Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 27, 2013:

Nehemiah 8: 2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19: 8-10, 15
1 Corinthians 12: 12-30
Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21

Most excellent Theophilus

In the very first verses of Luke's Gospel, the evangelist is stating his case, the reason and the audience for his relaying of the Good News. And do you know who Theophilus is? In all probability, you! The name literally means "friend of God".

• What does it mean to be a friend of God?
• What do these Scripture readings tell us about how God treats God's friends?
• What do they tell us about the choices we make if we are friends of God?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Sacraments of Healing.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 20, 2013:

Isaiah 62: 1-5
Psalm 96: 1-3, 7-10
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11
John 2: 1-11

Doesn't it seem a little funny that the first recorded public miracle of Jesus was about keeping a party going?  Not giving sight to the blind, not exorcising demons, but playing the Divine Vintner?! There's so much to like about this story, so much that reminds us that Jesus was indeed, truly and fully human (while also being truly and fully Divine, of course).  Jesus' reply to his mother's request sounds just like an embarrassed young man trying not to be seen as a 'momma's boy', or simply someone trying to mind his own business. And yet he relents: who would want the bride and groom to be embarrassed as the wine runs out (wedding feasts would last for days, and involve most if not all of the villagers... who would certainly be spending the next days or weeks reviewing the spread)?

 This first miracle not only demonstrates his power, and his mother's intercessory power, but also that he CARES about all sorts of things that concern us. God CARES for us- enough to become one of us. And God CARES about us, because in Jesus God experienced our concerns and hopes, our despair and joys.

This Gospel passage is often used in connection with the Sacrament of Marriage - called a sacrament because we believe in some real way that the marital relationship is a visible representation of the reality of God's love, fidelity, and creative power.

January 18-25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. At St. Andrew's this Friday evening, January 18, we will have a 7pm ecumenical service of scripture and song with several other local Christian congregations, during which we will celebrate 30 years of working together to feed the hungry through Western Wake Crisis Ministry.  Please come if you are able! The topic for the Catechumenate on Sunday will be ecumenism.

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Here are the readings for the Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 6, 2013:

Isaiah 60: 1-6
Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2: 1-12

This is a feast of expansion, of inclusion and widening of boundaries. God can't and won't be contained! 
This is good news, and yet also challenging news. It challenges us when we want to feel secure that we know all the definitions, that every question has a black and white answer, and that we are members of THE exclusive inner circle- and that everyone else must have it all wrong. It challenges us when we want to set the limits about who God might love and who God might save. It challenges us to be honest about whether we prefer to be made in the image of God, or want to make God in our own image.  What can we learn from the Magi?

Some reflection questions from "For the Ride Home":
•Were the Magi following the star or following their hearts to find the Christ child?
•When the Magi found the newborn child in the arms of its mother what did they do? Why?
•What do you encounter in the everyday world that is ordinary yet profound?
•How do you connect heart and mind in your search to find Jesus in your everyday encounters?

The topic for the Catechumenate Session this Sunday is Images of God .

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Here are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 23, 2012:

Micah 5: 1-4a
Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10: 5-10
Luke 1: 39-45

It is so easy for this final Sunday of Advent to get lost... the 4th week doesn't even get two full days this year until Christmas evening ushers in the Christmas Season! But just as the first reading addresses a small town and assures it of its importance, every Sunday (truly, every day) is significant as an opportunity to hear God's word and then (like Mary) share that Good News.

• What is the Good News of this year for you?
• How can you be Christ for another person today, in a very tangible way?

The "O" Antiphons

If you know the traditional song "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", you may be familiar with the O Antiphons... a series of ancient names for Jesus, describing his various roles in our salvation story.

Here are the antiphons, one for every day in the week leading up to Christmas, beginning today.

And if you would like to follow a daily reflection on the antiphons, please click on "O Antiphons" in the label list along the right column of this page, or go to December 2009 or 2010 in the blog archive and click for each date.

Third Sunday of Advent

Here are the readings for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 16, 2012:

Zephaniah 3: 14-18a
Isaiah 12: 2-6
Philippians 4: 4-7
Luke 3: 10-18

Did you notice? This is the week that the pink candle is lit! The traditional Latin name for this Sunday is "Gaudete", which means "Rejoice!"  The pink is a visual boost in the midst of our season of preparation, a reassurance that the feast Christmas is nearing.

To help prepare for the readings this weekend, I invite you to read this brief blog post:
Rejoice – Even when Suffering? Third Sunday of Advent

• Where do you find hope?
• What makes you rejoice?
• How do you bring joy to others?

Our topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Incarnation.

Second Sunday of Advent

Here are the readings for the Second Sunday in Advent, December 9, 2012:

Baruch 5: 1-9
Psalm 126: 1-6
Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11
Luke 3: 1-6

All those hard-to-pronounce names at the beginning of the Gospel-- why are they included?
For one thing, this is Luke's way of letting us know that this story isn't "Once upon a time...." but  rather, "In THIS particular place, at THIS specific time... THIS is what happened!" And then we proceed to learn about John the Baptist's ministry and message.

We live in a particular place and specific time, so it only seems appropriate to take some time this week to ask ourselves how we might best prepare for the coming of our Savior? What needs to change (what mountainous barriers leveled, what potholes filled in?) so that our repentance can be true, our conversion to living like and for Jesus Christ complete?

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Mary.