Events, Videos

Community Mass – 19th Sunday Ordinary Time

| St. Charles Borromeo

On Sunday, August 6, 2022, join us in person or online for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our current Sunday Mass times are:

The readings will be from Cycle C.

Entrance: Glory and Praise to Our God – 606

Readings/Psalm – 1148

Offertory: The Servant Song – 751

Communion: One Bread, One Body – 932

Closing: Rain Down – 582

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 .

Scriptual Commentary

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Embracing the Reality of Our Hopes

| Fr. William Smith

Photo by 辰曦 on Unsplash

“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
(Luke 12:32–34)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 11:1–2, 8–19
August 7, 2022

The second Sunday readings this month will be from the “Letter to the Hebrews.” We looked at sections of this letter last fall. Then we learned that it was most likely written in and for the 1st century church in Rome. Most of the Christians in Rome were born Jews and understood Judaism. We can surmise from hints in the letter and the topics the author examines that they still felt a pull to return to Judaism. These were for theological, political, and psychological reasons. Many thought that the Lord’s return had been suspiciously delayed and all were aware that they had lost the protection of Judaism. Remember, Jews did not have to offer sacrifice to the emperors, if Christians were considered a new religion, they would face the death penalty.

The author first examined the most basic issue for a Jew, the covenant with the Lord which defined them. A covenant requires offering a sacrifice and thus a priest. The author established that Jesus is the eternal high priest and the covenant he creates is deeper than the temple convent and more permanent. Today we will see him address faith and why it always was the key connection to the LORD.

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Homilies

Homily – 18th Sunday Ordinary Time (Fr. Smith)

| Fr. William Smith

St. Luke uses the stories of Jesus in uniquely effective ways. He employs many classical rhetorical techniques with very impressive technical names. But they are effective because they work very simply. His best is to lull us into a false sense of security and then zing us. We have seen this several times already. We feel immediate sympathy for the potential disciple who wishes to bury his father before following Jesus.  Yet Jesus seemingly coldheartedly tells them that his first responsibly is to follow him and let the dead bury the dead. (Luke 9:60) More recently Martha asked Jesus “Do you not care that my sister has left me to do all preparations” Jesus’ answer is basically that he really didn’t, and Martha should join Mary at his feet. We will see this today but with a twist. (Luke 10:38-42) 

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – 18th Sunday Ordinary Time

| St. Charles Borromeo

On Sunday, July 31, 2022, join us in person or online for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our current Sunday Mass times are:

The readings will be from Cycle C.

Entrance: For the Beauty of the Earth – 633

Readings/Psalm – 1145

Offertory: In Every Age – 716

Communion: You Satisfy the Hungry Heart – 940

Closing: We Are Called – 807

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 .

Scriptual Commentary

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – “Christ Is All and In All”

| Fr. William Smith

Photo by Sensei Minimal on Unsplash

“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
(Luke 12:15)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11
July 31, 2022

Today, we complete our examination of the “Letter to the Colossians.” It is not the end of the letter, but it is convenient for us because it gives pointed teaching on three areas of contemporary concern. He does this in a typically Pauline manner, first outlying a doctrine and then showing the practical consequences of accepting it.

The doctrine is that we have joined Jesus in his resurrection, this must change our lives and we must change our world.

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Homilies

Homily – 17th Sunday Ordinary Time (Fr. Smith)

| St. Charles Borromeo

It is often said that the family that prays together, stays together. This brings back memories of praying the rosary around my parent’s bed during May and October when I was a child. Members of our young family group have told me of their adaptations of family prayer. It is so important that Jesus recognized it and gave us the Lord’s Prayer as our “family prayer”. There is enough here for 5 sermons so we will limit ourselves to: how we are a family, what kind of family are we, and how will we know we are praying it well? 

We are a family because Jesus has made a covenant with us. A covenant is a sharing of life and is open ended. It is not a contract. A contract has definite stipulations that must be met, a covenant is a pledge to walk together. A covenant always requires a sacrifice. We commemorate this at every Mass which creates, as we say at the consecration, a “new and everlasting covenant”.  

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