Homilies

2nd Sunday of Easter – Homily (Fr. Smith)

| St. Charles Borromeo

On June 15th, 2015, Dylann Roof a white supremist entered Emmaual Baptist church in Charleston, SC and cold bloodily killed nine African American members attending Bible study. At a bond hearing the daughter of one of the victims said to him “I will never talk with her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you,” This reflected the general feeling of the congregation was controversial. Some people felt that it was too easy. The immediate response of forgiveness may in fact have been psychologically dangerous allowing deeper ressentiments to go “underground” that would emerge later and disturb their peace. It also could seem as if this were a crime without consequence reflecting the deep-seated racism of our nation and culture. 

There is some truth in this especially if we believe that peace is keeping things in their proper place. This is the peace the world can give, and it is the best we can give ourselves. Yet Jesus has told us that there is a peace the world cannot give. This peace is not keeping things in their proper place but by disturbing the peace by creating a new way of being human.  

Today’s Gospel reveals this peace which Jesus had previously told his disciples he alone can give. (John 14:27). Perfect peace for the Jews was Shalom. Harmony between God and humanity, humans ourselves and humanity and nature. They did not expect this until the Messiah brought the Kingdom and began the rule of God. They expected armies of angels to herald this event but although they thought Jesus at very least the Messiah “he showed them his hands and his side” not angelic choirs This was proof that it was the same Jesus who died not his ghost and that his sacrifice of himself was accepted by God. He brought a new covenant and new relationship binding God and all humanity. Their reaction was joy, the emotion that recognizes the presence of God. They were disciples – one who follows – but were to be apostles – one who is sent. This they cannot do unaided, so he breathes on them as he breathed on the water at creation and forms his people, his church, his very presence in the world. There are many gifts and power which come with this, but John strategically emphasizes forgiveness of sins.  

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – 2nd Sunday of Easter

| St. Charles Borromeo

On Sunday, April 24, 2022, join us in person or online for the 2nd Sunday of Easter.

Our current Sunday Mass times are:

The readings will be from Cycle C.

Entrance: Sing to the Mountains – 519
Readings: 1066
Responsorial Psalm: 81 (Psalm 118: Let Us Rejoice)
Offertory: I Know That My Redeemer Lives – 527
Communion: O Sons and Daughters – 532
Closing: Jesus Christ is Risen Today – 540

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

Second Sunday of Easter – Understanding Our Lives through the Resurrection

| Fr. William Smith

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio,
c. 1603, Sanssouci, Potsdam, Germany
(About this Image)

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
(John 20:27–28)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Second Sunday of Easter
Revelations: 1:9–19
April 24, 2022

The “Book of Revelation” is a source of great confusion and imaginative if usually erroneous speculation. Some of the latter has been so amusing that the great English convert and writer G. K. Chesterton wrote: “Though St John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” (Chesterton, Orthodoxy) This is quite unfortunate as Revelations has much to offer us, indeed some of it very practical and contemporary.

The place to begin is with its very name. It is often called “The Apocalypse.” In popular usage, this means the end times with usually a bloody conflagration. The original meaning, however, is “unveiling.” This was a genre of writing. A person would read an apocalypse not to be confused or bewildered about the future, but to be instructed on how to live now and prepare for the future. The Christians who originally read “The Book of Revelation” would have expected to have layers of misinformation and fake news unraveled and true meaning revealed. The images that we find so bewildering and intimidating would have been part of their culture. If there was any attempt to mystify or obscure, it would have been not for fellow Christians but for the Roman authorities. This was during a time of Roman persecution. The closest analogy I can think of is video games. Our younger parishioners know every character and devise in them, but they are a total mystery to me. They are the Christians, and I am the Roman authority. We see further difficulty if we imagine someone trying to decipher Minecraft a millennium hence. Similarly,some parts of “The Book of Revelation” will remain obscure. The sections chosen for our Easter readings; however, are not among them and their message will be truly clear: the resurrection of Jesus unveils the meaning of all history and existence.

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Homilies

Easter – Homily (Fr. Smith)

| St. Charles Borromeo

Christians have heard “that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16) so often that we have put it on banners and flashed them at TV cameras. It is a radical and profound statement now thoroughly domesticated. A sign that we have made a good Holy Week is if it gets back its bite.  

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – Easter Sunday

| St. Charles Borromeo

He is Risen! On Sunday, April 17, 2022, join us in person or online for the joy of the Easter season.

Our current Mass times are:

The readings will be from Cycle C.

Entrance: Sing to the Mountains – 519
Responsorial Psalm will be no. 81 in the Gather hymnal (Psalm 118: Let Us Rejoice. Use the words ‘This is the day…’ for refrain)
Easter Sunday sequence: no. 1065
Celtic alleluia
Offertory: I Know That My Redeemer Lives – 527
Communion: O Sons and Daughters – 532
2nd communion if needed: Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones – 882
Closing: Jesus Christ is Risen Today – 540

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

Easter – Being Apostles Today

| Fr. William Smith

The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Tomb,
Eugène Burnand, 1898, Musée d’Orsay
(About this Image)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Easter Sunday
April 17, 2022
Acts 10:34A, 37-43

During the Easter Season, the first reading will change from selections from the Old Testament to passages from the “Acts of the Apostles.” This is an inspired decision which will become clearer as the season progresses. The Acts of the Apostles was written by St. Luke whose Gospel we have been reading this year and who we have also been examining in Bible Study.

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