Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
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 »
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 »