Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
Presentation of the Lord
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/31/20
Ordinarily this would be the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time of the church year. But, every now and then, February 2 falls on a Sunday. This Sunday is forty days after Jesus was born. In accordance with the Torah, Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple in Jerusalem ... Read More »
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/23/20
Twice today we hear the words “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Even though we just heard these words a month ago at Christmas, it’s good to hear them again. Jesus began his mission by fulfilling the words of the great prophet Isaiah.
Throughout ... Read More »
Christian Unity
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/16/20
January 18-25 marks the annual week of prayer for Christian unity. It begins with the first of Peter’s confessions of faith and concludes with the feast of Paul’s conversion. The theme for this year’s observance is: “they showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2).
There is so much division in ... Read More »
Baptism of the Lord
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/10/20
Over the last month or so, we have heard the news of God’s most wonderful gift revealed to a larger and larger audience. First, Mary was told of the role she was asked to play as the mother of God. When Joseph was planning to divorce her, he was ... Read More »
Epiphany
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/02/20
The tree may be taken down, gifts opened, put away, returned or even broken, and decorative lights turned off, but the Church continues to celebrate the word made flesh, the incarnation. Today we celebrate another great aspect of Christmas. A light, a star, shines for all to see, revealing ... Read More »
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/26/19
The Sunday after Christmas is dedicated to the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We might think they are too remote, too special, too holy to be an effective model for our families. But, just like our families, they enjoyed good times, but also suffered ... Read More »
Advent 4
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/18/19
With just three days to go until Christmas, the kind of preparation we may be focused on may have little to do with Jesus’ birthday. Let us take this opportunity to focus on the true gift of Christmas. A virgin will bear a son, in the line of David, ... Read More »
Gaudete Sunday
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/12/19
Today is Gaudete Sunday. A Latin word meaning rejoice because the Lord is near. In the Gospel, we find John in prison. Certainly, he wasn’t joy-filled. He was waiting execution. Did he need reassurance that he had not labored in vain? He sent his disciples to Jesus to ask, ... Read More »
2nd Sunday of Advent
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/03/19
On this second Sunday of the Advent Season, John the Baptist uses a word we don’t necessarily like to hear, “Repent.” He cries out “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” He doesn’t invoke idyllic scenes when speaking to the Pharisee and Sadducees. He calls them a ... Read More »
Advent
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 11/25/19
As we turn our calendars to December, we begin the season of preparation for the coming of the Lord into the world and into our individual lives. However; Advent is not only a time in which we wait for the Lord to come to us in some sort of ... Read More »