Reflections

First Sunday of Advent

As we enter into another church year we are reminded once again that God’s decisive involvement with our world starts with a baby. This may seem a huge leap from last week when we were celebrating how Jesus was king of the whole universe. But really it isn’t. Whether we think about kings or babies the same point is true – the God we believe in, the Father who revealed himself to us in his fullness in Jesus, doesn’t operate in terms of the type of control that we humans seek.  This…

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

On the last day of our church year we step back and take a look at things from the widest perspective possible: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  We consider Jesus to be not just a king, unlikely though that seemed to Pilate and pretty much anyone around (Luke 23:35-43). He was not just a king in this world, recognized by his people as their leader, as David had been (2 Samuel 5:1-3). Jesus isn’t just the king of the whole world. This Feast declares that he…

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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Malachi says “Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire” (Malachi 3:19-20a). Right on! We can get behind that – maybe particularly in situations where we feel things are not as they should be.  Jesus, as he often does, points out it’s not always that simple. In today’s gospel (Luke 21:5-19), we hear him warning the disciples (and those that came after) that they will face wars and insurrections, earthquakes,…

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Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

A Feast about a church building, or more specifically the dedication of a church – that’s strange. If it were Saint Peter’s in Rome it might make a bit more sense. At least everyone has heard of that.  Just as a Feast dedicated to a saint we’ve never heard of might lead us into an exploration of something new, maybe this weird-seeming Feast can add something to our Christian life.  Although Christianity started with one very specific person in one very particular time and place, it has demonstrated over the centuries and…

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