PNCC

Humble Shepherds (C) – December 27, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

Today as we recall how the shepherds and our ancestors in the faith were looked down upon, we should remember to always treat others with love and respect. This solemnity should be an encouragement to the poor, the humble and the lowly today, knowing that God cares for them and may be using them in a special way.

During the Holy Mass on this day we pray for our Prime Bishop, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Seminarians. We also pray for sacred vocations to the Holy Priesthood, that those men whom God has called may answer His call and serve His people as shepherds. At a General Synod a motion was made and passed that a special offering be taken on the Solemnity of Humble Shepherds for Savonarola Theological Seminary, the seminary of the Polish National Catholic Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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XXXIII Sunday (B) – November 15, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

We can understand people’s shock on hearing Jesus speak about the total collapse of the heavens, popularly believed to be in control of this world. The context for Jesus’ words is also important, though. Today’s Gospel is part of a long list of comments He made after leaving the Jerusalem Temple with His disciples. His passion and death are nearing. The Temple was central to Judaism. It had been greatly extended and improved by King Herod the Great – at the cost of massive taxation of His subjects. Think of shock when Jesus says that not one stone of this will stand upon another – a prophecy fulfilled in AD 70, when the Romans destroyed it.

Gospel stories like this one may seem distant to us today, rooted as they are in terminology alien to our understanding of the universe in which we live. At all times, disciples are to be wary of giving allegiance to what may seem impressive now, but will not last. The list of these may include people, ideologies, wealth, technology…we can make the list almost endless. As we approach the end of this liturgical year, we are reminded that all of these are transitory. We are called always to have our hearts set on the kingdom of God. As Jesus reminds us, not even the Son of Man knows the day when He will return, but He does stress one essential thing: heaven and earth might – indeed, will – pass away, but His words will never pass away.

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Solemnity – Christian Family (B) – October 11, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

Today our Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christian Family to commemorate the great meaning of the family in society and in the Church of Christ. In these days, sad to say, we see the family taking a lesser and lesser role in the rearing of our children. The modern trend is to let the nursery schools, the preschools assume the responsibility of teaching children. St. Paul reminds us in his letter to Ephesians: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.” This means that children should obey their mothers and fathers as they would obey Christ.

The Christian family is truly a wonderful gift from God and that family are today can do anything but commonplace. Just as families are different, the needs of those members of the family are different. Being a Christian family is not the easiest way to lead our lives, but it is the most righteous. It requires truth. It requires work. It requires struggle and sacrifice. It requires these elements if we are to succeed a happy Christian family.

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Brotherly Love – September 13, 2015

From the Pastor, PNCC /

It’s one thing to put ourselves in the role of the Samaritan and hope that we would model his behavior. It’s another thing to put ourselves in the role of the man in the ditch and hope that we receive help from the person we see as our enemy. When Jesus says “go and do likewise,” He means to see the unseen. Love the unloved. And allow for someone to see and love you.

Teacher, what do I have to do to have eternal life? “My dear child, you must love Me with your whole heart and you must love your neighbor. And by neighbor, dear one, I mean people you don’t trust, don’t like and don’t want to be around. And by being a neighbor I mean you have to also let them be a neighbor to you. Let them serve you, as you serve them. As you do, you will know Me. You must let Me love you. Let Me look up you with mercy, pick you up out of whatever ditch you are in, and give you healing. And then dear one, go and do likewise.”

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