Imago Trinitatis

From Kenrick-Glennon Seminary  Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111818.cfm (Audio for homily below text) Winter is coming . . . or is it already here?!   This is the most snow I’ve seen in my time yet in St. Louis, but it’s all gone after three days!   And it’s hard to believe that just a month ago we were experiencing 90 degree weather.   In fact, this winter caught me completely off-guard, and as I was wondering why, here’s what I determined.   At the seminary, I spend nearly all of my day inside.   It’s one huge building; I can walk from my room downstairs to the chapel, then over to the refectory, then to the classrooms, library, other friends’ rooms, and so on.   The only time I would need to go outside is to walk the short distance over to the gym to work out.   Thus, I’m not outside to notice the temperature change, the changing leaves on the trees, and the animals preparing for winter.   I spend so m...

Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111118.cfm Did Jesus miss the perfect opportunity?   He was just talking about how corrupt the scribes were, who were some of the Jewish religious leaders.   The scribes were seeking attention, taking pride in feeling important, and devouring the houses of widows.   Indeed, their taxation on the people, claiming to be for upkeep of the Temple, took a huge toll on all the people!   And now here comes the perfect example: this poor widow comes up to place her two small coins, her livelihood, in the treasury.   Here’s Jesus’ chance: he could have said, ‘Look at this poor widow, how she is a victim of this corrupt people!   Look how you’ve taken away her life and devoured her house!”   And then all the people would realize how bad the scribes were and might even revolt.   But Jesus didn’t do that.   Instead, he affirms the poor widow’s generosity, saying “Look how she has put in more than ...

From jewishvirtuallibrary.org Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110418.cfm “Sh'ma Yisra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.”   No, I’m not speaking gibberish, I’m speaking Hebrew.   In fact, this is the Shema prayer, contained in both the first reading and the Gospel.   “Sh’ma Yisra’eil” – Hear, O Israel.   “Adonai Eloheinu” – The Lord is our God.   “Adonai echad.” – The Lord is one.   Faithful Jews will pray this prayer every day when waking up and before going to bed, and it forms the foundation of both the Jewish and the Christian faith.   Jesus affirms this as the greatest commandment: that because our God is the one God, we are to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all your strength.   It sounds pretty great, doesn’t it?   But what does it mean to believe in this?   What does it mean to live this out? As I was praying with these Scriptures, this phrase came to mind: “Revolu...