Scriptual Commentary

1st Sunday of Advent – The Work of God’s Hands

| Fr. William Smith

Photo by Courtney Cook on Unsplash

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
First Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7
November 29, 2020

There is a sense of desperation in today’s reading from Isaiah.  As we will see, it is justified and has a very specific cause. Yet, although specific, it has much to teach us.

We will read today roughly from Isaiah 63:16-64:7. This was written by the third person to use the name Isaiah. He was among the Jews who accepted the offer of King Cyrus, the Assyrian conqueror of Babylon, to return to Jerusalem as one of his colonial administrators. This was in 546 BC; he is writing about 500 BC. There have been so many difficulties that many of the colonists are questioning their mission. Isaiah will answer them in a very Jewish way.

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – 1st Sunday of Advent

| St. Charles Borromeo

Please join us for Mass for the 1st Sunday of Advent – Sunday, November 29. Cycle B of the liturgical readings begins today.

  • 9:00 AM EST Sunday Morning Mass celebrated at the Church – not streamed.
  • 11:15 AM EST Community Mass celebrated at the Church and also streamed online and available for playback. Instructions to view the Mass are available here. You can also watch the video via YouTube Live in the window above.

Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here:

November-29Download
Events, Videos

Community Mass – Thanksgiving 11/26/2020

| Mike McGowan

Please join us for Mass for the Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 26.

  • Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here:
    November 26.
  • Hymnals, bulletins, and other handouts will not be available at the church. Please download on your phone or tablet, or bring your own missal.
  • Please follow the instructions of the ushers, and observe all of the health precautions so that we can continue to worship together safely.
  • Support our Parish – Please contribute to our General Collection online here.
  • Help us support Catholic Charities Food Pantries in Brooklyn and Queens online
  • Annual Catholic Appeal – Contribute online here. Select “St. Charles Borromeo R.C. Church – Brooklyn” as the parish.
Bulletin

Christ the King – Homily (Fr. Smith)

| St. Charles Borromeo

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the church year, and we begin Advent next week. We will also switch gospels from Matthew to Mark. Mark will have much to offer us, but Matthew was particularly pertinent for this year. St. Matthew was a pastor of a new parish at the dawn of the church. We are a well-established one which will need to rebuild after COVID, but the challenges are strikingly similar. 

Matthew has shown us the importance of forgiveness, the practicality of the Beatitudes and need for a Church structure. These issues were urgent then and now. Today’s message may not seem as immediate, but you may find a longer look worthwhile. 

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Messages from the Pastor

Christ the King – Putting the Needs of the Flock First

| Fr. William Smith

The Seven Works of Mercy, Caravaggio, 1607, Pio Monte della Misericordia, Naples
(About this image)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Solemnity of Christ the King
Ezekiel 34:11–12, 15–17
November 22, 2020

Our reading this week is from the Prophet Ezekiel who uses a most intimate image of the relationship between the LORD and his people: the shepherd. It is found often throughout the Ancient Near East, but Ezekiel gives it a particular spin. To understand why, we need to look at Ezekiel’s life and times.  

Ezekiel was born about 622 BC in Jerusalem and died about 570 BC in Babylon. The dates and places tell his story. Jerusalem was situated on the trade route between Egypt to the south and whatever power was dominating the north. Never a mighty empire, the Jews were able to play one power off against the other to maintain significant independence for over three centuries.

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – Christ the King 11/22/2020

| St. Charles Borromeo

Please join us for Mass for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Sunday, November 22.

  • 9 AM EST public Morning Mass celebrated at the Church (not streamed)
  • 11:15 AM EST Community Mass celebrated at the Church and also streamed online. Instructions to view the Mass are available here. You can also watch the video via YouTube Live in the window above.
  • Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here:
    November 22.
  • Hymnals, bulletins, and other handouts will not be available at the church. Please download on your phone or tablet, or bring your own missal.
  • Please follow the instructions of the ushers, and observe all of the health precautions so that we can continue to worship together safely.
  • Support our Parish – Please contribute to our General Collection online here.
  • Help us support Catholic Charities Food Pantries in Brooklyn and Queens online
  • Annual Catholic Appeal – Contribute online here. Select “St. Charles Borromeo R.C. Church – Brooklyn” as the parish.