Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3, Cycle B
According to each of these four texts, time is short. Human life is brief and transitory. It is a time, therefore, for urgent, decisive action. Four different groups are addressed in four different periods of human history in four different ways by four different bearers of the message. Nevertheless, in each instance a similar message is imparted, namely, that unless people turn to God now, they will miss the good news of the positive action of God and will instead incur only the judgment of God and their own destruction. Is it any different in our own life situations? How shall we express this message next Sunday where we are?
Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2, Cycle B
In the texts selected for this day, the Epiphany themes of the omniscience of the Lord God and of the Johannine Jesus is proclaimed, along with the guidelines that in response to God we must be open to the revelation of God, especially in terms of our sense of hearing and of sight. This will define for us the message that we should proclaim and the guidelines for life that we should share in our sermon or homily for this occasion.
Epiphany of the Lord, Cycle B
We have a responsibility in our ministry to observe and to preserve the festival of the Epiphany in some way each year, not only on the years in which January 6 happens to be a Sunday. The Sundays after the Epiphany will not have much special meaning unless we observe Epiphany itself in some way that will bring it to the attention of the members of the congregation. If we do not have a worship service within our usual setting, perhaps we could gather a group of young people — or people of all ages — and go Epiphany caroling to members of the congregation and community who are older, are shut-in, or otherwise are special in some way. This activity would also be a reminder to us that a substantial portion of the Church, i.e., the Eastern Orthodox tradition, observes January 6 as the Festival of the birth of the Christ. A carol singing would also highlight the beautiful Epiphany hymns on the Day of Epiphany.
Baptism of the Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1, Cycle B
With these texts we return to the Gospel According to Mark. In the Baptism of Jesus account in Mark 1:4-11 we have the core of what has often been called the “Adoptionist Christology” of this First Gospel. We read here that Jesus came along with multitudes of people from the rural areas of Judea and [...]
Read More About - Baptism of the Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1, Cycle B »
Advent 4, Cycle B (by Norman Beck — 2008)
If we concentrate on the Luke 1:26-38 Gospel account exclusively or even primarily, we will probably emphasize the person of Mary along with her relationships with God, with the angel Gabriel, and with Elizabeth. On the other hand, if we utilize all of the texts appointed for this day, we will probably in some way apply to our own life situation the Jewish and the Christian “Messianic expectations” regarding the promise of the Lord of an everlasting throne of David, a house, a kingdom that will endure forever.
Read More About - Advent 4, Cycle B (by Norman Beck — 2008) »
