following 7:00 pm Mass
ATTENTION ENGAGED COUPLES
Attention all engaged couples: our parish, in conjunction with St. Pius X in Montville, will be holding Pre-Cana on February 11 & 12, 2011. If you are planning on being married in the next year, this will be the only Pre-Cana conducted by our parish in 2011. Registration must be completed by January 31st. Please contact Lorraine at 973.696.4411, x10.
FOOD PANTRY
The item requested for the month of January is solid white tuna in water only. Please leave your donations in the back of church. Thank you.
CONFIRMATION PROGRAM SUBS NEEDED
We are presently in need of substitute teachers for our Confirmation Program. The classes are the first Sunday of each month. If you are willing to help, please call the Rectory or email jenshirkey@hotmail.com and your name will be placed on a list to call in the event a sub is needed. Thank you.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
GRADES K-8
Grades K-4 Classes resume this Sunday at 9 or 11
Grs 7 & 8 will resume on Tuesday, January 11th
Confirmation Program
Check out our Youth Ministry information on Facebook at “St. Joe's Youth Ministry.” The page will host a calendar, service projects and other pertinent info. If you have any digital photos to be added, I will take them.
Questions regarding the Confirmation Program should be directed to our Youth Ministers, Kenneth & Jennifer Shirkey at 973.694.5844 or email jenshirkey@hotmail.com.
MORRIS CATHOLIC HS CLOTHING DRIVE
The Project Graduation Committee of MCHS will be holding a clothing drive on the following dates:
January 15 from 9 am to 1 pm, January 22 from 9 am to 1 pm and January 29 from 9 am to 3pm.
All wearable and usable clothing will be accepted including accessories such as pocketbooks, backpacks, belts, hats, gloves, scarves, ties, baby accessories and briefcases. Household items made of fabric in good condition such as blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillows, quilts, curtains, towels, bath rugs, kitchen and bath accessories made of fabric and tablecloths. Also both soft (stuffed animals, beanie babies, rag dolls) and hard toys will be accepted. All hard toys must fit a box 24” x 24” x 21”. Bicycles are also accepted (as long as they are in working order).
All items should be put in well-tied plastic bags. Shoes and soft toys should each be bagged separately, please.
Drop off is at MCHS, 200 Morris Avenue, Denville (container is located in the back near upper soccer field),
Or please contact Lorraine Thierry in the parish office @ 973.696.4411, x10 to arrange for pick up.
God bless everyone, and I hope you all have a happy and blessed New Year.
Fr. Phil
BIBLE STUDY #27
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
January 9, 2011
Gospel Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
The Christmas season ends today. We will be taking down our Christmas decorations after the last mass. It seems like a short season, which it is, lasting from December 24 to January 9. We begin Ordinary Time, which refers to the 34 weeks of this year that do not celebrate a specific mystery of Christ, but are devoted to the mystery of Christ in its fullness. Ordinary time begins Monday, January 10, and goes to Tuesday, March 8, the day before Ash Wednesday, at which time we will be in Lent. We switch back to green vestments for this period.
While this Sunday is called the Baptism of the Lord, Jesus’ baptism is an incidental event in the Gospel, which emphasizes the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, and it is the occasion on which Jesus is equipped for his ministry by the Holy Spirit. Since he is described as coming from Galilee, the baptism most likely took place in Judea at the Jordan’s southern end.
We tend to think of the Jordan as a large river like the Hudson River, but it is hardly bigger than a small stream like the Beaverbrook that runs behind the rectory. In fact, it rains so little, and so much water is diverted further upstream, that the Jordan actually dries up, and is a dry river bed to the Dead Sea.
Jesus approaches John to be baptized, and John seems to be horrified at this request. He is prophetic by recognizing Jesus’ superiority (only in Matthew’s Gospel) and is humble enough to say that he needs to be baptized with the Holy Spirit by Jesus (see verse 11), not the other way around.
