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Showing posts from September, 2021

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 Candidate

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Sophomore year was actually year one (1) of three (3) as a Candidate.  The class schedule had settled into a "post" COVID rhythm. It was still Monday and Wednesday evenings, with one Saturday a month for everyone; however, all save one week (the week including the Saturday formation) were remote via Zoom and a couple included some asynchronous instruction.  All of us (all four classes) would first meet to do evening prayer, then depart for our respective classes.  Saturdays would also bring all classes together at the Pastoral Center in Braintree for morning prayer and included  The Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament , something that I had not really paid much attention to before then.  Although the wives no longer had to attend classes, they were still asked to come to two (2) events each semester (corresponding to one of the days the men had to also physically attend) where they did a little spiritual support and a little question and answer ...
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