Healing the Evil Butler

3rd Sunday of Lent
February 28, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15 / Psalm 103 / 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 / Lk 13:1-9
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

On this third Sunday of Lent, I have a confession to make. I really, really like the PBS series “Downton Abbey.” So now, guys, before you start cutting up my man card, hear me out. It’s British, which just automatically raises its cool factor. Think “The Beatles.” But as a preacher, I also like the way the series handles moral dilemmas. They don’t present them in a shallow, superficial way. They dig deep into them and explore all sides of various issues, and they do this masterfully. (more…)

God’s Way

First Sunday of Lent
February 14, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Dt 26:4-10 / Ps 91 / Rom 10:8-13 / Lk 4:1-13
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

During the season of Lent we remind ourselves that our prayers are most effective when they are accompanied by sacrifice.  At fourteen degrees outside, it’s surely a sacrifice to be here this morning.  If somebody tells you that he or she is tempted to walk to church this morning instead of driving, you will find difficulty in believing it.  But if you say that you are tempted to sleep in instead of coming to Mass, everybody will easily believe you.

This is what temptation is all about: taking life the easy way. (more…)

Seeing God’s Presence

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 31, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 / Ps 71 / 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 / Lk 4:21-30
by Rev. Louis Benoit, Guest Celebrant

Jesus goes to his hometown and proclaims the Good News of healing and liberation, and the people are impressed.  But then they begin to say, “Wait a minute!  Isn’t this Joseph’s son?  Isn’t he the carpenter’s boy? Where did he get all this?  We know where he comes from.”  They begin to question.  Jesus points out to them that sometimes people outside Judaism have greater faith than these people inside Judaism.  And this really gets the people riled up!  They want to throw him over the edge of the hill where the town is built, but he goes through their midst and is gone…

Of course, the tragedy is that Jesus, God incarnate in a human person, is among them and they don’t see it.  Their vision is too narrow, and they miss it. (more…)

A Holy Family

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
December 27, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 / Psalm 84 / Col 3:12-21 / Lk 2:41-52
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Today is the feast of the Holy Family. You may be wondering why the church has all these feasts. It’s an opportunity for us to take a look at figures from our past or an aspect of our faith, to reflect on their lives and what their lives mean to us today.

Now if I asked you to name Holy Family, I’m sure most of you would say it’s Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But if we consider scripture and we take a look at it closely, really we should respond that the Holy Family was Joseph, Mary and Jesus. We can learn a lot if we take a look at their lives as reflected in scripture. (more…)

Mercy and Forgiveness

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Gn 3:9-15, 20 / Psalm 98 / Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 / Lk 1:26-38
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

During my first few months as pastor here and at our sister parish, Resurrection, I had the privilege to know an extraordinary young man named Alex Earnandes. He and his family were members of Resurrection Parish. He was highly regarded by both young and older members of the community and well known and loved by the congregation of Resurrection. He had been an altar server at Resurrection for many years before I became pastor. He was a member of the men’s group and helped in many other ministries as well. (more…)

Living and Praying with Joy

Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2015 – Year C
Readings: Bar 5:1-9 / Psalm 126 / Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 / Lk 3:1-6
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The recent Bedford Christmas 5K race and the concert by the Lynchburg Youth Symphony Orchestra remind me of the significance of this year’s theme of the Bedford Christmas Parade: “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It was obviously taken from the classic movie of the same title that’s supposed to have taken place in a town called Bedford Falls. (more…)

Francis Effect

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 4, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Gn 2:18-24 / Psalm 128 / Heb 2:9-11 / Mk 10:2-16
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

For the past 7 days, up until yesterday, whenever I’ve turned on the radio in my car, talk radio hosts have still been talking about Pope Francis. Usually, they are discussing the so-called “Francis Effect.” Maria Shriver wrote that covering Pope Francis’ visit to America has got to be the highlight of her career as a journalist. She said, “I didn’t get to interview Pope Francis; I didn’t even get to meet him. But it didn’t actually matter because his words met my heart and ignited my spirit. I felt them deep in my soul.” (more…)

To Whom Shall We Go?

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 23, 2015 – Year B
Readings:  Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b / Psalm 34 / Eph 5:2a, 25-32 / Jn 6:60-69
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Yesterday, the Holy Name of Mary Men’s Breakfast Group had a very enlightening spiritual discussion on the sacrament of marriage. They based their reflections on today’s second reading, which is taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, part of which says, “Husbands should love their wives, as their own bodies.” This biblical passage implies that wives should also love their husbands in the same way, even as Christ loves His Church. (more…)

Believing INTO Jesus

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 2, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15 / Ex 16:2-4, 12-15 / Jn 6:24-35
by Rev. Richard Mooney, Guest Celebrant

My name is Father Richard Mooney. I am a priest of the Diocese of Richmond, ordained thirty-six years. My present work is to be the volunteer Catholic chaplain to four state prisons that are scattered in that enormous stretch of territory south of Petersburg and north of the North Carolina line. I don’t have a commitment to a parish on Sundays, which leaves me free to come and be with you today and to spend a little time with you with Chapter Six of the Gospel of John today, the Bread of Life chapter.

If you’ve never actually read the whole chapter from beginning to end, do that, because it’s really a challenging piece of work and full of teachings. (more…)

A Mother’s Love

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015 – Year B
Readings: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 / 1 Jn 4:7-10 / Jn 15:9-17
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

As you all know, today in the United States is Mother’s Day. It’s a special day when we’re supposed to thank and celebrate our mothers. But I’ve heard people make the accusation that Mother’s Day is really just a Hallmark holiday and was created by greeting card companies to sell more products.

I’ve also heard it said that, really, shouldn’t we thank and be grateful to our mothers every day? Yes, this is true. We should. But it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of that, even if it’s just once a week. I mean, a month. I mean, a year. You should do it every day. (more…)