The Third Sunday of Lent March 03 2024 – 10:30 AM Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Rev. David Justin Lynch Exodus 20:2-3;7-8;12-17 Psalm 19:8-11 I Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. Many people imagine that clergy are experts on Jesus. While we may have a bit more information than many people, no one, including clergy, really know who Jesus is. For anyone to say they know…
ASH WEDNESDAY – YEAR B February 14, 2024 – 7:00 PM Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Rev. David Justin Lynch Joel 2:12-18 Psalm 51:3-6; 12-14; 17 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, AMEN. One of the most profound gestures of my ministry has been marking foreheads with ashes on Ash Wednesday, beginning the season of Lent. The traditional words for that ceremony are, “Remember you are…
Along with fasting, prayer and almsgiving, Self-Examination is part of the Christian Lenten tradition. Jesus, being Jewish, could relate to that tradition as mirroring the Days of Awe between Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During the Days of Awe, Jews engage in introspection, reflection, and repentance. Jews hold that during this time, God judges everyone’s deeds of the past year and determines their fate for the coming year. Therefore, it’s a time…
SHROVE TUESDAY – THE FACE OF JESUS February 13, 2023 – 10:30 AM Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Rev. David Justin Lynch Exodus 33:11-23 | Psalm 27:1-4 I Corinthians 13:8-13 | John 1:14-18 +In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. The face is the “organ of emotion.” We constantly read facial expressions to understand what others are feeling. The face also contains other powerful clues. Our identity is captured in our features,…
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 4, 2024 – 10:30 AM Señor Sadrac Camacho Job 7:1-4, 6-7 | Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 I Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23 | Mk 1:29-39 +In the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN. Recently, and surprisingly at the age of 23, I’ve been going through some health troubles. I’m sure many of us here who are older than me understand the feeling of knowing something is wrong but not quite…
Third Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year B January 24, 2021 – 10:30 AM Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Deacon Sharon Kay Talley Jonah 3:1-5;10 | Psalm 25:4-9 I Corinthians 7:29-31 | Mark 1:14-20 +In the name of the Father, and of Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Have you ever procrastinated in your life? As a child, I believed that I had all the time in the world to accomplish my goals, which, truth be told, at that time…
Feast of the Epiphany January 07 2024 – 10:30 AM Saint Cecilia Catholic Community Rev. David Justin Lynch Isaiah 60:1-5 | Psalm 72:1-2;7-8;10-13 Ephesians 3:2-3A;5-6 | Matthew 2:1-12 + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. What is an epiphany? That word comes from a Greek word, “epiphainein meaning ‘reveal.’” For theologians, an epiphany is a manifestation, that is, a showing, of a divinity. The term theologians use is “theophany,” meaning an…
Christmas Day December 2023 – 10:30 AM Saint Cecilia Catholic Community, Palm Springs CA Deacon Sharon Kay Talley Isaiah 52:7-10 | Psalm 98:1-6 Hebrews 1:1-6 | John 1:1-5;9-14 +In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN. As we gather here to celebrate the Holy Day of Christmas, the incarnation of God’s Son, let us reflect on the words of today’s Gospel from John as John proclaims the greatness and glory of…