Being a Prophet

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 14, 2016 – Year C
Jer 38:4-6, 8-10 / Ps 40 / Heb 12:1-4 / Lk 12:49-53
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

The readings today are about being a prophet and what is liable to happen to you if you are a prophet.  We have to be sure that we don’t confuse ‘prophet’ with ‘prophecy’.  A ‘prophecy’ is a prediction about the future.  And while many prophets will prophesy, that’s not their primary function.  (more…)

You Have a Friend

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 5, 2016 – Year C
Readings: 1 Kgs 17:17-24 / Ps 30 / Gal 1:11-19 / Lk 7:11-17
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The song, “You’ve Got a Friend,” written by Carole King and popularized by James Taylor, has been in existence for forty-five years now.  It is still being used as a theme song in movies and commercials and is played on the radio and on many other occasions.  In fact, at the funeral of my aunt, they used “You’ve Got a Friend,” and that was only a few years ago.  A couple of lines from this song go something like this: “When you’re down and troubled, and you need a helping hand, I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night.” (more…)

Showing Small Mercies

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 17, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Is 62:1-5 / Ps 96 / 1 Cor 12:4-11 / Jn 2:1-11
by Rev. David Hyman, Guest Celebrant

Today’s gospel is the story of Jesus’ first miracle of changing water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana.  This story was depicted on Facebook recently with a picture of a store window.  At the top of the window was the word “WATER” and below it was displayed a row of wine bottles.  Below the wine were the words, “JESUS WAS HERE”.

I like to begin my homily with a commentary like this as a springboard to the real story.  I want to share some of the points of this story I find interesting and important.

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Be Prepared!

1st Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2015 – Year C
Readings:  Jer 33:14-16 / Psalm 25 / 1 Thes 3:12 – 4:2 / Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Happy New Year! Today is the first Sunday of Advent, so it is the First Sunday of the Church’s year. And Happy New Year… the world is ending! How about that Gospel to start off the season of Advent?

I’m lucky that I have been able to be involved with Boy Scouting for the past 11 years. (more…)

Priming the Pump

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 8, 2015 – Year B
Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16 / Psalm 146 / Heb 9:24-28 / Mk 12:38-44
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

We all know that there is no such a reality as something for nothing. There is a term called “priming the pump” which literally means that we should pour some water into the pump to enable it to begin pumping more water. This is part of life’s reality. We have to give at least a little in exchange for something we would like to get in life. (more…)

Rewards of Giving

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 26, 2015 – Year B
Readings:  2 Kgs 4:42-44 / Psalm 145 / Eph 4:1-6 / Jn 6:1-15
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Just over 6 years ago, a girl about 8 years old regularly attended Mass with her grandparents in my former parish of St. Luke’s in Virginia Beach. None of us in the parish bothered to ask why she was living with her grandparents instead her own parents. We were just happy to have her there because we enjoyed her company. She had a way of making everyone around her feel special and important just by being herself. (more…)

The Gift of Wisdom

Pentecost Sunday
May 24, 2015 – Year B
Readings:  Acts 2:1-11 / Psalm 104 / 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 / Jn 20:19-23
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

According to Beliefnet.com, one of the three most popular prayers in the world, which is being prayed by thousands, and even millions, of people every day is the Serenity Prayer. Part of it says, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” We all know that trying to change our DNA, or our genes, or our family, is an exercise in futility. But there are still a lot of things in the world and in ourselves that we can change. (more…)

Prescription for Healing

Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2015
Readings: Jl 2:12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

You may have noticed that, for the past few Sundays, Jesus the Great Physician has been very busy. Since the beginning of Ordinary Time, we have been in the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark. Now, Mark doesn’t beat around the bush. His Gospel is the oldest and the shortest and he gets right down to business. He spends just 20 verses telling us about the events that led up to Jesus’ ministry. Contrast that with John who devotes 51 verses, Matthew who spends 87, and Luke who spends 183. (more…)

“All Is Calm; All Is Bright”

Memorial Service for Eugene Kosa
December 22, 2014
Readings: Wis 3:1-6, 9; Psalm 27; Rom 6:3-4, 8-9; John 14:1-6
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

In my first few months as pastor at Holy Name of Mary, I asked if we could do something about our sound system, because there is an echo in our church and I have an accent. When you combine those two things, I cannot be understood. The first person who came forward to help with the project was Gene. He is the only person I know of who had his own personal Assisted Listening Device so he could understand every word I said. He loved listening to God’s word. (more…)

Christ Our King

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 23, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalm 23, 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

A story is told about a young dad who was trying to teach his 5-year-old son about discipline and the virtue of self-denial. One evening, his little boy didn’t want to go to bed, and when he asked for a glass of juice, the father answered, “No sir, it’s too late for that. You’re supposed to be in bed. No more juice. I am the King of the Juice in this house.” The little boy answered, “I don’t think you are right, Daddy, because our Sunday School teacher said it’s Jesus who is the King of the Juice.” (more…)