JANUARY 7 th and 8 th , 2017 2 A King to Behold An "epiphany" is an appearance. In today's readings, with their rising stars, splendorous lights and mysteries revealed, the face of the child born on Christmas day appears. Herod, in today's Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. The answer Matthew puts on their lips says much more, combining two strands of Old Testament promise - one revealing the Messiah to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 2:5), the other predicting "a ruler of Israel" who will "shepherd his flock" and whose "greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth" (see Micah 5:1-3). Those promises of Israel's king ruling the nations resound also in today's Psalm. The psalm celebrates David's son, Solomon. His kingdom, we sing, will stretch "to the ends of the earth," and the world's kings will pay Him homage. That's the scene too in today's First Reading, as nations stream from the East, bearing "gold and frankincense" for Israel's king. The Magi's pilgrimage in today's Gospel marks the fulfillment of God's promises. The Magi, probably Persian astrologers, are following the star that Balaam predicted would rise along with the ruler's staff over the house of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17). Laden with gold and spices, their journey evokes those made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the "kings of the earth" (see 1 Kings 10:2,25; 2 Chronicles 9:24). Interestingly, the only other places where frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in songs about Solomon (see Song of Songs 3:6, 4:6,14). One greater than Solomon is here (see Luke 11:31). He has come to reveal that all peoples are "co-heirs" of the royal family of Israel, as today's Epistle teaches. His manifestation forces us to choose: Will we follow the signs that lead to Him as the wise Magi did? Or will we be like those priests and the scribes who let God's words of promise become dead letters on an ancient page? Scott Hahn St. Paul Center for Biblical Studies The magi left their familiar environment to seek and honor a Jewish king. How am I being drawn to discover God in new places and situations? Building Alarm Warning During the Month of January, all buildings alarms will be active. You may only enter during your regular scheduled time. Entering a building outside of your scheduled time will result in a false alarm. Violators will be charged the $75.00 fee. For outside of scheduled use, please contact the office 503-287-3724 Please Pray for Parishioners and Friends who are sick and recovering: Annice McCuller, Emma Busse, Mary Alice Enright, Laurel Battles, Alta Jones, Eadie V. Roland, Ronald Bradford, Luz Aviles, Hoa Tran, Celeste Ward, Pauline Bradford, Edwina Gonzales, Wilbert Hardy Jr., Brian & Patty Quenton, Mizose Cyprien, Judy Dwyer, Robert Wade, Julie McCuller, Stashia Nobile, Logan and Kathy Lacy, Pascaline, Harry Watson, Matti Lewis. Readings for the Week Mon IS 42:1-4,6-7 * PS 29:1-10 * MT 3:13-17 Tue HEB 2:5-12 * PS 8:2-9 * MK 1:21-28 Wed HEB 2:14-18 * PS 105:1-9 * MK 1:29-39 Thu HEB 3:7-14 * PS 95:6-11 * MK 1:40-45 Fri HEB 4:1-5,11 * PS 78:3-8 * MK 2:1-12 Sat HEB 4:12-16 * PS 19:8-15 * MK 2:13-17 Sun IS 49:3, 5-6 * PS 40:2-10 * 1 COR 1:1-3 *JN 1:29-34 Offertory Collection January 1, 2017 Teach us to give and see there is no cost Envelopes…..…..…..…..…..……….……. $ 600.00 Loose…..…..…..…..…..…..……...…….... $ 519.00 Online Giving…..…..…..…..……....…..… $ 150.00 Total…..…..…..….…..…..……………..... $ 1,269.00 Amount needed from Sunday collection. $ 2,068.00 Difference…..…..…..…..….…..………..... $ -799.00 Please pray for an increase in our offertory.
Transcript
JANUARY 7th and 8th, 2017
2
A King to Behold
An "epiphany" is an appearance. In today's readings,
with their rising stars, splendorous lights and mysteries
revealed, the face of the child born on Christmas day
appears.
Herod, in today's Gospel, asks the chief priests and
scribes where the Messiah is to be born. The answer
Matthew puts on their lips says much more, combining
two strands of Old Testament promise - one revealing
the Messiah to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel
2:5), the other predicting "a ruler of Israel" who will
"shepherd his flock" and whose "greatness shall reach
to the ends of the earth" (see Micah 5:1-3).
