Deep Calls to Deep Roc Homily (2) – 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 2017
1. ATONEMENT: St. Anselm and his theory of atonement Thanks to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satisfaction_theory_of_atonement St. Anselm of Canterbury first articulated the satisfaction view in his Cur Deus Homo? as a modification to the ransom theory that was postulated at the time. The then-current ransom theory of atonement held that Jesus’ death paid a ransom to Satan, allowing God to rescue those under Satan’s bondage. […]
Roc Homily – 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 2017
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) One of the first occurrences in Leviticus of the Greek, ‘amnos (one of 3 terms in Greek that means ‘lamb’), happens in 14:1. This passage describes an elaborate ceremony in which the priest ritualizes the return of a leper who has been made […]
Smallness at Christmastide
Here’s a poem sent to me by John Staudenmaier, SJ today. It says it all. Merry Christmas! –roc,sj Gitanjali # 1 Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure.This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again,and fillest it ever with fresh life.This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales,and […]
Guidelines for an Irish-Existentialist Advent (1)
Let me know whether this exploration works for you… Many of the daily scriptures of Advent come from Second Isaiah (cc. 40-55) or Third Isaiah (cc. 56-66). Second Isaiah addressed exiles in Babylon about 40 years after the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. All the signs of God’s fidelity and favor had been demolished […]
Roc Homily – First Sunday of Advent Cycle A (2016) drei
There is only one war on Christmas… Otherwise, there’s only a war on Advent, my dear Catholic friends. Our season is Advent now. You know, purple or deep blue; ‘O Come O Come Emannuel’, readings from the prophet Isaiah. This is our season. It isn’t Christmas until the sun goes down on the 24th of December. Let’s […]
Roc Homily – First Sunday of Advent Cycle A (2016) zwei
FYAR – For Your Advent Reflection Matthew connected this passage to other wisdom parables in the 1st Sunday Advent’s gospel. Perhaps waiting has something to do with being wise, possibly strategic this Advent? The parable of the wise & foolish virgins 1. To awaken, remain awake = gregoreo Matthew 24:42f — 42 Keep […]
Roc Homily – First Sunday of Advent Cycle A (2016)
Be alert! Stay awake! Head’s up! For crying out loud, wake up!!! Egads! Is this what Advent looks like? It certainly got my attention. I’m not too worried about someone breaking into my community. Besides, there’s someone usually up at various points during the night. Matthew connects this rather odd and definitely threatening passage (chapter […]
Roc Homily – Feast of Christ the King 2016 (3)
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The way I hear this is: “Take it away! I don’t deserve this! Save me from the consequences of my actions! Help me escape unscathed and unchanged!” And what I find […]
Roc Homily – Feast of Christ the King 2016 (deux)
Luke 23:37f Christ the King: and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” Who rules? The Romans ruled the world then. And they didn’t take kindly to upstarts, did they? “Prove you’re greater than […]
Roc Homily – Feast of Christ the King 2016
Over the past two years of pre-election and post-election drama, I have wondered about the chances any of us have to repent, to really look at our own lives to see them more clearly. As I look at my own life, I don’t have a lot of hope about me turning to Christ any time soon. I […]
Deep Calls to Deep 