The author of the Letter to the Hebrews seems to betray a rather sketchy knowledge of scripture with his vague comment that God has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, namely that God rested on the seventh day from all his works. Identifying this quote from Genesis along with the ability to […]
Fr. James’ Reflection for Thursday January 12
Thursday of the 1st WK of the Year: Hebrews 3:7-14; Mark 1:40-45 There have been many theories about why in Mark’s Gospel Jesus imposes silence on those he cures. Perhaps the best explanation is that identifying Jesus as a miracle worker, who fixes problems, is a misunderstanding. That expectation puts me in the wrong relationship […]
Fr. James’ Reflection for Saturday, January 7
Saturday, 7 January: 1 John 5:14-21; John 2:1-11 I scrapped the reflection I’d already typed when I reread the Gospel out loud last night: I was touched by this miracle Jesus wasn’t planning. I was touched that he didn’t hesitate to overcome his reluctance, that he caught the appropriateness of his mother’s concern—and her […]
A Word from Our Cistercian Fathers
The Only-begotten of God, the Sun of justice, like a huge and brilliant candle has enkindled and enlightened the prison of this world – so that everyone willing to be enlightened can come near him and be united to him so that nothing may come between them and him. Our sins are barriers between us […]
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Mary Mother of God
The eternal existence of God, which is one that preceded all of creation (if one may speak thus), does make Mary’s unbelievably exalted title of “Mother of God” seem rather ridiculous. After all, according to our human thinking a mother always exists prior to the child she bears. Clearly, Mary as one among many of […]
Fr. James’ Reflection for Saint Stephen’s Day
Monday, 26 December: Acts 6:8-10; 7: 54-59; Matthew 10:17-22
Abbot Joseph’s Homily for Christmas
In his book Chance or Purpose: Creation, Evolution, and a Rational Faith, Cardinal Schönborn reminds us of the apparent insignificance of humanity living precariously on this tiny planet that seems lost in the sheer immensity of a universe made up of billions of galaxies that seem to stretch into infinity. As people of faith who […]
Fr. James’ Homily for Christmas
Christmas Day Mass: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 The Russian author, Paul Evdokimov, wrote that the life of Christ begins, heightened by wonders: his conception announced by an angel, conceived of the Virgin, lauded by a choir of angels, marked in the heavens by a star, worshipped by Magi from the East…But then […]
Fr. James’ Gospel Reflection, Fridy Dec 23
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Luke 1:57-66 The name John means The Lord is gracious. Elizabeth’s insistence on the name confesses her recognition that her child is a gift from God, not a given. John is a sign that God is not our speculation, a probability posited by our questions, but is here before our questions […]
CHRISTMAS MASSES
For those wishing to join us at the Christmas Masses: “Midnight Mass” (preceded by Vigils) will be celebrated at 8.30 p.m. this Saturday evening, December 24. The Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday, December 25.