Those promises of Israel's king ruling the nations
resound also in today's Psalm. The psalm celebrates
David's son, Solomon. His kingdom, we sing, will
stretch "to the ends of the earth," and the world's kings
will pay Him homage. That's the scene too in today's
First Reading, as nations stream from the East, bearing
"gold and frankincense" for Israel's king.
The Magi's pilgrimage in today's Gospel marks the
fulfillment of God's promises. The Magi, probably
Persian astrologers, are following the star that Balaam
predicted would rise along with the ruler's staff over
the house of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17).
Laden with gold and spices, their journey evokes those
made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the
"kings of the earth" (see 1 Kings 10:2,25; 2 Chronicles
9:24). Interestingly, the only other places where
frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in
songs about Solomon (see Song of Songs 3:6, 4:6,14).
One greater than Solomon is here (see Luke 11:31). He
has come to reveal that all peoples are "co-heirs" of the
royal family of Israel, as today's Epistle teaches.
His manifestation forces us to choose: Will we follow
the signs that lead to Him as the wise Magi did? Or
will we be like those priests and the scribes who let
God's words of promise become dead letters on an
ancient page? Scott Hahn
St. Paul Center for Biblical Studies
The magi left their familiar environment to seek and honor a Jewish king.
How am I being drawn to discover God in new places and situations?
Building Alarm Warning
During the Month of January, all buildings alarms will be active. You may only enter
during your regular scheduled time.
Entering a building outside of your scheduled time will result in a false alarm. Violators will
be charged the $75.00 fee. For outside of scheduled use, please contact the office
503-287-3724
Please Pray for Parishioners and Friends who are sick and recovering:
Annice McCuller, Emma Busse, Mary Alice
Enright, Laurel Battles, Alta Jones, Eadie V.
Roland, Ronald Bradford, Luz Aviles, Hoa Tran,
Celeste Ward, Pauline Bradford, Edwina Gonzales,
Wilbert Hardy Jr., Brian & Patty Quenton, Mizose
Cyprien, Judy Dwyer, Robert Wade, Julie McCuller,
Stashia Nobile, Logan and Kathy Lacy, Pascaline,
Harry Watson, Matti Lewis.
Readings for the Week
Mon IS 42:1-4,6-7 * PS 29:1-10 * MT 3:13-17 Tue HEB 2:5-12 * PS 8:2-9 * MK 1:21-28 Wed HEB 2:14-18 * PS 105:1-9 * MK 1:29-39 Thu HEB 3:7-14 * PS 95:6-11 * MK 1:40-45 Fri HEB 4:1-5,11 * PS 78:3-8 * MK 2:1-12 Sat HEB 4:12-16 * PS 19:8-15 * MK 2:13-17 Sun IS 49:3, 5-6 * PS 40:2-10 * 1 COR 1:1-3 *JN 1:29-34
Offertory Collection January 1, 2017 Teach us to give and see there is no cost
Are you a single Catholic woman over 18, seeking a
deeper prayer life and open to God’s Call?
January 20-22, 2017 at the
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, Beaverton Convent.
To learn more and register call Sr. Michael Francine
Duncan at 503-718-5073 or go to SSMO.org
The Doctrine of Purgatory Purgatory may be defined as “a place or state in which are detained the souls of those who die in grace, in friendship with God, but with the blemish of venial sin or with temporal debt for sin unpaid. Here the soul is purged, cleansed, readied for eternal union with God in Heaven.” [Catholicism, George Brantl, ed. (New York: Doubleday, 1994), p. 232]. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that
“all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter joy of heaven.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church (New York: Image Books, 1985), p. 93]. The Roman Catholic teaching on purgatory was pronounced as Church dogma in A.D. 1438. The best way to describe it is that it is a temporary hell with the sole purpose of working off the temporal punishment for a person’s sins.
“Love is the guarantee that the life of the Spirit is growing in us. Love is the sign of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church and in the world”.
Thomas Merton
Wise men still seek Him!
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