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Showing posts from April, 2019

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

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The Pharisee and the Tax Collector   Lectionary: 150 Reading 1 -  Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 [sic] Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 Reading 2 -  2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Alleluia -  2 Corinthians 5:19 Gospel -  Luke 18:9-14 '... for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.' In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents us with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. This story is closely connected to the one which comes just before it about the persistent widow who secures a just decision from a dishonest judge. While the first encourages us to pray and never give up. The second reminds us how, and in what manner, we ought to pray. However, to fully understand the example Jesus gives us, we should look more closely at first the century audience that He initially spoke to. A faithful Jew at that time would have assumed two things: That the Pharisee was a very holy and devout man.  And that...
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Deacon Calling

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  As a Preacher's Kid (PK), it seems like much of my life has revolved around service. This was the primary focus that would eventually lead me to a Commission in the United States Coast Guard. When I separated from the military, my new career as a Technology Consultant didn't quite provide the same level of satisfaction, so I dove into the lay ministries of the Church to serve in several capacities, such as Lector, Communion Minster and Catechist (aka Religious Education Teacher).  After several years of this, while facilitating a small study group, one of the participants mentioned that she thought I would make a good deacon ... and when I casually mentioned this to my wife, she agreed. For those of you who might be curious as to the connection between service and the deacon ... the word deacon itself comes from the greek diákonos (διάκονος), which is generally translated as "servant", "waiter", "minister", or "messenger".  This makes...
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