I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Mass of Christian Burial for Angie Ayers Patterson
December 27, 2014
Readings: Job 19:1, 23-26; Psalm 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-6
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

When I was little, I loved going places with my Aunt Brenda. We had a lot of fun together but sometimes our outings turned into adventures. On one fall afternoon, we were driving along going somewhere and we got lost. According to my aunt, as she was trying to figure out how to get back on track, I spoke up from the back seat and said, “Nonda, will we make it home for Christmas?” (more…)

Love Personified

4th Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2014 – Year B
Readings: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

In three days, it will be Christmas. The children are anticipating the gifts they will receive from Santa and all the people who love them. But for the adults, especially parents, grandparents and godparents, the next three days can be a little stressful. (more…)

Finding Joy

3rd Sunday of Advent
December 14, 2014 – Year B
Readings: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

“Gaudete in Domino semper” –“Rejoice in the Lord always.” That is the beginning of the opening antiphon for today’s celebration. The theme for today is Joy, and that is the why we light a rose candle and wear rose vestments. (Judging by the grins on so many of your faces, I think it has been effective.)

One thing that my daughter and I share is that our birthdays are both in December. This can present a special challenge that people with birthdays in other months can not fully appreciate. (more…)

Making the Impossible Possible

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8, 2014 – Year B
Readings: Gn 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98, Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Today’s feast is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the Blessed Mother was immaculately conceived by her mother, St. Anne. Today is exactly 9 months before the Blessed Mother’s birthday on September 8th.

Sometimes we take all these modern inventions for granted. Young children know how to use these technologies, when many adults, including me, have difficulty. (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…)

Intimacy. Intentionality. Integrity.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 26, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Ex 22:20-26; Psalm 18; 1 Thes 1: 5c-10; Mt 22:34-40
by Rev. Mr. Chris Barrett, Permanent Deacon, Resurrection Catholic Church

Three “I” words for you this morning: Intimacy, Intentionality, and Integrity – and the three “I” words relate to love of God, love of neighbor and love of self.

A scholar of the law is asking Jesus which commandment is the greatest, and he was probably hoping for a very scholarly, intellectual answer. What he got was, “Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself.” A very simple answer, but it does kind of say it all, doesn’t it? (more…)

Be Fully Alive

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 19, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Psalm 96; 1 Thes 1:1-5b; Mt 22:15-21
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Saint Iranaeus once said that the glory of God is a human being fully alive. We are fully alive because we are all here worshiping God together as members of God’s family. (more…)

A Call to Loving Service

Wedding of Eric Kidwell and Meagan Chapman
September 13, 2014
Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128; Romans 12: 1-2, 9-13; Matthew 5:13-16
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

I love the readings that you have selected for your wedding. They are beautiful scripture passages that truly speak about the meaning of marriage. You don’t hear these as often as some others because when we think about marriage, we tend to be drawn to readings that talk about love. (more…)

True Faith Brings Happiness

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 17, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28
by Most Reverend Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon, Philippines

The beautiful gospel has plenty of implications. First, this is the only recorded time that Jesus was in a non-Jewish territory. But most of all, it prophesied a very important doctrine that the gospel would be preached to all the nations, as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading and fulfilled in the second reading during the time of St. Paul, when the gospel was preached to the Gentiles because the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, our Lord. However, St. Paul still had the hope that all the Jews would be converted to Christ someday, because they were the first chosen people of God. (more…)

Sharing Our Blessings

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 3, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 55:1-3; Psalm 145; Rom 8:35, 37-39; Mt 14:13-21
by Rev. Mr. Ray Roderique, Permanent Deacon

The central theme of today’s readings is the provident care of a loving and merciful God who generously shares His riches with us, giving us His Son Jesus as our spiritual food, preparing us for the Heavenly banquet, and challenging us to share our blessings with others. (more…)