Readings: Revelation 14:1-2, 4b-5; Luke 21:1-4 This morning’s reading from the Book of Revelation is a reminder of the liturgical character of this book, which abounds in hymns, canticles and heavenly ceremonies. It recalls the great drama of salvation which we re-engage through the liturgy; and that the drama of our lives and history is […]
Thanksgiving Day, 22 November, 2018
The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Abbot Joseph Wittstock presiding and preaching. It is a non-work day for the community and we follow the Sunday schedule.
Reflection on the Thirty-third Monday of Ordinary Time
Readings: Revelation 1:1-4, 2:1-5; Luke 18:8-12 For the next two weeks, as we move towards Advent and recall the Second Coming of the Lord, the weekday Mass Readings will take us on a rapid–and condensed–tour of the Book of Revelation. I don’t have to tell you what a cryptic and puzzling book of Scripture this […]
Reflection for the Monday of the Thirty-first Week
Readings: Titus 1:1-9; Luke 17:1-6 The conclusion of this Gospel passage is genuinely Good News. Jesus plainly says that in our uncertainty, in our weakness we don’t need more faith. Our faith can be as small as a mustard seed; we just have to allow it to do what it can do. Think about that! […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Thirty-second Sunday, Year B
Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 Jesus sat opposite the treasury and observed… I believe this is so characteristic of Jesus, who told us Behold the birds of the air, or Behold the flowers of the field. The more I ponder the Gospels, the more I feel that Jesus is someone who paid […]
Reflection for Thursday of the Thirty-first Week
Readings: Philippians 3:3-8a; Luke 15:1-10 In purely logical terms, Jesus’ parables can seem exaggerated. Would a shepherd really leave ninety-nine sheep just to look for one? Would a woman turn her house upside down to find one coin? Well, since the ninety-nine sheep would tend to stay together, or if I’m poor enough, every coin […]
Reflection for the Monday of the 31st Week
Readings: Philippians 2:1-4; Luke 14:12-14 …when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled. the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Jesus continues to teach us with banquet imagery. Today’s teaching could certainly be […]
First Sunday of the Month: Eucharistic Adoration
Today, 4 November, is the first Sunday of the Month and the monks will observe Eucharistic Adoration starting at 3:00 PM. Adoration will conclude after Vespers (5:30 PM) with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All are invited to join us throughout the afternoon.
Reflection for Saturday of the 30th Week
Readings: Philippians 1:18b-26; Luke 14:1, 7-11 When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. The tricky thing about today’s Gospel is that Jesus is not proposing a strategy or a technique to shape our behavior. Were I to choose the lowest place just […]
Sunday, 4 November: Return to Standard Time
This Sunday, Daylight Savings time ends and we’ll have brighter mornings for a while. That means we turn back our clocks one hour. As it is, although we changed the Mass time to 10:00 AM some time ago, we still have people showing up for 11:00 AM Mass–or even 10:30 AM Mass! Be sure to […]