The King's Corner

On Christmas Eve Father Healey made available to all parishioners copies of a donated CD entitled: “The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality” by Matthew Kelly.   At first I thought the CD was of a book I had read, but on checking, I was mistaken.  Mine was “Seven Revolutions: How Christianity Changes the World and Can Change It Again.”   The Seven Pillars spoke of confession, daily prayer, Mass, scripture, spiritual reading, fasting, and the rosary as ways to regain and strengthen Catholicism.  Kelly believes these seven create the pillars on which Catholicism stands. Although I don’t discount the importance of these seven, I suggest there are seven other pillars, perhaps even stronger for effective evangelization.  They would be: knowing and following Jesus; ministering to the poor and needy (charity); an emphasis on forgiveness; the sacraments; our culture of life; an emphasis on family and its holiness; and faith/hope/love.   I’ll add an eighth – understanding/respect for ot

“God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother.  Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard.  Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.  Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins—a house raised in justice to you.” [Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14] Today is “The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”  The above passage refers to reverence of mothers and fathers with the second part targeting fathers.   For many fathers the question becomes: do you deserve to be revered or reviled?  How m

“Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked. Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.  Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has bli

“When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.  Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.’ Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.  He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’  When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious.  He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.  Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” [Matthew 2:13-18] We know the story of the magi and the murdered Bethlehem chi

"Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life—for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  We are writing this so that our joy may be complete [1 John 1:1-4].” Our first reading on this second day after Christmas highlights “the beginning.”   For many of us Christmas marks the beginning of a new year and another notch in our life’s calendar as we get closer to eternal life.   For most of us eternal life is a difficult concept, and most would rather have daily life experienced with family and friends, especially during the Christmas season.   I’m one of those willing to postpone eternal

At the time baby Jesus was born many years ago all the people, the animals, and the trees were very happy.   Baby Jesus was born to bring peace and happiness to the whole world.  People came every day to see the little one and to bring him gifts. Now, there were five trees standing near the manger.   They saw the people, and they wished they also could give gifts to Baby Jesus that everyone called the Christ-child. The Palm tree said, “I will choose my most beautiful leaf and then place it as a fan over Baby Jesus’ head to keep him out of the hot sun and to cool him.”

December 25, 2016 - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Often we hear this said and what it implies is that there is perhaps little magic in terms of anticipation and surprise in Christmas for adults.  While that may well be true yet let us not say that there isn't a good deal of meaning in Christmas for adults especially when we move beyond some of the more cultural and less religious customs and observances of this day and season.  Indeed, Santa Claus and jingle bells aside, what is Christmas but a time to deepen our -appreciation of the great mystery of the Incarnation, the Word made Flesh, coming to dwell among us.   The Incarnation reminds us that there is nothing in our human experience except sin that is unfamiliar to God, for in Jesus the Christ, God has lived and died much as we do.  Thus Christmas is about Emmanuel, God with us, knowing our human joys and especially experiencing our sufferings and our sorrows.   Thus Christmas is not only for children, it is for adults and especially those who are presently suffering in an

Tis the week before Christmas and all through the house every creature is stirring including the mouse.  The manger is placed near the chimney with care, in hopes baby Jesus soon will lay there. The children are nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of shepherds dance in their heads. The hearth hangs three stockings of peace, hope and love, over which there flies a snow-white dove. And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, have just settled our brains for a long night’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, we sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. 

December 18, 2016 Fourth Sunday of Advent Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

On December 17th, a shift in focus takes place in our readings and prayers, moving from emphasis on the Second Coming of Christ, to the more immediate preparation for the celebration of his first coming at Christmas. Beginning on the 17th, the “O” antiphons, familiar to us as the verses of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” appear one for each day in the daily prayers of the Church until the 24th. Now it is time to set up mangers and trees and prepare the lights to be lit on the evening of the 24th of December and to stay lit through to the end of the Christmas Season on January 9th.  Keeping Christ in Christmas is more than being able to say “Merry Christmas” rather than "Happy Holidays"; rather, keeping Christ in Christmas involves keeping Advent and Christmas as distinct seasons of the Church Year and celebrating each properly and fully. Fr. Edward Healey

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December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is also a Holy Day of Obligation.  Many think that the Immaculate Conception is celebrating the conception of Jesus; however, it celebrates Mary's conception in St. Anne's womb.  Interestingly enough, the Gospel depicts Mary finding out from the angel Gabriel that she will bear a son named Jesus. Upon looking at today's Gospel, something struck me.  Mary was no doubt, nervous of what she had just been asked to do.  It is generally thought that Mary was a teenager in this Gospel.  Unwed women who became pregnant at the time were subject to stoning, so she had every right to be scared.  However, the angel says to her, " Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "  Mary's response is, "How can this be?"  She is nervous. The angel goes on to tell her that "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overs

Cousins ~ Fr. Edward Healey December 4, 2016 Second Sunday of Advent Readings for today's Homily To watch Mass in its entirety click The Mass

There are times when the gap between us and the ones we love is just too wide to cross.   Even when there is a bridge, crossing over to the other side just worsens the situation and increases the tension.  Tempers still run hot. We haven't come much farther in our evolution as a species than what's depicted in this cartoon.  Both sides still want to inflict harm - physically or emotionally. Still, there is hope.   It's Advent and time to not just bridge the gap, but to close it through forgiveness.  No need for a bridge.  Time to drop the clubs and open arms. Christ would have it no other way.  Deacon David Pierce   

Today’s Gospel includes: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.  And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”  The meaning is clear enough: a strong and abiding faith is like a rock on which we stand.   It holds up even under the most trying of circumstances such as poor health, and we rely on it to withstand the rains, floods, and winds that otherwise would wash or blow us away.   For many of us the Advent season and then Christmas doesn’t bring joy but sadness, regret, and memories of those lost to us through death or a parting of the ways – love lost.   Nevertheless, with roc