December 22, 2024 – The 4th Sunday of Advent – O Rex Gentium (O King of the Peoples) Following are excerpts from and links to the Mass Readings for the day. Micah 5:1-4 – The promise of Bethlehem. “But you, O Bethlehem o Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you […]
Category: Theology
Four Days Till Christmas – O Oriens
December 21, 2024 – Saturday, Four Days Before Christmas – O Oriens (O Rising Sun and various other English translations.) Following are excerpts from and links to the Mass Readings for the day. Song of Solomon 2:8-14 – A hint of God’s love for us. “10 My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my […]
Five Days Till Christmas – O Clavis David
Friday December 20, 2024 – Friday, Five Days Before Christmas – O Clavis David (Key of David – click on the link to hear it sung.) – Following are excerpts from and links to the Mass Readings for today. Isaiah 7:10-14 – “14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young […]
Six Days till Christmas – O Radix Jesse
December 19, 2024 – Thursday, Six Days Before Christmas – O Radix Jesse (Stock of Jesse) Excerpts from and links to Mass readings for the day follow. Judges 13:2-25 – The promise of Samson. “2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was […]
Seven Days Till Christmas – O Adonai!
December 18, 2024 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent – O Adonai! (O Soverignty), the second of seven Advent Antiphones. Mass Readings for the day follow. Jeremiah 23:5-8 – “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and […]
Eight Days Till Christmas – O Sapientia
December 17, 2024 – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent – O Sapientia (O Wisdom), the first of seven Advent antiphons. Mass reading selections and links to the total reading follow. Genesis 49:2-10 – The choice of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, who was called Israel. “Judah, your brothers shall praise […]
Bible Punch Lines
Bible verses read without pertinent context may be misleading. Sometimes, important verses are at the end of a passage and might be surprising, like a punch to the nose, not making us laugh like a punch line to a joke, but hitting us with simple statements of theological truth! Consider these two verses: Bible Punch […]
Three Christian Evangelists
Fulton John Sheen (1895-1979) was a renowned theologian and Catholic Bishop who became famous through radio and television exposure from 1930 to 1968. Life is Worth Living was on television in the 1950’s, and The Fulton Sheen Program in the 1960’s. Bishop Sheen taught theology, emphasizing the common ground all Christian faiths share. His programs […]
For or Against, Us or Jesus
The accusation, “You are either with us or against us!” has been used for centuries to divide and conquer, to build commitment, to arouse emotion, to win elections, etc. Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Senator of New York Hilary Clinton both used it in September 2001 to encourage the support of other nations […]
From Chaos to the Church
A Great Course In January of this year an email from The Great Courses offering big discounts caught my eye. One course offered for only $25, Foundations of Western Civilization, inspired me. History of Western Civilization had been my toughest course as a Vanderbilt freshmen in the fall of 1960, and, while the title was slightly different, foundations vs. history, […]