John tries to prevent Jesus from his baptism of repentance which is meant for sinners. This would contradict everything John had been preaching concerning the coming Messiah, that is, the fiery mage of the final judge. Jesus does not stress his superiority over John, but associates himself with John. He says, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” That is, it is fitting for them to fulfill prophecy. In the gospel, fulfill usually refers to the fulfillment of prophecy, and righteousness to moral conduct (usually applied to the disciples), but here, righteousness more than likely refers to God’s saving activity and to fulfill all righteousness means to submit to the plan of God for the salvation of all. John then accedes to Jesus request. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 536, “The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Already he is anticipating the “baptism of his bloody death. Already he is coming to “fulfill all righteousness,” that is, he is submitting himself entirely to the Father’s will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “rest in him.” Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At is baptism “the heavens were opened” - the heaven’s that Adams sin had closed – and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.”
The opening of the heavens after Jesus baptism reminds us of Ezekiel 1:1, his vision that came from the opening of the heavens, or Isaiah 42:1 “Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.” Or the end of chapter 63 of Isaiah, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down” which is exactly what is happening now: the son of God has descended from heaven.
The idea of the Spirit descending as a dove has never been explained satisfactorily. It could be that a bird represents a messenger from God.
This message is not for Jesus alone, as in Mark’s Gospel, but for all to hear. God says “This is my beloved Son”, not “You are my beloved Son.” With this statement, Matthew is moving Jesus sonship back to his virginal conception. Thus, it doesn’t make any sense for Matthew to have the Father speak only to the Son telling him about this for the first times.
It seems that Matthew is telling us in this section, together with 28:19, what baptism means for Christians. Matthew is the only one who uses a Trinitarian formula for baptism.
Since we have now learned about Jesus baptism, what does baptism mean for us?
The first thing that always comes to my mind when I hear this question is why do we baptize children? To me, it is a matter of love. Aside from all the theological reasons, parents love their children and make great sacrifices for them. They want the best for them. They provide for their physical and educational needs, and should want to share their life in God with them. What could be more important than that? At a baptism, I always tell the family that when this child gets older, we want them to feel at home in church and to never be able to remember a time when church wasn’t important to their family. We want them to come to know and love Jesus Christ as much as we do. The best way for that to come about is by the example of their parents, by mass attendance and religious education when it is time for that. While the parents have chosen to have their child baptized into a life of faith, we hope that, as teenagers, they will make their own decision to follow Christ by being confirmed.
If there is anything that drives me crazy, it is when parents decide to allow their child to make their own decision about faith when they get older. If you don’t want to be bothered with all the requirements of faith, if you don’t have faith, if you are antireligious, if you don’t think it is important, at least be honest and say so. Children aren’t mature enough to make that kind of decision. Would you let your child decide if they wanted to attend school or stay home, or what they are to eat, or who they associate with? I think not. Children need guidance and direction. If they choose a life without faith as an adult after all you have done to share your faith, that’s the way life is, sometimes. You did your best. Besides, how can a person make an enlightened decision about faith if they know nothing about it?
Baptism welcomes us into the community. Every organization has a welcoming ceremony. Whether it’s the military, the Knights of Columbus, a sorority, or the Church, there is a welcoming ceremony. For the church, this ceremony is called baptism, which is the primary sacrament, and everything stems from it. We pour water over the baby’s head three times while saying “I baptize you in the name of the father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” By this pouring of water, we are born in Christ and become a member of the his body, the church.
Baptism also frees us from original sin. What is that? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 417 states that “Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called ‘original sin.’” Paragraph 418 states that “As a result of original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers; subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death, and inclined to sin (This inclination is called ‘concupiscence’).” Therefore, original sin is not a sin we commit, like stealing or lying; it is a state of being, and not an act (see paragraph 404 in the Catechism). Baptism gives us the possibility of overcoming concupiscence through the grace of Our Lord. The concupiscence is still there, but now we have the ability to fight back with God’s grace to resist sin and temptation.
