Parish Blog

Dear Friends in Christ,

        Wikipedia defines doomscrolling as “the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of news, particularly negative news, on the web and social media.” Have you ever been involved in doomscrolling? Be honest....most of us have done it and we most assuredly know that we can do better with our time; we can in fact be good stewards of the time that we spend on our smart phone. Yes, we must know the truth and we must know what is going on in the Church and the world so that we can more effectively pray and work for the Kingdom of God. But can we have better sources of news?

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today's reading helps us to consider the blessings that come when we enjoy the presence of Jesus and his Mother, Mary, in the midst of human events: “There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.” (Jn 2:1-2).

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we look at an adult Jesus. The child of the manger has grown to manhood and reaches that place in life when He must embark on the divine commission entrusted to Him by the Father. In preparation, He joins the candidates who have responded to John the Baptist in the Jordan River, who were submitting to baptism at his hands to wash away their sins.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, the prophet Isaiah encourages us: “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you.” (Is 60:1) The light the prophet has seen is the star, which the Three Wise Men see in the east, like many other men. The Magi discover its meaning. Others consider it as something admirable, but that does not affect them. And, so, they do not react. The Three Wise Men realize the fact that, with the star, God is sending them an important message for which it is worthwhile leaving comfort and safety to take on the risks of an uncertain journey. The hope of finding the King leads them to follow the star, which the prophets had spoken of and which the people of Israel had been waiting for centuries.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we are asked to contemplate, as a continuation of the Mystery of Incarnation, God's Son's insertion into the human community: the family, and Jesus' progressive education by Joseph and Mary. As the Gospel says, “And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” (Lk 2:52)

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the last Sunday before the arrival—the Advent—of God in Bethlehem. So as to be the same as us in everything, He wanted to be conceived—as any other person—in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary. And He was conceived by the action and grace of the Holy Spirit, as He was God. Very soon, on Christmas Day, we will celebrate His birth with great joy.

The Gospel today presents us with two people, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, who show us with their example the spiritual attitude we should have towards this event. It should be an attitude of faith, of dynamic faith.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today in the middle of Advent, the Word of God presents to us the Holy Precursor of Jesus Christ: Saint John the Baptist. God the Father prepared the coming, that is, the Advent, of his Son in our flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, in many ways and in many forms, as the beginning of the Letter to the Hebrews says (1:1). The patriarchs, the prophets and the kings prepared the coming of Jesus.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, almost half of the Gospel passage consists of historical-biographical data. Not even in the liturgy of the Mass was this historical text changed by the frequent “at that time.” This introduction, so “insignificant” for contemporary man, has prevailed: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee...” (Lk 3:1). Why? To demystify! God entered the history of mankind in a very “concrete” way, as well as in the history of every man. He did so, for example, in the life of John - Zechariah's son - who was in the desert. He called him to cry out on the banks of the Jordan... (Lk 3:6).

Dear Friends in Christ,

Advent can be called an “ardent” time, a time of contrasts. Advent begins the liturgical year, yet it is already speaking to us of the end of time. We prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ, His first arrival, yet we also listen to the announcement that prophesies His Second Coming as our Judge. We should live this time with our eyes wide open, expecting our final liberation. Jesus' preaching to His disciples puts us on guard that we should not be impressed by the violent upheavals that will come; instead, He invites us to anticipate the arrival of the Son of God in prayer and vigilance.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Jesus Christ is Our Lord! “To Him was given all power, honor and the Kingdom.” We believe that He is the incarnate Son of God in Jesus of Nazareth; He is a brother that has been glorified; He is the Word of God who has saved us; He is the One who died and rose from the dead. Christ has come to this world to be the “Witness of the Truth.” The Feast of Christ King is the golden clasp of the liturgical year, for it binds every Christian to fight to establish His Kingdom in our own heart, in society, and in the entire world.

Dear Friends in Christ,

This weekend we celebrate a huge milestone in the life of a priest, the Thirtieth Anniversary of the ordination of Father Orlando!

Father Orlando was ordained to share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ on November 24, 1994, at the Chapel of the Major Seminary of the Yarumal Missionaries in Medellin, Colombia by Archbishop Ignacio Gomez Aristizabal. Father Orlando was ordained with four other priests, but only two of them have persevered in the priesthood to the present day.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, the Gospel presents Jesus Christ as the Master, who speaks to us about the detachment which we must live by. In the first place, a detachment of our honor and recognition which, every so often, we are looking for: “Beware of (...) accepting greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets” (Mk 12:38-39). In this sense, Jesus prevents us from following the bad example of the scribes.

Dear Friends in Christ,

“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6)

St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians was written in prison where he was in danger of death. In his letter, he rejoices in their continued progress in the Gospel. And he wants them to know that if they continue to be faithful, God will certainly be faithful to them and bring His work to completion at the end of their lives (or the day of Jesus Christ).