Category Archives: Catechumenate

The beheading of John the Baptist–Mark 6: 14-29

The Gospel passage for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost in Year B is Mark’s rather gory story of John’s beheading at the request of Herod’s wife via Herodias, his daughter. (The identities of Herod, Herodias [the mother] and Herodias [the … Continue reading

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Lent & the Catechumenate

It may seem strange to be focussing on Lent during Eastertide but insights come when they will. My brother-in-law and I oftentimes discuss “matters religious” when we get together. He is a conservative Catholic for whom doctrine and dogma are … Continue reading

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Greeks seeking Jesus: John 12: 20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then … Continue reading

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Ash Wednesday: Invitation to a Holy Lent

“Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with greatdevotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, andit became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a                                                          season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a … Continue reading

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The Transfiguration — Mark 9:2-9

2 Kings 2: 1-12 — Elijah’s Ascent in a whirlwind: I want to say a few words about this passage before moving on to the related Gospel passage. This is another vivid Hebrew Scripture story. There are a number of … Continue reading

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Mark 1:29-39 — Being pushed and pulled

So Jesus goes to Simon and Andrew’s house. James and John go along. (These four are the only named disciples at this time.) Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law. “He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.” (A … Continue reading

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The Monastic Way–The Catechumenate Way

The Slow Work of God —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Above all, trust in the slow work of God.We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.We should like to skip the intermediate stages.We are impatient of … Continue reading

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Epiphany 4: Mark 1:21-28

On the Sabbath Jesus does what most Jewish men do. He goes to the synagogue to read the Torah and Prophets and to pray. This was in Capernaum and he was traveling, presumably with those he had called earlier to … Continue reading

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Be silent and let God be God

I’ve done several things recently related to spiritual growth. At the counsel of my pastor, I have sought out a spiritual director and I have started reading Richard Rohr. I think the first will be helpful. We haven’t met except … Continue reading

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Baptism — Mark 1: 4-11

This is the first Sunday of Epiphany. We celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. This is one of the Sundays of the year that we explicitly focus on baptism. This is one of the Sundays of the year when I … Continue reading

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