Homilies

Homily – 30th Sunday Ordinary Time (Fr. Smith)

| Fr. William Smith

We read so much about the Pharisees in the New Testament that it is easy to forget that during Jesus’ ministry they were not the only nor even the most powerful Jewish sect. Scholars tell us that they have such a prominent place in the New Testament because the Pharisees were the only organized group of Jews that survived the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. They were in effect our only Jewish competition. The Pharisees were serious and thoughtful people with noble aspirations. They sought to bind everything they did in the day to God. Perhaps then a more important reason the Pharisees are mentioned so often in the New Testament is that Jesus, the gospel writers, and Paul saw them not only as competition but as a warning. The corruption of the best is the worst and Christians who also sought to give their entire lives to God could fall into the same trap.

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – 30th Sunday Ordinary Time

| St. Charles Borromeo

On Sunday October 23, 2022, join us in person or online for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our current Sunday Mass times are:

The readings will be from Cycle C.

Entrance: Gather Us In – 848

Readings/Psalm – 1181

Offertory: The Cry of the Poor – 47

Communion: Precious Lord, Take My Hand – 955

Closing: Blest Are They – 735

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 .

Bulletin

Food Pantry Featured in Bishop’s Dinner Video

| St. Charles Borromeo

The food pantry that our parish runs in conjunction with Catholic Charities was featured in a video shown to guests at the Bishop’s Humanitarian Award Dinner.

Please check out the segment, which appears about 1:30 into the video and includes interviews with Joe Genova and John O’Malley and footage of our pantry volunteers working hard and doing God’s work.

If you would like to get involved in our food pantry work, we’d love to have you. Please contact Joe Genova ([email protected]).

Scriptual Commentary

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Living as a Christian Leader

| Fr. William Smith

The Pharisee and the Publican,
James Tissot, c. 1886-1894, Brooklyn Museum

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Luke 18:10–14)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18
October 23, 2022

We will complete our reading of 2nd Timothy this week. We have suggested that it was written by an associate of St. Paul soon after the apostle’s death. The author mentions many people who we can presume were real and that they and their stories were known to the Pauline community. We have approached the letter as a novel in the form of a letter. This does not mean that the incidents related did not happen to Paul and the original readers were not unaware of them.

This is also the end of the letter, and the author will bring the many themes that he has examined throughout the letter together. The chapter begins with Paul commissioning Timothy as a church leader:
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Homilies

Homily – 29th Sunday Ordinary Time (Fr. Smith)

| Fr. William Smith

On first reading, today’s parable may seem uneventful. The widow does not strike the judge nor does the judge change and become just. He is more like the rich man in the story of Lazarus (16:19-31) who goes cluelessly to hell than Zacchaeus who repents and becomes a disciple (19:1-10). There is no movement either externally or internally. That indeed is the point and gives the parable its weight and power. 

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – 29th Sunday Ordinary Time

| St. Charles Borromeo

On Sunday October 16, 2022, join us in person or online for the 29th 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 – 1178

Offertory: O Breathe on Me, O Breath of God – 902

Communion: Shepherd Me, O God – 35

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 .