Author: St. Charles Borromeo

Homilies

7th Sunday Ordinary Time – Fr. Smith Homily

| St. Charles Borromeo

This week, Jesus continues his reinterpretation of the Torah, which we usually translate as the Law.  As an Evangelist, Matthew will organize these as 6 comparisons. “You have heard that it was said,” and then “but I say to you”. For those of you who do crossword puzzles, these are called the great Antitheses. They are very bold because they show that Jesus has power over the Law. This has great indeed cosmic consequences. But Matthew the Pastor has the more practical concern of organizing and leading his Parish, and in many ways that is what gives his passage its particular power.  

In the first Antithesis that we examine today, Jesus agrees with the precept of the law but wants his disciples to go deeper to grasp its truest meaning. He states the law of retribution: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. This may sound savage, but is the root of civilization. Before this, a relatively minor infraction could set off a blood feud which could take many lives. By the time of Jesus, this had been further refined so that a monetary payment could be made to take the place of the body part. Yet, Jesus wants more.  Continue reading “7th Sunday Ordinary Time – Fr. Smith Homily” →

Events

Ash Wednesday Schedule

| St. Charles Borromeo

Distribution of Ashes: Our church will open at 7 AM and ashes will be distributed throughout the day until 3:45 PM. There will also be ashes distributed at all the Masses and the service.

Mass with distribution of ashes: 7 AM, 12:10 PM, 7 PM. 

Service for Children and Families: 4 PM.

Service at Pierrepont House: 1:30 PM.

Confessions: after the 7 AM Mass; before and after the 12:10 PM Mass; before and after the 4 PM Service (until 6 PM); after the 7 PM Mass.

Homilies

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Wasting Time with the Lord

| St. Charles Borromeo

Elderly Couple in an Interior, Frans van Mieris, c. 1650-1655 (Leiden Collection Catalogue)

FIRST READING
Leviticus 19:1–2, 17–18
February 23, 2020

This week we read from the Book of Leviticus for the first time. It is one of the books of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, and literally means the book of the tribe of Levi. This tribe was given the responsibility of maintaining the Temple and its worship, and not unsurprisingly, most of the book pertains to cultic matters. It will however show us that, for the Jews, worship and justice are both needed for holiness and the road to holiness may seem a detour from what we find truly important.

Leviticus begins where the book of Exodus ends. There is little action in the book, and it is mostly composed of the LORD speaking to Moses. More importantly is the time of its composition and final edition. We have seen many times before that the historical books of the Old Testament were competed after the return of significant numbers of the Jewish leaders to Jerusalem from Babylon. The first group went between 538 and 515 BC and another about 450 BC. Their concerns may be found in prophets such as (Third) Isaiah, Zechariah, and Haggai and in the historical writings of Ezra and Nehemiah. Through them, we have examined the nature of God’s reign in history, the relationship of the Jews to other peoples, and the developing notion of the Messiah.

They were recreating their society, and this was reflected in rebuilding their temple. Leviticus was written after the work of Ezra and Nehemiah. These were officials sent by the Assyrian king when it had become obvious that the colony was failing. They recognized that this was more than a management issue but required a return to tradition. Leviticus is composed of basically two parts: “The Priestly Book” (Chapters 1-16) and the “Holiness Codes” (Chapters 17-26). The priestly book defines sacred space and what is needed for worship. The holiness code shows how the sacred can be integrated into life.

It is in the holiness code that the Jewish calendar is formalized, literally making the sacred a part of daily life and the rhythm of the seasons. This is done in mind-numbing detail which is one reason why it not often read in church. Yet in the opening section we read today, the author is careful to give us the full and beautiful picture of holiness and its consequences. Continue reading “7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Wasting Time with the Lord” →

Events

Young Family Fellowship

| St. Charles Borromeo

Are you a parent of an infant or a toddler?  Do you have a baby on the way? Are you an experienced parent or family member who has raised young children in the community?

Many of us at St. Charles look after both the practical and spiritual needs of very young children. How can we support each other?

Please join us to plan a fellowship group for young families:
Continue reading “Young Family Fellowship” →