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The Beauty of Pilgrimage

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     During these two weeks this bulletin is covering, several people from this parish are embarking on a religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While not a requirement for Christians, the process of going on a some sort of journey that invites individuals to seek a deeper connection with God, community, and self has been a mainstay in Christian theology for centuries. Several of the readings for the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time speak to the theme of the renewal found in going spiritual journeys.      For the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary time, Isaiah 62:1-5 speaks to those about to return from a painful exile back to a land of promise. This fervent declaration reflects God’s unwavering commitment to His people and the hope of restoration. Pilgrimage, in this context, becomes a journey toward renewal and healing. As pilgrims, we embark on a quest not only to visit sacred sites but to engage in a transformative process that leads us closer to God. The imager...

Top Notch

 Congratulations to Mike Keith, the new radio voice of Tennessee football . I remember fondly listening to him broadcast Tennessee baseball games back in the 1990s on News Talk Radio 990 before he went to the Titans' broadcast booth, where I lost track of him because...it was literally the Titans, a team I never cared for.  

What was the Pope talking about?

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A while back, the Pope was poping again, which precipitated much ballyhooing by his detractors. While I find the Pope's penchant for "shooting from the hip" ill advised, particularly in the age of sound bytes, there is a method to his theology that a lot of people overlook. I did track down the Meme source, and it appears to be somewhat accurate in recounting what the Pope said. (The translation from Italian was a bit suspect, but for sake of argument, I will pretend he did say exactly this.) As such, I had the following question posed to me with the included meme: So I am very catholic curious, I would not say I am catholic as I still have a few hang ups, but I find a lot of Catholic teaching to resonate and be intriguing. That said, this has been a hangup for me for a while now. If I understand correctly, the Pope is divinely inspired when making Papal ordinances correct? So is this simply a greater demonstration as to the divine nature of ordinances and ecumenic...

Reflection on the Baptism of Jesus

       Why would Jesus have needed to be baptized? The Baptism of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, marking the beginning of His public ministry and the revelation of His identity as the Messiah. Todays readings give us insight into the significance of this event, highlighting Jesus’ divine mission, anointing, and the affirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.            Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 presents the prophetic vision of the Servant of the Lord, who is chosen and upheld by God. “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him” (Isaiah 42:1, NRSV). This passage emphasizes the mission of the Servant to bring justice to the nations and to be a light to the Gentiles. The Baptism of Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, as it marks the moment when the Spirit descends upon Him, affirming His role as the anointed one. In this light, the importance of Jesus...

How Can I Pray for You?

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 I am going to the Holy Land in a few weeks. If anyone has any prayer requests they would like me to stick into the Wailing Wall or have prayed over at various holy sites in Israel/Palestine, please let me know.

Intellectuals and God

 This is a rather long but interesting article . 

Milton's On the Morning of Christ's Nativity

This is the month, and this the happy morn, Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King, Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born, Our great redemption from above did bring; For so the holy sages once did sing, That he our deadly forfeit should release, And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable, And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty, Wherewith he wont at Heav'n's high council-table, To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, He laid aside, and here with us to be, Forsook the courts of everlasting day, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. Say Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Afford a present to the Infant God? Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, To welcome him to this his new abode, Now while the heav'n, by the Sun's team untrod, Hath took no print of the approaching light, ...