Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
Christmas
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/21/21
We come to church to celebrate our Lord’s birth. On Sunday, we expand that celebration to his immediate family, the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph cared for their son, raising Him in the religious traditions of their Jewish faith. Luke says of Jesus after he is found in the ... Read More »
4th Sunday of Advent - December 19, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/14/21
We draw close to the end of this Advent Season of expectation, preparation, and waiting. For three weeks we have been anticipating that glorious day that is now just around the corner. Time to break from all the hustle and bustle that threatens to overwhelm the true meaning of ... Read More »
3rd Sunday of Advent - December 12, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/08/21
Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, also known in Latin as Gaudete, we are to rejoice for we are more than half way through this season of preparation. Spread the joy. This is a dominant theme in the scripture today, with calls to shout it, sing it, cry out ... Read More »
2nd Sunday of Advent - December 5, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/01/21
Our Gospel reading from Luke starts out in a strange way. He mentions people like Lysanias and places like Trachonitis. Why does he do that? It was a way of showing the difference between before and after. Just as our country memorializes 1776, or parents recall the year in ... Read More »
1st Sunday of Advent - November 28, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 11/27/21
Today is the first Sunday of Advent-a time to prepare for the coming of the Lord whom we portray as a precious infant in a simple manger at the end of this season. But while we celebrate His coming in the incarnation 2021 years ago, there are two more ... Read More »
Christ the King - November 21, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 11/16/21
Today we bring to completion the Liturgical Year of the Lord 2021. We recognize Jesus’ role as the Lord of all, the ruler over all humanity, the king of the eternal and universal Kingdom. In our Gospel we hear him witness to the kingdom in front of Pilate.
Jesus ... Read More »
33rd Sunday in OT - November 14, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 11/10/21
When we approach the end of any liturgical year, we listen to the kind of readings that we hear proclaimed today. As frightening as the warnings are in today’s readings, they are accompanied by assurance that God remains with us, always. We like to be in control of our ... Read More »
32nd Sunday in OT - November 7, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 11/03/21
The month of November is set aside to remember and honor all those who have preceded us in death. Perhaps it’s because nature, too, is hibernating, dying in this fall season of the year. We recall especially those family, friends, and parishioners who have passed away this past year. ... Read More »
31st Sunday in OT - October 31, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 10/28/21
The first reading for Deuteronomy today provides a bit of the context of the original formulation of the two great commands Jesus gave to us in the gospel. Unlike Jesus, Moses is not responding to a question. He is wrapping up his presentation of the terms of the covenant ... Read More »
30th Sunday in OT - October 24, 2021
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 10/21/21
As what happened in last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks the same questions to Bartimaeus, the blind beggar as he asked James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?” The apostles, not seeing what they were asking for, ask for glory in the kingdom, one on ... Read More »