Today we consider an incident, which in the view of some, caused embarrassment in some quarters of the early Church: Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river. This incident — rather like the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery -reveals something rather shocking and scandalous about Jesus. Since the baptism instigated by […]
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The image of the three wise men has become increasingly used over recent years by Christmas card manufacturers who want a product which has a seasonal flavour, but presents the Christian message in a slightly oblique way. Some manufacturers’ catalogues, especially those targeted at business users, have precious little artwork that would indicate the Christian
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Marriage in Israel took place in stages. There was engagement, betrothal and then the marriage. The betrothal was the point when the engagement became legal. It took a divorce to break it. Mary and Joseph were at the betrothal stage. On discovering that Mary was pregnant two possible scenarios must have presented themselves to Joseph
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In today’s Gospel we see John basically doubting who Jesus was. He wasn’t sure and wanted to be convinced. Some suggest that his incarceration was taking its toll. Lack of light, lack of sleep, and lack of food and water soon break even the strongest of men. Also, Jesus was confounding the Jews’ expectation of
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Perhaps people of every age have struggled with the stern and somewhat harsh message of John the Baptist. Living and preaching in the wilderness, dressed in rough clothing woven from camel hair, and eating locusts and wild honey was pretty strange and outlandish even then! Most people would run a mile from John the Baptist
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We will be selling pierogi and golumbki on an on-going basis for your Wigilia and Christmas table. Please contact Karen Filipski at (315) 823-4152 to order. On Sunday December 15th at noon we will be having our children’s Christmas party. Please bring a gift for your child. December 24 – Vigil of the Nativity of
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Advent is a season of light. It is a time in which the light of Christ shines forth into our lives and onto our world, and we receive a great gift: ‘to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.‘ In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: ‘I have come as light
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The idea of kingship is one, which was better understood by the ancient and medieval world than it is today. Monarchies are less prevalent today, although of course Elizabeth II has served the British people as their queen for over fifty years. Her role as sovereign has decreased politically over the years but her regal
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In Jesus’ day there were two dominant groups within Jewish society – the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus crossed swords with both of them. Today it is the Sadducees who confront the Lord. The Sadducees were an elite aristocratic group – a kind of club of socially aspirational and religiously conservative men. They rejected most
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Every generation has their pariahs. Consider, if you will, how you would react if your bishop or parish priest was reported to have dined with a local drug baron or was reaching out to ex-prisoners, especially those convicted of sexual crimes. We would be scandalized! We might not like to think so, but we would
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