Christ the King of the Universe People often ask, what is the most important thing in a Christian’s life? The answer usually is God. This answer, though correct, is complex. But what does it mean when you or someone else says God is the most important thing (person) in my life? What do we mean Read more …
Category: Reflection
The WHY Series I believe in One…Catholic…Apostolic…Church”
The doctrine of apostolic succession—central to the Anglican-Catholic Church’s identity with the Church founded by Jesus in the first century—involves there being an unbroken line of bishops from the beginning of Christian history to the present. Christ conferred upon his apostles the original task of shepherding the earthly Church in his absence. As the Church Read more …
The WHY Series: What May Work to GROW our Church?
Community Everything in Church, and everything pertaining to healthy Churches and evangelism is RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS. All things are relational – cultivating and sustaining healthy and loving relationships. Our time is centered on community. In general, people no longer go to church because of loyalty to a tradition or group. In fact, many do not Read more …
FATHER POTHIN’S WEEKLY REFLECTION
The Banquet From this Sunday Gospel, the parable of the Banquet, we realize that Jesus knows all about empty places at the table, invitations refused, lack of interest in Him and His closeness. For us, in this nation, in this church body, the empty places at the Lord’s table, whether excusable or not, are no Read more …
The WHY Series: When the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, why do they still look and taste like bread and wine?
In the celebration of the Eucharist, the glorified Christ becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine in a way that is unique, a way that is uniquely suited to the Eucharist. In the Church’s traditional theological language, in the act of consecration during the Eucharist the “substance” of the bread and wine is Read more …
FATHER POTHIN’S WEEKLY REFLECTION
How far would I go for a friend? There was a man, sick of the palsy, in the town that obviously needed the healing ministry of the Lord. While he could do nothing about it himself, his friends wanted to be sure the man received the touch he needed and carried him on a bed Read more …
FATHER POTHIN’S WEEKLY REFLECTION
St Francis, a model for evangelism As is appropriate today on this wonderful feast, I want to talk to you about St. Francis of Assisi. But not the St. Francis who only sat passively in the woods with all the animals. I want to talk to you about the St. Francis who transformed the Church. Read more …
The WHY Series: St Francis of Assisi: Uniting and Healing Wounds
Commenting on the often violent inhumanity of man to man, George Bernard Shaw in his play “Caesar and Cleopatra” sums things up this way: “And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood, and create a Read more …
The WHY Series: St. Michael the Archangel: Battle Ready
Why is Michael our patron saint? Of the many angels spoken of in the Bible, only four are called by name: Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, and Michael. The archangel Michael is the most venerated of all the angels. He is the powerful agent of God who wards off evil from God’s people and delivers peace to Read more …
FATHER POTHIN’S WEEKLY REFLECTION
St. Michael the Archangel: Protector of the People of God… “MI-CA-EL”, (Hebrew) or “Who is like unto God?” was the cry of the great Archangel when he smote the rebel Lucifer in the conflict of the heavenly hosts. From that hour he has been known as Michael, Captain of the armies of God, the archetype Read more …