Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

I’d like to once again out the focus on our first reading today. Let’s take a look at Jonah. When we hear his name, we think of one of two things. Three days inside the belly of a whale, or a character who brings bad luck wherever he goes.

In our first reading today, we hear a touching story about Samuel. It is such a familiar story, but we focus on the boy Samuel and often overlook the other character, Eli.

The three wise men have caught our attention more so than the other group in Matthew’s Gospel. The other group are the shepherds, and we have very few stories about them. I think the reason for that is because, in the Gospels, the shepherds are told everything.

Many years ago, Reader’s Digest carried a family quiz. It contained 12 questions addressed to parents. “If a teenage boy on a TV show kissed both parents, would your children consider this normal?”

As we approach the celebration of the birth of our Savior, I consider one of the most frequent assurances in scripture: “Do not be afraid.”

On this third Sunday of Advent, I think about John the Baptist. He’s a man unsure of himself. Somewhere along the way, doubt crept into his life.

It is no good trying to avoid the running around that we have to do for Christmas. It has become so much a part of our culture. The buying of gifts, the sending of cards, the decorating of the tree.

It’s the first Sunday in Advent. But no one really celebrates it anymore. The season has been swallowed by commercial Christmas. We come to church and note the purple vestments and sing Advent hymns.

Today’s Gospel tells us that most of the time, we get in trouble for doing nothing. I was hungry, and you gave me no food. I was thirsty, and you gave me no water.

A master was going on a journey. Before he left, he called in his servants. He gave each of them strange and extraordinary gifts.