We are also given a mission. We are anointed with Sacred Chrism on the crown of our head while the priest says, “God the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.” We are all priests, not in the sense that I am a priest, but in the priesthood of the faithful, to be people of prayer and commitment to our faith; we are prophets in the sense that we need to witness to our faith by what we say and do everyday, and we are kings, but like Jesus was a King, by serving people and not lording it over them (that is, by being humble). Another way to say all that is that we as a church are given the mission to continue the ministry and mission of Jesus.
When parents and godparents bring a child to church for baptism, the parents are told that it is their responsibility to raise their children in our faith and are asked if they are ready and willing to do so, and are required to answer appropriately. The godparents are asked if they are willing to help the parents in this task, and are asked to answer appropriately. This is a serious, complicated, often frustrating, hopefully rewarding, lifelong task. At baptism, parents are committing themselves to practicing their faith and bringing their child up in the ways of faith. It is something not to be taken lightly. Being a godparent also has long range consequences. I always hope that when that child is confirmed, they will ask one of their baptismal godparents to be their confirmation sponsor because that person has taken an active and prominent role in that young person’s life. Someone shouldn’t be asked to be a godparent because it is their ‘turn’, but because that person is active in their faith and would be a good example to the child.
Baptism is also a time when we hope we can induce parents who may not have been practicing their faith regularly to return to the fold. If they have been raised in the faith, many times they will return at this time. This is what I tell parents when their college age child stops going to church. I say that they’ll be back when it is important to them, usually when they get a little older and have more perspective on life and a little more mature.
When I look at scripture, I tend to be practical – what does it mean for me as I live out my life everyday? While there is much more to baptism than what I have written, and certainly much more to Jesus baptism than what is above, I hope that what I have written may, in some small way, help you to live out your Christian life a little better.
Fr. Phil
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
January 9, 2011
Gospel Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
The Christmas season ends today. We will be taking down our Christmas decorations after the last mass. It seems like a short season, which it is, lasting from December 24 to January 9. We begin Ordinary Time, which refers to the 34 weeks of this year that do not celebrate a specific mystery of Christ, but are devoted to the mystery of Christ in its fullness. Ordinary time begins Monday, January 10, and goes to Tuesday, March 8, the day before Ash Wednesday, at which time we will be in Lent. We switch back to green vestments for this period.
While this Sunday is called the Baptism of the Lord, Jesus’ baptism is an incidental event in the Gospel, which emphasizes the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, and it is the occasion on which Jesus is equipped for his ministry by the Holy Spirit. Since he is described as coming from Galilee, the baptism most likely took place in Judea at the Jordan’s southern end.
We tend to think of the Jordan as a large river like the Hudson River, but it is hardly bigger than a small stream like the Beaverbrook that runs behind the rectory. In fact, it rains so little, and so much water is diverted further upstream, that the Jordan actually dries up, and is a dry river bed to the Dead Sea.
Jesus approaches John to be baptized, and John seems to be horrified at this request. He is prophetic by recognizing Jesus’ superiority (only in Matthew’s Gospel) and is humble enough to say that he needs to be baptized with the Holy Spirit by Jesus (see verse 11), not the other way around.
John tries to prevent Jesus from his baptism of repentance which is meant for sinners. This would contradict everything John had been preaching concerning the coming Messiah, that is, the fiery mage of the final judge. Jesus does not stress his superiority over John, but associates himself with John. He says, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” That is, it is fitting for them to fulfill prophecy. In the gospel, fulfill usually refers to the fulfillment of prophecy, and righteousness to moral conduct (usually applied to the disciples), but here, righteousness more than likely refers to God’s saving activity and to fulfill all righteousness means to submit to the plan of God for the salvation of all. John then accedes to Jesus request. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 536, “The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Already he is anticipating the “baptism of his bloody death. Already he is coming to “fulfill all righteousness,” that is, he is submitting himself entirely to the Father’s will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “rest in him.” Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At is baptism “the heavens were opened” - the heaven’s that Adams sin had closed – and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.”
