Saint Anthony Catholic Church

  • Home
    • Our Patron Saint
    • Parish History
    • Sunday Bulletin
    • Links & Resources
  • Clergy & Staff
    • Clergy Corner
  • News and Events
    • Senior Luncheon
    • Vocation Cross
  • Liturgy & Sacraments
    • Sacraments >
      • Baptism
      • Confirmation
      • Holy Eucharist (First Communion)
      • Reconciliation (Confession/Penance)
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Holy Matrimony
      • Holy Orders
    • Liturgy >
      • Liturgy Committee
      • Altar Server Society
      • Lectors
      • Eucharistic Ministers
      • Art & Environment
      • Sacred Music
      • Liturgia Hispana
  • Faith Formation
    • CCD English
    • CCD Spanish
    • RCIA - RICA
    • Youth Confirmation
    • Adult Confirmation
    • SPRED
  • Ministry
    • Minister Registration Form
    • Committees >
      • Parish Pastoral Council
      • Finance Committee
    • Parish Ministry >
      • Respect For Life
      • Social Justice
      • Grief Ministry
      • Couples for Christ
      • Familia de Maria
      • Annulments
    • Group Ministry >
      • Youth and Young Adult >
        • Spanish Youth
        • Daughters of Mary
        • Squires
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Parish Community >
        • Filipino-American Community
        • Sociedad de Guadalupana
      • Living the Eucharist
      • Grupo de Oracion El Buen Pastor
    • Multi-Cultural Community >
      • Hispanic Community
      • Portuguese Community
      • Nicaraguan Community
  • Contact Us
  • FORMED
  • Old Events
    • Diocesan Campaign 2015
    • St. Anthony's 90th Celebration
    • Marian Festival
    • Polynesian LUAU
    • Parish Festival
  • Social Services
  • Photo Directory

The Epiphany of the Lord

1/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Life: An "Epiphany" of God
 
"Life is always a good. ... Why is life a good? This question is found everywhere in the Bible, and from the very first pages it receives a powerful and amazing answer.  The life which God gives man is quite different from the life of all other living creatures, in as much as man, although formed from the dust of the earth, is a manifestation of God in the world, a sign of his presence, a trace of his glory.  This is what Saint lrenaeus of Lyons wanted to emphasize in his celebrated definition: 'Man, Iiving man, is the glory of God'. Man has been given a sublime dignity, based on the intimate bond which unites him to his Creator: in man there shines forth a reflection of God himself' (The Gospel of Life, n. 341.
 
The opening and closing prayer, the Preface, and the readings of today's feast all work powerfully together to enable us to communicate the message of the sanctity of life.
 
Epiphany is about "revelation" and "manifestation," and that, of course is what Christ does. Not only does he reveal the Father to us, but he reveals us to ourselves. He shows us that this human nature of ours, that can be so troublesome and burdened, has in fact been renewed.
 
The Preface proclaims, "You have renewed humanity in his immortal image." That, indeed is "the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel" that Paul proclaims to the Ephesians in the second reading. As the alternative opening prayer says, it is a promise that God will draw us "to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete."  Death is no longer the final word for the human family, and this gift is shared not only by one nation or one people, but by all humanity.
 
The universal offer of God's salvation extends to those still in the womb. Epiphany not only tells us that there are no national or ethnic boundaries to God's call, but that there are no artificial boundaries between "born" and "unborn," "wanted" or "unwanted," "convenient" or inconvenient""
 
Moreover, the "epiphany" most needed in our time is the ability to see beyond the appearances of those who are smaller and weaker, and beyond the illusion created when some are declared "non-persons" under the law. Breaking through all this darkness and blurriness is the clear light of Christ, which shines on every human life without exception, bringing those lives God's love and giving us the sacred obligation to love them as well.
 
A Blessed and Prosperous New year to All! Fr. Ken

Vida: Una "Epifanía" de Dios
 
'La vida es siempre un bien. ... ¿Por qué la vida es un bien?  Esta pregunta se encuentra en todas partes en la Biblia, y desde las primeras piginas recibe una poderosa y sorprendente respuesta. La vida que Dios da al hombre es muy diferente a la vida de todas las otras criaturas vivientes, aun cuando el hombre haya sido formado del polvo de la tiera, es una manifestación de Dios en ei mundo, un signo de su presencia, un destello de su gloria. Esto es lo que San lreneo de León queria enfatizar en su célebre definición: 'El hombre, el hombre vivo, es la gloria de Dios.' Al hombre se la ha dado una sublime dignidad,  basada en el intimo vinculo que lo une a su Creador. "en el hombre brilla un reflejo del propio Dios. (El Evangelio de la Vida, no.34).
 
La oración de apertura y clausura, el prefacio y las lecturas de la fiesta de hoy todas colaboran poderosamente para comunicar ef mensaje de la santidad de la vida.
 
Epifania se trata de la "revelación" y "manifestación., y eso, por supuesto es lo que hace Cristo. No sólo nos revela al padre, pero nos revela a nosotros mismos. Nos muestra que esta naturaleza humana, que puede ser tan molesta y agobiante, de hecho ha sido renovada. 
 
El prefacio proclama. "Has renovado la humaniciad en su imagen inmortal". Esto, de hecho es "la promesa en Cristo Jesús mediante el Evangelio" que proclama Pablo a los Efesios en la segunda lectura. Como dice la oración de apertura alternativa, es una promesa que Dios nos traerá "a la vida donde tu espiritu da la plenitud de la vida". La muerte ya no tiene la ultima palabra para la familia humana, y este regalo es compartido no sólo por una nación o un pueblo, sino por toda la humanidad" La ofrenda universal de la salvación de Dios se extiende a los que aün están en el vienhe. La Epifania no sólo nos dice que hay no hay fronteras nacionales o étnicas al llamado de Dios, pero que no hay fronteras artificiales entre "nacidos' y 'no nacidos", "querido' o "no deseado,* "conveniente' o *inconveniente".
 
Por otra parte, la "epifania" más necesaria en nuestro tiempo es la habilidad de ver más allá de las apariencias de aquellos que son más pequeños y más débiles y la ilusión creada cuando a algunos se les declarara "no personas" bajo la ley. Rompiendo toda esta oscuridad y desenfoque es la clara luz de Cristo, que brilla en cada vida humana sin excepción, brindándoles a esas vidas el amor de Dios y dándonos la sagrada obligación de amarlas también.
 
Feliz y Prospero Año Nuevo, Padre Ken
ere to edit.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Fr. Rafael
    Dcn. Alan
    Dcn. Antonio
    Dcn. Joe
    Dcn. Frank

    St. Anthony Catholic Church Clergy

    Archives

    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
✕