Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
5th Sunday in OT - February 4, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 2/04/24
Job could be the patron saint of drudgery, restless nights, and miserable days. Every evening he ends his day without hope. He has no confidence that his life will change. A couple of weeks ago we heard Jesus call Andrew and Simon. They abandoned their nets of drudgery and ... Read More »
4th Sunday in OT - January 28, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/24/24
Can you believe it’s been over a month since we celebrated Christmas? By now, our decorations are hopefully back in their boxes and the warm glow of the holidays has faded, but let us not forget that our greatest Christmas gift ever, the Son of God, remains with us ... Read More »
3rd Sunday in OT - January 21, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/17/24
In today’s Gospel, Jesus passes by the Sea of Galilee and calls the first four disciples, two pairs of brothers, Simon and Andrew, James (our patron) and John. Follow me, he tells these four fishermen, and I will make you fishers of more disciples. Jesus continues to call disciples. ... Read More »
2nd Sunday in OT - January 14, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/12/24
Nobody likes to waste time. We are a people ruled by the clock. Time is money because time is to be filled with controlled activity which is productive. The last thing you want to do is waste time playing around with realities that do not produce a saleable commodity. ... Read More »
Epiphany - January 7, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 1/12/24
Today we recall the Epiphany (the manifestation of the Gentiles) the magi, three Kings, wise men, and astrologers, who find the newborn King of the Jews and present him with their finest gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We each make our own journey to the Lord, and when ... Read More »
Holy Family - December 31, 2023
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/27/23
When Jesus was born into the world, he was born into a family. Today we celebrate the Holy Family, a model for us all to emulate. Do we love and respect our children as Joseph and Mary did their Son? Do we love and honor our parents as Jesus ... Read More »
4th Sunday of Advent & Christmas 2023
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/27/23
Every so often the fourth week of Advent consists only of one day: the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is one of those years. The fact that this Sunday falls on Christmas Eve is a wonderful opportunity for us all. On this day, may the Word of God we ... Read More »
3rd Sunday of Advent - December 17, 2023
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/11/23
Throughout this Advent season we are called to prepare for the Lord’s coming by repenting our sins, removing obstacles that make it difficult for us to recognize his approach, and remaining watchful for his arrival. But, today we rejoice (in Latin Gaudete) because we focus on the knowledge that ... Read More »
2nd Sunday of Advent - December 10, 2023
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 12/05/23
It is in the passage we hear in the first reading that Mark chooses in part to open his Gospel, which he calls “the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” This is very telling. His goal in writing this account, the first of the Gospels to be ... Read More »
1st Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2023
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 11/30/23
Already bombarded with Christmas decorations and music for weeks now, we are undoubtedly already anticipating the celebration of our Savior’s birth. But today, on this first Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that Christ’s coming was not a single, one-time-only event. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us that he ... Read More »