The opening of the heavens after Jesus baptism reminds us of Ezekiel 1:1, his vision that came from the opening of the heavens, or Isaiah 42:1 “Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.” Or the end of chapter 63 of Isaiah, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down” which is exactly what is happening now: the son of God has descended from heaven.
The idea of the Spirit descending as a dove has never been explained satisfactorily. It could be that a bird represents a messenger from God.
This message is not for Jesus alone, as in Mark’s Gospel, but for all to hear. God says “This is my beloved Son”, not “You are my beloved Son.” With this statement, Matthew is moving Jesus sonship back to his virginal conception. Thus, it doesn’t make any sense for Matthew to have the Father speak only to the Son telling him about this for the first times.
It seems that Matthew is telling us in this section, together with 28:19, what baptism means for Christians. Matthew is the only one who uses a Trinitarian formula for baptism.
Since we have now learned about Jesus baptism, what does baptism mean for us?
The first thing that always comes to my mind when I hear this question is why do we baptize children? To me, it is a matter of love. Aside from all the theological reasons, parents love their children and make great sacrifices for them. They want the best for them. They provide for their physical and educational needs, and should want to share their life in God with them. What could be more important than that? At a baptism, I always tell the family that when this child gets older, we want them to feel at home in church and to never be able to remember a time when church wasn’t important to their family. We want them to come to know and love Jesus Christ as much as we do. The best way for that to come about is by the example of their parents, by mass attendance and religious education when it is time for that. While the parents have chosen to have their child baptized into a life of faith, we hope that, as teenagers, they will make their own decision to follow Christ by being confirmed.
If there is anything that drives me crazy, it is when parents decide to allow their child to make their own decision about faith when they get older. If you don’t want to be bothered with all the requirements of faith, if you don’t have faith, if you are antireligious, if you don’t think it is important, at least be honest and say so. Children aren’t mature enough to make that kind of decision. Would you let your child decide if they wanted to attend school or stay home, or what they are to eat, or who they associate with? I think not. Children need guidance and direction. If they choose a life without faith as an adult after all you have done to share your faith, that’s the way life is, sometimes. You did your best. Besides, how can a person make an enlightened decision about faith if they know nothing about it?
Baptism welcomes us into the community. Every organization has a welcoming ceremony. Whether it’s the military, the Knights of Columbus, a sorority, or the Church, there is a welcoming ceremony. For the church, this ceremony is called baptism, which is the primary sacrament, and everything stems from it. We pour water over the baby’s head three times while saying “I baptize you in the name of the father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” By this pouring of water, we are born in Christ and become a member of the his body, the church.
Baptism also frees us from original sin. What is that? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 417 states that “Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called ‘original sin.’” Paragraph 418 states that “As a result of original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers; subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death, and inclined to sin (This inclination is called ‘concupiscence’).” Therefore, original sin is not a sin we commit, like stealing or lying; it is a state of being, and not an act (see paragraph 404 in the Catechism). Baptism gives us the possibility of overcoming concupiscence through the grace of Our Lord. The concupiscence is still there, but now we have the ability to fight back with God’s grace to resist sin and temptation.
We are also given a mission. We are anointed with Sacred Chrism on the crown of our head while the priest says, “God the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.” We are all priests, not in the sense that I am a priest, but in the priesthood of the faithful, to be people of prayer and commitment to our faith; we are prophets in the sense that we need to witness to our faith by what we say and do everyday, and we are kings, but like Jesus was a King, by serving people and not lording it over them (that is, by being humble). Another way to say all that is that we as a church are given the mission to continue the ministry and mission of Jesus.
