The New Testament, in general, and the gospels, in particular, can be very frustrating reading. They provide just enough information about Jesus and his companions to fascinate us but not enough to reveal who they were and what they felt. This is not an accident, none of New Testament writings are biographies in the modern sense. Yet sometimes we do get a glimpse of the person behind the text. Today we see a bit of the real John the Baptist.
Continue reading “Homily – 3rd Sunday of Advent (Fr. Smith)”
Community Mass – 3rd Sunday of Advent
On Sunday, December 1, 2022, join us in person or online to celebrate Gaudete Sunday.
Our current Sunday Mass times are:
- 9 AM EDT – Morning Mass
- 11:15 AM EDT – Community Mass
- 7 PM EDT – Evening Mass
Watch the video live by clicking in the window above.
Automated closed captioning is available.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel stcharlesbklyn at this link to watch on your Internet enabled TV or viewing device.
Today’s readings will be from Cycle A.
Entrance: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – 395
Readings/Responsorial Psalm – 997
Offertory: Wait for the Lord – 406
Communion: Christ, Be Our Light! – 590
Closing: People Look East – 409
The Gather 3rd Edition Hymnal/Missals are available for use in the church – pick one up as you enter and return it after Mass. Instructions on how to use the hymnal missal are available here: https://www.stcharlesbklyn.org/hymnal-missal/ .
Today’s readings are also available to read online at the USCCB website https://bible.usccb.org .
- Support our Parish – Please contribute to our General Collection online here.
- Help us support Catholic Charities Food Pantries in Brooklyn and Queens online
Pastor’s Christmas Letter and Mass Schedule
Please be on the lookout for Fr. Bill’s Christmas letter in the mail. An electronic copy is available here. It includes our Christmas Mass schedule, which is also listed below:
- We will have a Vigil Mass on Saturday, December 24 at 5 PM.
- On Christmas day, Sunday, December 25, we will have Masses at 9 AM and 11:15 AM.
- There will be no 7 PM Mass on Christmas day.
Reconciliation Monday, December 19
December 19 is Reconciliation Monday in the Diocese of Brooklyn as well as the Archdiocese of New York. Churches will be opened for extended hours to help those who have been away from the Sacrament of Confession / Reconciliation / Penance for a while, return to the practice of our faith.
At St. Charles Borromeo, confessions will be heard from 5 PM to 9 PM. Please note the times were incorrectly listed in the parish email on December 10.
3rd Sunday of Advent – Peace Fulfilling Love
Saint John the Baptist preaching in the Wilderness,
Pier Francesco Mola, c.1640, National Gallery (UK)
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
(Matthew 11:4–6)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Third Sunday of Advent
James 5:7–10
December 11, 2022
Last week, we noted that most of the authors of the New Testament urged their readers to be patient. They expected Jesus to return and establish the Kingdom and were disconcerted that it was taking so long. They also believed that acceptance of Jesus, who they thought was at very least the Messiah, would make their lives easier. Instead, they seemed to have more problems than had they not joined the church. To make matters, even worse most of the New Testament was written before there was any truly organized persecution of the church from Roman authorities and the stresses and strains came from within the church or family. We saw this last week when looking at Paul’s letter to the Romans and we see it again this week in the Letter of St. James. These letters are usually, if very incorrectly, pitted against each other but speak together with one voice of encouragement to the weary Christian: now as well as then.
Continue reading “3rd Sunday of Advent – Peace Fulfilling Love”
Friday Evening Prayer at 5 PM
Please download the worship aid to participate in Friday’s evening prayer, which will begin at 5 PM.
Instructions on how to join are available here.
Homily – 2nd Sunday of Advent (Fr. Smith)
It has often been said that “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” but a wise community organizer added to this “If it is really broken, don’t fix it, break it completely and start over.” To phrase it more politely there are times we must “disorganize to reorganize.” St. Matthew understands this very well and shows us why and how in today’s reading.
We meet John the Baptist in the desert of Judea. This is a difficult 20 miles from Jerusalem and a trip no one would make on a whim. Why would people go? It was not to receive a soothing message. He told people to “repent” Repentance is not reform, it requires acknowledging our brokenness and turning our lives around. Matthew adds “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew’s audience understands Judaism. The kingdom means the fullness of God’s power here on earth to be inaugurated by the Messiah. The change that he will preach cannot be understood through the philosophers of Greece but only through the prophets of Israel. Continue reading “Homily – 2nd Sunday of Advent (Fr. Smith)”