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Browsing the January 2025 archive of Thoughts from Fr. Bob

The Presentation of the Lord - February 2, 2025

Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/30/25

When forty days had passed since Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple to consecrate him to the Lord, as was required by the law. While they were there, the Holy Spirit guided the elderly Simeon and Anna to the baby, whom they recognized as ... Read More »

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 26, 2025

Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/23/25

The concept of a Jubilee year had its origin in the ancient Near East. According to the book of Leviticus, every fifty years debts would be forgiven, servants would be released, property would be restored to its original owners and fields would lie fallow. Centuries later Jesus is invited ... Read More »

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - January 19, 2025

Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/20/25

We celebrated Epiphany two Sundays ago, but each of the Gospels since then has also featured epiphanies. An epiphany is a sudden manifestation or revelation of something that had been unknown, as in when the magi found the newborn king in a humble stable. But another occurred at Jesus’ ... Read More »

The Baptism of the Lord - January 12, 2025

Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/08/25

Over the Christmas season, which ends today, the Gospel passages have told how God’s Son was made manifest to the world. The angels told the shepherds that a savior had been born in Bethlehem. The Magi followed the star to give homage to the new born Messiah. In his ... Read More »