Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
1st Sunday of Lent - March 6, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 3/02/22
The first Sunday of Lent always gives us the gospel of Jesus going into the desert to be tempted or tested. It may appear to be a case of poor judgment to follow anyone into the desert for forty days, even if that someone is the Holy Spirit. Why ... Read More »
8th Sunday in OT - February 27, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/23/22
Jesus the teacher presents lessons as insightful today as they were when he taught his disciples two thousand years ago. In a few days we will be beginning the season of Lent, when we will be reminded of the lessons Jesus taught us as he anticipated his eventual death. ... Read More »
7th Sunday in OT - February 20, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/16/22
Today Jesus tells us, love your enemies, challenging society’s values and even common sense. Why should we love those who have or would harm us? Probably, because one of the greatest gifts we can give is our mercy. Obviously, we feel our enemy doesn’t deserve our mercy, but it ... Read More »
6th Sunday in OT - February 13, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/13/22
Just last week we heard Jesus call Peter, James, and John, telling them they would be fishing for other disciples, not for fish. They left everything behind to follow him. Today we hear Jesus make a different kind of call for transformation. Jesus did not want those who are ... Read More »
5th Sunday in OT - February 6, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/02/22
In today’s gospel, Jesus had taught the crowds from Peter’s boat. He asked him to do two things. “Put out into deep water and lower your nets.” Neither of which Peter would normally do. He must have been quite impressed by this stranger’s teaching to do either one. The ... Read More »
4th Sunday in OT - January 30, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/26/22
In our gospel today, Jesus quotes Isaiah, Elijah, and Elisha. Referencing these three prophets should be a ticket to being accepted by the people. But when Elijah told the king that the Lord would bring three years of drought, then left to save the life of a foreigner, he ... Read More »
3rd Sunday in OT - January 23, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/19/22
For fifty years the Jewish people had been exiled in Babylon. Most of the people gathered around Ezra, the priest, that day after their return, had never worshipped in Jerusalem before, never worshipped in so large a gathering, never worshipped in public. They are hearing God’s word proclaimed openly ... Read More »
2nd Sunday in OT - January 16, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/13/22
January is not a common month for weddings in this country. Do you think the weather has anything to do with it? Nevertheless, a wedding at Cana in Galilee is at the center of today’s gospel. It is at this wedding feast that Jesus performs his first miracle, changing ... Read More »
The Baptism of the Lord - January 9, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/05/22
I suspect that many of you have already taken down your Christmas tree and inside and outside decorations. Actually the Christmas liturgy season does not end until today, when we celebrate the baptism of the Lord. We now enter the ordinary season of the year. Not until March 2, ... Read More »
The Epiphany of the Lord - January 2, 2022
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/29/21
Just when you think the Christmas season is over, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The Greek word itself means manifestation. So in many countries of the world this solemnity is their Christmas, since our Lord is revealed to the Gentile, non-Jewish world. While the scripture never really ... Read More »