“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” goes the well-known saying. The Jewish people would certainly agree in the case of Cyrus the Great. When the Babylonians conquered Judah, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and drove the Jewish people into exile. When the Persian army defeated the Babylonian army in 539 BC, Cyrus was seen…
For many reasons, it’s hard to eat just the right amount. Millions of people do not get enough food to satisfy their hunger or provide enough nutrition to adequately sustain their health. On the other hand, many who have plenty find it difficult to get up from the table until they have overeaten. They then…
October 4, 2020 In the first parable we hear today, from Isaiah, we hear a condensed history of the Chosen People. Like Eden, this vineyard is tended lovingly by God (“my friend”), its choicest vines fertile, full of life. But like Eden, what it yielded was from outside the goodness of creation. God’s wrath flares…
“You duped me, O LORD,” Jeremiah, the reluctant prophet, exclaims at the beginning of today’s first reading (Jeremiah 20:7). The Hebrew verb pathah (“duped”) can also be translated as “enticed” or “seduced,” emphasizing the powerlessness of the prophet in accepting that role. Jeremiah is left in a horrible position, unable to keep it in, but…
In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples what people are saying about his identity. The disciples indicate that most people believe that Jesus is a prophet of Israel. Then Jesus asks his disciples who they believe that he is. Simon Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. The use of the…
Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.— Psalm 85:12 Peter’s courage led him not only to be the only disciple who spoke to the ghost who could be Jesus, but also to dare to walk on water as he did during a violent storm. But when he realized…
Wonderful liturgy and prayers today in this solemnity! They have to be said joining our hands with the victims of the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki just 75 years ago. FR. GERARD Litany for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Adapted from a prayer by Susan Mark Landis As we gather together this morning, we remember over…
A huge thank you to the crew who are doing a such a great job organizing our open-air blacktop Masses at St. James, and the outdoor Mass at St. Leo. If there are any volunteers who are willing to help setup or take-down for Mass, please notify any staff member at Mass. Thousands of people,…
During this coming week we can meditate and go on a journey with St. James, by choosing to read the following New Testament passages. In particular, Jesus gave James the Greater, John, and Peter the privilege of witnessing three key moments in His ministry: The raising of Jairus’ recently deceased daughter (Mark 5:35-43); The transfiguration…
Each week we are welcomed by our fellow sojourners as we gather together to celebrate the Eucharist, following the safety guidelines of the diocese and of the county. In our readings this weekend, we hear of a woman and her husband who offer hospitality to the prophet Elisha whenever he comes to their city, going…