Jerusalem: probably around 80 years after the decree of Cyrus, allowing the Jewish exiles to return home from Babylon. A Second Temple, much inferior to the First, is more or less up and running. But the Jewish people remain dominated by enemies all about. If some of them inhabit the holy City, they do not possess it.
Homily of Prior Simon for the Feast of the Epiphany, 5 January 2025
The word “phenomenon” came into English from the Greek, and technically means a thing or fact perceived, the immediate object of actual perception. Today we are celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “epiphany” is related to the word “phenomenon” and denotes a manifestation of a supernatural being.
Fr. Prior Simon’s Christmas Day Homily 2024
God created the world ex nihilo, out of nothing, meaning that there had been nothing there before, of course, but also that the stuff that the world is made out of is simply nothingness.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, in him was life” – outside of him nothing at all.
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Dawn Mass of Christmas Day; 25 December 2024 (Isaiah 9:1-6); Luke 2:15-20
Lux fulgebit hodie super nos – Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us. This is the text for the Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass. The ancient Gregorian Chant setting for this is in the noble Eighth mode. The Antiphon is a slightly adapted version of verses from Isaiah Chapter 9. The Oracle of Isaiah Chapter 9 is one of the strongest, most explicit, most exalted of all the Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament.
Fr. Prior Simon’s Christmas Midnight Mass Homily 2024
Fr. Prior Simon’s Christmas Eve Chapter Homily 2024
In a few hours we will celebrate the birth of Christ, God's appearing in flesh among us. But now, liturgically speaking, he is still hidden within Mary, still undergoing baptism in her womb, though both of them probably can't wait for it to be over. In any case, for now we can still see only Mary and her husband Joseph. So let's look at them, as they sit quietly having breakfast in Bethlehem perhaps.
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Sunday 22 December 2024 Advent 4C: Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Advent 4C: Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
In today’s Gospel we heard words we repeat constantly in our “Hail Mary” prayer. The first part of this prayer exactly quotes the Angel’s greeting as reported by St. Luke in the first Chapter of his Gospel, verse 28: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Homily for Advent Sunday 3C, 15 December 2024
The prophecy of Zephaniah is perhaps rather easily overlooked; but as we glimpse from today’s first reading, it’s well worthy of our attention. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah, active in the second half of the 7th century before Christ. By the time he was born, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had ceased to exist. Judah remained tenuously independent for now, but its Kings indulged in religious syncretism or outright idolatry; and with their pagan practices went also pagan morals, including much shedding of innocent blood (cf. 2 Kings 21:16).