When parents and godparents bring a child to church for baptism, the parents are told that it is their responsibility to raise their children in our faith and are asked if they are ready and willing to do so, and are required to answer appropriately. The godparents are asked if they are willing to help the parents in this task, and are asked to answer appropriately. This is a serious, complicated, often frustrating, hopefully rewarding, lifelong task. At baptism, parents are committing themselves to practicing their faith and bringing their child up in the ways of faith. It is something not to be taken lightly. Being a godparent also has long range consequences. I always hope that when that child is confirmed, they will ask one of their baptismal godparents to be their confirmation sponsor because that person has taken an active and prominent role in that young person’s life. Someone shouldn’t be asked to be a godparent because it is their ‘turn’, but because that person is active in their faith and would be a good example to the child.
Baptism is also a time when we hope we can induce parents who may not have been practicing their faith regularly to return to the fold. If they have been raised in the faith, many times they will return at this time. This is what I tell parents when their college age child stops going to church. I say that they’ll be back when it is important to them, usually when they get a little older and have more perspective on life and a little more mature.
When I look at scripture, I tend to be practical – what does it mean for me as I live out my life everyday? While there is much more to baptism than what I have written, and certainly much more to Jesus baptism than what is above, I hope that what I have written may, in some small way, help you to live out your Christian life a little better.
Fr. Phil
Saturday, January 1, 2011
BIBLE STUDY #26
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
January 2, 2011
Gospel Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived inJerusalem
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and allJerusalem
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them toBethlehem
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
According to Webster’s Dictionary, Epiphany is defined as “1 cap : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ 2 : an appearance or manifestation esp. of a divine being 3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking.”
Paragraph 528 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states “ The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee . In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and savior of the world only by turning toward the Jews ands receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that “the full number of nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs” and acquires Israelitica dignitas (are made “worthy of the heritage of Israel
Today’s gospel looks to the future of Jesus when he will be accepted by the gentiles but rejected by his own people. However, not all Jews rejected Jesus, such as the Apostles, the women who followed him, Matthews’s community (for the most part) and many other Jews who were the first followers of Jesus. We can’t be anti Semitic and say all the Jews rejected Jesus, because that’s just not true. Initially, Jesus’ followers saw themselves as a sect of Judaism. Eventually the followers of Jesus broke away from Judaism to make Christianity a separate religion, so I think a case can be made that the Jewish converts to Christianity rejected Judaism, and not the other way around.
Matthew is very careful in placing Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem of Judea, so not to be confused with the Bethlehem of Galilee. Bethlehem of Judea is the City of David
Herod was king from 37 B.C. to 4 A.D. and he reigned over a kingdom as large as King David’s. He had a bloody struggle trying to maintain his position against the Hasmoneans (the Jewish priestly rulers) and from other movements who were trying to overthrow him
The Magi arrive on Herod’s doorstep. Magi were originally from the Persian priestly caste, but the term magi came to mean any possessor of supernatural power. In Matthew’s case, they are astrologers. In some older translations of the bible, the magi are introduced as wise men. Also notice that they have no names and it doesn’t say how many. Traditionally, there are three magi because there are three gifts in 2:11, and they have been named as Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior, although the names are not in the bible. There is also an old tradition of asking God to bless your house and those in it by taking a piece of chalk and writing “20+C+M+B+11” over your front door. Just as the magi sought out Christ, so should we.
The magi ask where they can find the newborn King of the Jews. The only other time Jesus is referred to as the King of the Jews is in the passion narrative (see Matt 27:37). This tells us what type of King Jesus will be; one who will serve and give up his life for the many, not one who wants to be served. All leaders in the church should be reminded of this regularly.
A new star in the heavens marked a new ruler in the ancient world; not just Jesus, but any new ruler (see the OT story of Balaam, a magus, (singular for magi), in Numbers 24:17). Notice that this star stops once the near Jerusalem
The magi tell Herod that they have come to do homage to this newborn king. Worship of Jesus is also the last act of the disciples towards Jesus (see 28:17); Jesus life begins and ends with people worshipping him.
