Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Why do we need to repent of sin? The sinner wounds God’s honor and love, his own human dignity as a man called to be a son of God, and the spiritual well-being of the Church, of which each Christian ought to be a living stone. (CCC1487) To return to communion with God after having lost it through sin is a process born of the grace of God who is rich…
The Midnight Mass was the first Christmas Mass celebrated at the Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission when it opened three years ago. The tradition of the Midnight Mass continues to be celebrated each year on December 24th. This particular Mass during the Night brings out a sense of tranquility and solemnity far apart from the busy hustle and bustle of buying Christmas gifts and planning parties. The sound of Christmas hymns, the smell of incense, the procession and…
Prepare to meet the Lord Jesus Christ The Gospel of Matthew contains a couple of verses that have intrigued many people: “Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left (Mt 24:40-41).” These verses, along with a couple of other verses from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, which says: “For the Lord Himself…
My Kingdom is not of this world As we reflect upon the Kingship of Jesus Christ, let us recall the time when Jesus was brought before Pilate for trial; Pilate asked Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33) Jesus replied: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not…
The Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem At the time of Christ, the Temple in Jerusalem was a massive building; it took forty-six years to complete, and ten thousand skilled workmen were said to have been employed in its construction. According to the historian Josephus, some of the stones were seventy feet in length, twelve feet in height and eighteen feet in width. The Temple was adorned with gold, silver and precious stones; it was a magnificent sight to behold.…
Resurrection of the dead The Sadducees were an aristocratic sect which opposed the Pharisees. Not only did the Sadducees reject the oral tradition upheld by the Pharisees, they also denied the doctrine of the afterlife. The practice of a man taking the wife of his deceased and childless brother in order to raise descendants for him was intended to prevent a man’s name and family from dying out. However, by New Testament times, this custom was, for the most part,…
The Communion of Saints A saint is a holy person. A saint is called to be humble, repent of his sins, grow in virtue and continue the ministry of Christ in the world, as a member of His visible Body, bringing God’s presence, love and mercy to others. Since the 1st century the Church has recognized those Christians whose lives truly reflect the Gospel mission of faithfulness to Christ and love of neighbor. Saints who are officially canonized are held…
Daylight Saving Time ends next Sunday, November 3, at 2 am. Don’t forget to set the time one hour back in your clocks at home. All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that the faithful are obligated to attend Mass. Here is our Mass schedule for All Saints Day, Friday, November 1: Mass in Chinese at 12 noon and Mass in English at 7:00 pm. We will have a Mass in Commemoration of All the Faithful…
Be Persistent in Prayer! By using the parable of the widow and the dishonest judge, Jesus tells us about the benefits of being persistent in prayer. If the widow was able to get the dishonest judge to render a just decision for her against her adversary because of her persistence, how much more will God listen to His chosen ones who call out to Him day and night? Jesus assures us that God will see to it that justice is…
US Census Complete Count Campaign Bishop Joel Konzen, who is currently the Administrator of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, recently signed a resolution creating a “Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign” to increase awareness and participation of Atlanta parishes in the 2020 Census. The U.S. Constitution requires a complete count of the nation’s population every 10 years. Census data impacts decisions at the national, state and local levels — from congressional representation to the annual allocation of more than $675 billion. These…