Please be on the lookout for Fr. Bill’s Christmas letter in the mail. An electronic copy is available here. It includes our Christmas Mass schedule, which is also listed below:
December 19 is Reconciliation Monday in the Diocese of Brooklyn as well as the Archdiocese of New York. Churches will be opened for extended hours to help those who have been away from the Sacrament of Confession / Reconciliation / Penance for a while, return to the practice of our faith.
At St. Charles Borromeo, confessions will be heard from 5 PM to 9 PM. Please note the times were incorrectly listed in the parish email on December 10.
Saint John the Baptist preaching in the Wilderness,
Pier Francesco Mola, c.1640, National Gallery (UK)
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
(Matthew 11:4–6)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Third Sunday of Advent
James 5:7–10
December 11, 2022
Last week, we noted that most of the authors of the New Testament urged their readers to be patient. They expected Jesus to return and establish the Kingdom and were disconcerted that it was taking so long. They also believed that acceptance of Jesus, who they thought was at very least the Messiah, would make their lives easier. Instead, they seemed to have more problems than had they not joined the church. To make matters, even worse most of the New Testament was written before there was any truly organized persecution of the church from Roman authorities and the stresses and strains came from within the church or family. We saw this last week when looking at Paul’s letter to the Romans and we see it again this week in the Letter of St. James. These letters are usually, if very incorrectly, pitted against each other but speak together with one voice of encouragement to the weary Christian: now as well as then.
Continue reading “3rd Sunday of Advent – Peace Fulfilling Love”
Please download the worship aid to participate in Friday’s evening prayer, which will begin at 5 PM.
Instructions on how to join are available here.
It has often been said that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” but a wise community organizer added to this “If it is really broken, don’t fix it, break it completely and start over.” To phrase it more politely there are times we must “disorganize to reorganize.” St. Matthew understands this very well and shows us why and how in today’s reading.
We meet John the Baptist in the desert of Judea. This is a difficult 20 miles from Jerusalem and a trip no one would make on a whim. Why would people go? It was not to receive a soothing message. He told people to “repent” Repentance is not reform, it requires acknowledging our brokenness and turning our lives around. Matthew adds “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew’s audience understands Judaism. The kingdom means the fullness of God’s power here on earth to be inaugurated by the Messiah. The change that he will preach cannot be understood through the philosophers of Greece but only through the prophets of Israel. Continue reading “Homily – 2nd Sunday of Advent (Fr. Smith)”
On Sunday, December 4, 2022, join us in person or online for the 2nd Sunday of Advent.
Our current Sunday Mass times are:
Today’s readings will be from Cycle A.
Entrance: On Jordan’s Bank – 418
Readings/Responsorial Psalm – 994
Offertory: Prepare the Way – 400
Communion: Like a Shepherd – 402
Closing: O Come, Divine Messiah – 401
The Gather 3rd Edition Hymnal/Missals are available for use in the church – pick one up as you enter and return it after Mass. Instructions on how to use the hymnal missal are available here: https://www.stcharlesbklyn.org/hymnal-missal/ .
Today’s readings are also available to read online at the USCCB website https://bible.usccb.org .
John the Baptist, Alexandre Cabanel, 1849, Musée Fabre (France – Montpellier)
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
(Matthew 3:1–3)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Second Sunday of Advent
Romans 15:4–9
December 4, 2022
Because scholars assert that the scriptures tell us not to be afraid 365 times, an enterprising printer has made a calendar with a quote for every day of the year. This is the phrase most used in the Bible because it reflects both that God is a protector, who will stand with us, but also Lord, who we approach only with his permission. There are other common ideas. We would not be able to complete a year’s calendar with encouragement for endurance and perseverance, but we could easily get a month. This is especially important in the New Testament because Jesus has promised to return and relatively quickly, the faithful got anxious and asked not only why he was delayed but also what does this mean for them. Every New Testament writer has examined this question from his own perspective. As we will see today Paul emphasized that we need endurance not only or even especially from threats from outside the community but more importantly from within. We must persevere to maintain harmony. This is a theme throughout his letters but is especially important in Romans. Continue reading “Second Sunday of Advent – Persevering in the Way”