Herod consults with “all the chief priests and scribes of the people” who tell him that it’s been prophesied that the Messiah will be born in “Bethlehem , land of Judah. Jerusalem
The Good Shepherd of Israel is to be born in the city from which the shepherd-King David was born. As soon as the magi learn this, they leave, and lo and behold, they are overjoyed to see the star lead them to the infant Jesus. This star will lead the magi out of pagan worship and superstition . When they arrived, they prostrated themselves in worship, an activity proper only to God or Jesus, another indication of Jesus divinity.
This Epiphany story is also the first of several times Matthew speaks against the sin of hypocrisy. Herod wants the magi to return and tell him where the infant is, not so he can go worship as he says, but to kill him. God directs the magi to go home in a different way. This infuriates Herod, and sets us up for the story of the Holy Innocents in 2:13-18.
Notice that when the magi arrive to worship Jesus and bring him gifts (one never visited a king in the ancient world without bringing gifts) that Joseph isn’t mentioned. He never makes an appearance unless he is needed.
The word ‘Epiphany’ means manifestation. What is being manifested to us? What are we being told? First and foremost, Jesus is the King of the Jews (ironically, this is what was put on the cross with the acronym INRI), the Messiah, the Savior of the world. This is not the first time we are told this (see 1:18-25) and certainly not the last time in this gospel. Matthew is making sure we know who Jesus is; when we come to the end of the gospel, if nothing else, we should know who Jesus is.
We also learn that faith in Jesus is open to everyone. The magi represent all those gentiles who will come to know and love Jesus Christ down through the centuries. Faith is a gift from God, not a birthright. Notice that one statue of the magi has black skin. All people are welcome, regardless of race, creed, color, origin, wealth, beauty, national origin, gender, or any of those other criteria we use to judge people. So we learn that prejudice is bad, and that we are not to be judgmental, a theme that appears more than once in the gospels.
Last Sunday was the Feast of the Holy Family, and I talked about family at the end of mass. Many people feel excluded by the church because they are not in a traditional family, that is, husband, wife, and children. My definition of family is whoever you love the most. I also pointed out the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is not a traditional family. Joseph is a foster father to Jesus; Mary, born with out original sin, was an unwed pregnant teenager before she married Joseph, and their son Jesus is the divine Son of God. Pretty unique, I think, which tells me that regardless of your situation, you are welcome. God loves all people: even the worst sinners are still made in the image and likeness of God. God loves all people and so should we.
We here at St. Joseph U.S.
People will come up to me asking why ‘they’ or ‘them’, those sinners, are allowed to receive communion. My response is, “If I exclude them for their sins, shouldn’t I do the same to you for your sins?” That’s the problem with being judgmental: we seem to always point the finger at someone else, and never at ourselves.
I made sure to tell all the non-traditional people last week that they are welcomed and loved in our church, and that their contributions, however great or small, are very much appreciated.
We also believe that our church is not a church of saints but of redeemed sinners. We know that we can fall back into sin with no trouble. That’s why we need God in our lives: we can’t live the Christian life by ourselves. Becoming like Herod is not that far away: it’s just excluding God in our lives. The less we have God in our lives, the more room we make for evil. As God is excluded more and more in our culture and in our lives, we end up with things like abortion and euthanasia. How can we imitate Jesus love and sacrifice and still do these things? The answer is: we can’t. Faith and evil are mutually exclusive.
The magi bringing gifts symbolizes what we give to God. As the saying goes, “How God made us is God’s gift to us; what we do with our lives is our gift to God.” Not giving back to God is the epitome of ingratitude. We are a stewardship parish and try to put our time, talent, and treasure to work in thanksgiving to God and for the good of our community. We commonly make the mistake in thinking that we have to do something great. We don’t. God will transform our gifts into something great, but we need to offer him ourselves to make this transformation possible. If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot; in fact if everyone does a little, we probably wouldn’t need anyone to do a lot.
And we know that God won’t be out done in generosity. God promises to bless us 30, 60, and a hundred fold for our generosity.
Let us all follow that star and grow in our love of Jesus Christ.
May all of you have a happy and healthy new year blessed with the love of God in your hearts.
Fr. Phil
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