…from Thoughts Blog;

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

…for the Month of January 2010 are completed. This being the liturgical Year C of the Roman calendar.

You’ll find them at THOUGHTS.

Did you know that the Big Bang theory of the beginnings of the universe originated from a Belgian priest?

Here’s Father Barron’s sermon from Sunday Jan. 3/2010 called;
Religion, Science and the Journey of the Magi: Feast of the Epiphany

Some other not well known facts in this sermon;

Pascal, Descartes, Newton, Copernicus all devoutly religious men. Gregor Mendel, father of modern genetics, a priest.
Georges LeMaitre, Belgian Catholic priest, big bang theory.

His list goes on, the point being that science is only possible with a Christian foundation and that the myth that the two are opposed in principle is just that, a myth.

Here is one part of the Scripture reading for this morning’s mass (the fourth verse was omitted);

Ephesians Chapter 3;
[2] assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
[3] how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
[4] When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
[5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

It struck me, when reading this passage this morning that if we meditate on it a bit, there are many implications beyond the obvious here.

In fact, it seems to me that there are a number of factions and tangents within Christianity that might do well to pause here and meditate as well. (more…)

This is indeed encouragement. It is called Nuts!

This is a funeral homily for another priest.

The other day I heard a priest discussing the subject of health care in general terms and he said that he believes that it is a right.

I thought this was very interesting because, like many other folk, I believe that he has not thought through the subject carefully and is confusing legal obligation and moral obligation. (more…)

There is one area of difference between the Protestant Evangelical way of seeing the world and the Catholic way that I find runs very deep. In fact, within my own understanding of the faith I come across it in myself at various levels. (more…)

Scripture from the Mass of June 18, 2009

First Reading;

2 Corinthians Chapter 11

1 If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me! Please put up with me.

2 For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God, since I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere (and pure) commitment to Christ.

4 For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough.

5 For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these “superapostles.”

6 Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

7 Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?

8 I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you.

9 And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

10 By the truth of Christ in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

Psalm 111;

1 Hallelujah. I will praise the LORD with all my heart in the assembled congregation of the upright.

2 Great are the works of the LORD, to be treasured for all their delights.

3 Majestic and glorious is your work, your wise design endures forever.

4 You won renown for your wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD.

7 The works of your hands are right and true, reliable all your decrees,

8 Established forever and ever, to be observed with loyalty and care.

Matthew 6;

7 In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread;

12 and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;

13 and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.

14 If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Here is  transcript of Father Mitch Pacwa’s sermon from EWTN, (I’ve highlighted a particularly poignant passage from it.)  (more…)