Sunday Reflections

The preparation for the advent or the coming of Christ is highlighted by his herald, John the Baptist. All the gospels position John the Baptist as the one who announces Jesus as “the one who is greater.” If we look more closely at the gospels, we see that the gospel writers make a connection between John the Baptist and the prophet Elijah. It is interesting that Elijah is one of the biblical persons who does not die, but is taken up into heaven on a fiery chariot (2 Kgs 2:11). He is described as “wearing a hairy garment with a leather girdle about his loins” (2 Kgs 1:7).

“The Congregation of the Resurrection announces and gives witness to the Paschal Mystery.”  These words comprise the first sentence of the mission statement of the Resurrectionists.  Like all Christians, the Resurrectionists are able to accomplish this mission because they hope that God has the power and will to bring about, in us, new life from suffering and death.   We see this theme in each of our readings this 2^nd weekend of Advent.

Unfortunately sometimes we can be overcome by sleep, perhaps when we have not had a good night of rest.  As we begin the Advent Season, this season of grace, we are told to "keep awake!"  Keep awake for what?  To keep awake to recognize and respond to the action of God here and now.  How sad to live with the sentiment of "If only I had …"!  Too often we do not recognize the ways of the Lord and miss the opportunity to do God's will.  We also then fail to help others to recognize, accept and do God's will.  Our Advent season is a time to prepare for the cel

The definition of a “King” is the sole and absolute ruler of a kingdom holding a position of great power and majesty. How did the people in Pilate’s time perceive Pilate? As someone rich, powerful, dominating, and manipulative? How did the people perceive Jesus? After all, “he was born in a stable”.  Someone who associated with tax-collectors, sinners and prostitutes. He avoided all show of earthly power and authority. You would expect kings to receive important people and dignitaries. Jesus was a humble king who received the lowly and rejected people of his era.

               I still remember my first Easter Vigil as we stood in the darkness of the chapel, only to be enveloped by the ever growing light of all the candles lit from the Paschal candle.   The receding darkness provided the setting for the Easter Proclamation: “Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!  Sound the trumpet of salvation!

The motto of the Scouts is "Be prepared!"  Our gospel of this weekend shows us the result of not being prepared.  The foolish virgins did not take seriously their responsibility to the groom, and let him down.  If we do not take seriously our responsibilities to the Lord, we let him down.  When we see our faith life as a relationship with God it is easy to gauge our response to God, just as we can with our interpersonal human relationships.  However, if we see our faith life as 'out there', about rules and structures, then we can easily lose track (or interest) in o

Of all of the evils that confronted Jesus, one of the greatest was hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is the deliberate misleading pose by which we imply to others that we live one way when in actual fact we really live another way.

The Charism Statement of the Congregation of the Resurrection maintains that we are called “to respond with great love to the Father’s great love for us” and “to work together for the resurrection of society, bringing his life and love to all.” In these statements, we find the great commandments of Christ to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our minds, and to love our neighbor as our self.

As followers of Jesus we are 'in' the world, but not 'of' the world.  St.