2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Who is Jesus for us? John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus' mission as the One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) delivered the Israelites from their oppression in Egypt and from the plague of death. The Lord Jesus freely offered up his life for us on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood which he poured out for us on the cross cleanses, heals, and frees us from our slavery to sin, and from the "wages of sin which is death" (Romans 6:23) and the "destruction of both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
It is significant that John was the son of the priest, Zachariah, who participated in the daily sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29). In Jesus, John saw the true and only sacrifice which could deliver us from the bondage of sin, death, and the powers of hell. How did John know the true identity of Jesus, as the Son of God and Savior of the world (John 1:29)? The Holy Spirit revealed to John Jesus' true nature in such a way that John bore witness that this is the Son of God. How can we be certain that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God? The Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus Christ known to us through the gift of faith. God gives us freely of his Spirit that we may comprehend - with enlightened minds and eyes of faith - the great mystery and plan of God to unite all things in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Let your Spirit be aflame in my heart that I may joyfully seek to do your will in all things.
Have a Blessed and Joyful Week
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Who is Jesus for us? John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus' mission as the One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) delivered the Israelites from their oppression in Egypt and from the plague of death. The Lord Jesus freely offered up his life for us on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood which he poured out for us on the cross cleanses, heals, and frees us from our slavery to sin, and from the "wages of sin which is death" (Romans 6:23) and the "destruction of both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
It is significant that John was the son of the priest, Zachariah, who participated in the daily sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29). In Jesus, John saw the true and only sacrifice which could deliver us from the bondage of sin, death, and the powers of hell. How did John know the true identity of Jesus, as the Son of God and Savior of the world (John 1:29)? The Holy Spirit revealed to John Jesus' true nature in such a way that John bore witness that this is the Son of God. How can we be certain that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God? The Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus Christ known to us through the gift of faith. God gives us freely of his Spirit that we may comprehend - with enlightened minds and eyes of faith - the great mystery and plan of God to unite all things in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Let your Spirit be aflame in my heart that I may joyfully seek to do your will in all things.
Have a Blessed and Joyful Week
Our Lady Of Grace Romney
W V
Next week’s readings:
Next week’s readings: Acts of the Apostles 3: 13-15, 17-19; Psalm 4: 2, 4, 7-8, 9; 1 John 2: 1-5a; Luke 24: 35-48
Father William K. Matheny, Jr.
Father Bill hails from Saint Albans, West Virginia. He is the oldest of seven children. He credits his Catholic school education as his salvation. After graduating from college, he served in the U.S. Army and worked with the Federal Government. As a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, he was selected as "First U.S. Army NCO of the Year" for 1987. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he realized he could no longer run away from the call to priesthood. He graduated from theological school in Columbus, Ohio, in May 1996 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston on June 1, 1996. He has served in parishes in the following towns: Beckley, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Bluefield, Princeton, Wheeling, and Glen Dale. His hobbies are sports, especially basketball, tennis, and walking; Sudoku puzzles; reading; and trivia games. Fr. Bill was a contestant on the ABC-TV nighttime version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" on April 1, 2001 and the syndicated show "Jeopardy!" on June 11, 2013. He has served as pastor / administrator of Assumption Parish since August 20, 2013 and Ourlady of Grace Romney WV since February 12th 2015. Father Bill thoroughly loves the parishioners and the friendly townspeople of Keyser and Romney West Virginia