Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 16, 2025
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/13/25
Just last weekend we heard Jesus call his first disciples Simon Peter, James, and John. Today we hear him talking to a much larger audience, though Luke says he was looking at his disciples when he spoke. Much as he explicitly called them to follow him on his mission, ... Read More »
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 9, 2025
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/08/25
Our presence here today puts us in the place of the crowds on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the Sea of Galilee. We are in the presence of God, listening to God’s word, attuned to what it can teach us. But Jesus calls us to more than wading in ... Read More »
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 »
The Epiphany of the Lord - January 5, 2025
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/31/24
An epiphany is an unexpected manifestation. In the case of this feast, it is the manifestation of the Messiah to the magi. These foreigners did not even believe in the God we do. They were not Jewish, so they were not awaiting the Messiah recognized in this tiny baby ... Read More »
Feast of the Holy Family - December 29, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/30/24
In our first reading by Samuel, Hannah, because she was childless for so long, promised God that if she had a son, she would consecrate him to the Lord. Today we would never consider giving a little child over to the church. Yes, parents generally bring their newborns to ... Read More »
Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 22, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/19/24
Christmas is so close this year because Advent was only three weeks and one day. Children can hardly contain their excitement while adults panic about all they still need to do. But for now, let us consider Mary and Joseph just days before she would give birth, struggling to ... Read More »
Third Sunday of Advent - December 15, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/11/24
We will hear it at least a few times over the next two weeks, “It’s better to give than to receive.” We recognize this when we see the expressions of joy in a child’s face or tears of appreciation from a parent or spouse when they open a gift ... Read More »