Israel in Egypt, Edward Poynter, 1867, Guidhall Art Gallery
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 22:20-26 October 25, 2020
The Jewish people knew themselves to be a people of the covenant. A covenant is more than a recognition that a relationship exists, but one so important that the terms must be clearly defined and accepted. It is more than a contract for goods and services, but a sharing of flesh and blood. A covenant includes a sacrifice in which the contracting parties share a meal as a sign of this union. Continue reading “30th Sunday of Ordinary Time – The Fullness of God’s Compassion”→
My first meeting with community organizers was memorable. A group of Catholic pastors in Bed-Stuy recognized that many of our parishioners were being displaced by real estate predators and that we wanted to combat this. When I entered the meeting room the lead organizer, who has since become a mentor and friend, looked at me and said, “Here comes the problem.” Continue reading “29th Sunday Ordinary Time – Fr. Smith Homily”→
On All Souls Day, we remember our deceased loved ones. A public Mass will be said at the church on Monday, November 2 at 12:10 PM, which will begin a novena that the priests of St. Charles Borromeo will offer for the departed.
We invite you to inscribe the names of those you wish for us to remember and pray for on the All Souls Remembrance envelopes found in the back of the Church. You will also be able to submit names and make a remembrance donation online at the following link, https://stcharlesbklyn.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/AllSouls2020.
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 October 18, 2020
This week, we continue reading the book of Isaiah, but we will move from Jerusalem around 700 BC to Babylon around 530 BC and the second person to use that name. Like his namesake, he believes in the sovereignty of the LORD, that the LORD works in history, and that Jews have a vocation to the world. He will however bring a distinct perspective and greater subtlety to his analysis and prophecy.
Please join us for our Community Mass for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, October 18 at 11:15 AM EDT. It will be a public Mass celebrated in the church and also streamed online.
Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here: October 18
As per the instructions from our Reopening Committee, hymnals, bulletins, and other handouts will not be available at the church. Please download on your phone or tablet, or bring your own missal.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-730437. Transcript:
As we look at the Scripture for this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we see that there is a common theme. I would describe that theme as an invitation in the First Reading from Isaiah, and it’s part of the first part of Isaiah.
As you might recall, Isaiah is made up of three parts, expanding over – covering many, many years. The first part is Isaiah responding to the invitation of God to become God’s spokesperson. As that part of Isaiah then progresses, there is an awareness of struggle on the part of the people, and Isaiah is addressing that struggle. It is a struggle that has caused the people in a sense to become very down-hearted.
And so when you come to this particular section of Isaiah, the invitation is to this great feast. It is invitation to what can best be described as a messianic banquet: rich food, choice wine. But always interesting enough, on the mountain – they’re invited to the mountain. And in a sense the invitation can best be described, I think, as an invitation to a people who are burdened to dream: to dream of a better moment, to dream of what comes from hearing God’s word. Trusting in God and then dreaming of the vision of what God will bring into being.
