The details of the Christmas Story are filled with great significance -- Jesus is teaching us who he is, and who he wants to be for us. He is born at night in the winter, the darkest and coldest time of the year, to teach us that he is the light of the world sent to rekindle charity in men's hearts. He is born in the City of David, Bethlehem (which means, House of Bread) to teach us that he is the true King who will nourish us with his own body in the Eucharist.
But why was it that the Second Person of the Trinity became man? Why God the Son, rather than the Father or the Holy Spirit? Because by his incarnation, God the Son wants to make us sons and daughters of God. He who is divine wisdom, comes to heal the original sin (which was seeking wisdom through eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil). He who was born of the Father before all ages, was born in time of the Virgin Mary, and desires to be born in our souls through grace each day.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Sunday Sermon, December 15th -- St John the Baptist, Faithful in Times of Trial (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi)
When John the Baptist sent the two disciples to ask the Lord whether he is the Messiah, St John does not in any way doubt but rather is teaching all his disciples (and all of us) to look to the Lord Jesus in time of trial and to trust in God's plan to bring good out of evil. St John the Baptist does not doubt at all that Jesus is the Messiah and true God.
We can mistakenly think that things will get easier for us if we are faithful to the Lord and practice our Faith. However, St John, and even more the Lord, teaches us that the Christian life is a life of suffering. Do not be scandalized when we suffer persecution or when it seems that things get more difficult when we practice our faith! The example of St John the Baptist and the example of Jesus show us that, even though there will be suffering, the Christian will triumph over all evil.
Don't let yourself be scandalized by bad things we see in the Church (confusion from the Vatican or bad examples from bishops and priests), or by bad things we see in the world (war, violence, poverty, the attack on marriage and religion), or by bad things that happen in our own families -- rather, trust that God will work through all of this to bring us to holiness!
Monday, December 9, 2019
Sunday Sermon, December 8th -- St John the Baptist (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)
The Life of St John the Baptist inspires us as we move through Advent. Also, many points of his life shine light upon other Catholic beliefs.
Zechariah's doubt compares with Mary's assent to the Angel - showing that our Lady had made a vow of virginity.
Zechariah's ministry in the Temple indicates that John was conceived in mid-September and born in late June. Because John was six months older than Jesus, we know that our Lord really was born in late December.
John was freed from Original Sin while in the womb -- and this reflects upon the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the perfect sinlessness of Jesus.
John is an example of a life of penance.
Further, we consider the death of those wicked persons who opposed St John the Baptist -- Herod, Herodias, and Herodias' Daughter, as well as Julian the Apostate.
Zechariah's doubt compares with Mary's assent to the Angel - showing that our Lady had made a vow of virginity.
Zechariah's ministry in the Temple indicates that John was conceived in mid-September and born in late June. Because John was six months older than Jesus, we know that our Lord really was born in late December.
John was freed from Original Sin while in the womb -- and this reflects upon the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the perfect sinlessness of Jesus.
John is an example of a life of penance.
Further, we consider the death of those wicked persons who opposed St John the Baptist -- Herod, Herodias, and Herodias' Daughter, as well as Julian the Apostate.
Sunday Sermon, December 1 -- The Prophet Isaiah (Father Ryan Erlenbush)
The book of the Prophet Isaiah is a primary text for meditation during the Advent Season. We discuss the life and ministry of Isaiah and give some notes about reading his book of prophecy.
November 26th, Adult Ed Series, City of God, Session 16 of 16, Review and Other Works of St Augustine (Father Ryan Erlenbush)
We conclude our several month long series on the City of God and discuss how knowledge of this great work will help us appreciate other writings of St Augustine.
Sunday Sermon, November 24th -- Why God Chose David over Saul (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Christ the King Sunday Sermon)
Saul had committed three great sins which brought about his ruin:
1) He offered sacrifice illicitly - for he was King but was not a priest.
2) He refused to utterly destroy the Amalekites, but kept some of the loot for himself and his men
3) He resorted to superstitious practices in asking the witch of Endor to conjure up Samuel
David, for his part, also committed grievous sins (for example, adultery and murder).
Why, then, was Saul rejected but David favored? Because David, like the Good Thief, repented and found mercy and was incorporated into the Kingdom of Christ.
1) He offered sacrifice illicitly - for he was King but was not a priest.
2) He refused to utterly destroy the Amalekites, but kept some of the loot for himself and his men
3) He resorted to superstitious practices in asking the witch of Endor to conjure up Samuel
David, for his part, also committed grievous sins (for example, adultery and murder).
Why, then, was Saul rejected but David favored? Because David, like the Good Thief, repented and found mercy and was incorporated into the Kingdom of Christ.
November 19th, Adult Ed Series, City of God, Session 15 of 16, The New Heavens and New Earth
As we come to the final weeks of this several month long series on the City of God by St Augustine, we discuss the final portion of the work -- Heaven and the reward of the Saints.
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