http://www.c-web-developer.net/ http://www.c-web-developer.net/images/c-web-development.jpg http://www.c-web-developer.net/ 88 31 Subscribe to this feed for Sunday reflections. There will be occasional updates on basic and small web site development for Catholics, blogging, social networking, and other topics related to web development in general. Indexed articles and blog posts can be searched in the web site's custom search at the home page. en-us http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-message-for-the-46th-world-day-of-social-comm Word and silence: learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak. This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization: both silence and word are essential elements, integral to the work of communication for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in the world. To Mary, whose silence listens to the Word and causes it to blossom (Private Prayer at the Holy House, Loreto, 1 September 2007), I entrust all the work of evangelization which the Church undertakes through the means of social communication. http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-message-for-the-46th-world-day-of-social-comm Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:28:00 GMT http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-message-for-20th-world-day-of-the-si Dear Brothers and Sisters, On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, which we will celebrate on 11 February 2012, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, I wish to renew my spiritual closeness to all sick people who are in places of care or are looked after in their families, expressing to each one of them the solicitude and the affection of the whole Church. http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-message-for-20th-world-day-of-the-si Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:35:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/epiphany-b.html In many Catholic homes, the traditional Nativity decor would be complete if it included also small figurines of the three wise men, the shepherds, some stable animals, and an angel atop the baby Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph. All those little statues around the Holy Family were mentioned in the gospels: the shepherds in Luke 2:8ff; the wise men in Matthew 2:1ff; and the angels in Luke 2:13ff. The stable animals were made part of the manger scene in the traditional Nativity set as additional symbols to help the family cultivate that atmosphere of simplicity, familiarity, and tranquillity experienced in many villages of old - especially during the Christmas season. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/epiphany-b.html Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:55:00 GMT http://www.news.va/en/news/the-child-is-our-salvation-the-popes-message-urbi- Christ is born for us! Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to the men and women whom he loves. May all people hear an echo of the message of Bethlehem which the Catholic Church repeats in every continent, beyond the confines of every nation, language and culture. The Son of the Virgin Mary is born for everyone; he is the Saviour of all. http://www.news.va/en/news/the-child-is-our-salvation-the-popes-message-urbi- Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:55:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/christmas-b.html In a sermon for Christmas, St. Bernard, a Cistercian abbot in the beginning of the second millenium, describes the Christmas mystery as follows - a little child has been given to us, but in Him dwells all the fullness of a divine nature; the smaller He became through His human nature the greater was His goodness; the more He lowered Himself for us, the dearer He is to us. What may humble our proud human minds, is the challenge to have faith in this little Child, who has this fullness of divinity, this fullness of God's Wisdom on both the known and unknown universe, encompassed in the very lowliness of a human baby, born of a simple maiden from Nazareth. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/christmas-b.html Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:08:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/4th-sun-advent-b.html Faith and obedience to God is a virtue we need to practice more in our present times. Even with all the advancements in science and technology, the human heart has basically remained the same (still in need of redemption from God). We inherited a heart from Adam and Eve - one that disobeyed God and chose to do what is against His will. But God did not give up on us. He chose Mary (conceived without sin - the Immaculate Conception and the Immaculate Heart), to bring back into the world the virtues of obedience, purity, faith and confidence in God. This simple maiden, this humble virgin from Nazareth, became the instrument by which God will place back in the heart of humanity His Word - a Word that speaks the golden rule, to lead us back to a Life in union with God. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/4th-sun-advent-b.html Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:28:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/3rd-sun-advent-b.html The 3rd Sunday of Advent lights the rose-colored candle in the liturgical wreath found in the Mass. The candle is colored rose to signify the spirit of joyful anticipation, for Christmas would just be two weeks away. After two Sundays of dark purple shaded candles lit in the Mass, we now have a lighter shade in the color rose. Three Advent candles are now lit; more "light" is approaching with the last candle on December 18. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/3rd-sun-advent-b.html Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:28:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/2nd-sun-advent-b.html The first reading from the book of Isaiah refers us to the first coming of our Lord Jesus, with a prefigurement to the person of John the Baptist. The second reading from the second letter of Peter reminds us of Christ coming again - a second Advent, which the reading describes in cataclysmic terms: "the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire". Finally, the gospel describes how the prophet John prepared the way for Jesus - baptizing the people of Israel and leading them to repent and seek God's forgiveness for their infidelity. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/2nd-sun-advent-b.html Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:08:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/1st-sun-advent-b.html The prophets of Israel, up to the last prophet before Christ (John the Baptist), all shared a common theme in their preaching: repentance and conversion of heart. Jesus, in the gospel of Mark (Mark 1:15) repeats this same message of the prophets, and adds the call to His people to have faith that God's kingdom is already in their midst. If we reflect on these messages of the prophets and of Jesus, we can see and evaluate how much we have responded to their call to a change of heart - from one that is too engrossed in temporal and secular concerns, to one that is directed towards the one thing necessary. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/advent/1st-sun-advent-b.html Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:08:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/34th-sun-a.html It is not easy to make Jesus the King of our Hearts. But it is possible if we resolve not to make a day pass without at least saying a short prayer or making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. We must be careful not to be "drowned in the world" as the holy monks and fathers of Eastern Christianity teach. We know that we are "drowned in the world" when our hearts are only occupied with secular and temporal concerns. But if we take time to listen to God with an open heart and practice works of mercy, then we will be more assured of the Father's blessing. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/34th-sun-a.html Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:28:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/33rd-sun-a.html Each of us has been given gifts and talents by the Lord. The majority have them in their personality or character; some have them in artistic, musical or sports abilities; and others apply their gifts by how they live their Catholic vocation. As we read the parable more closely, we will learn the lesson to really make good use of all God's gifts to us: making them yield for His glory, and for the benefit of others. When we read the last part of the parable, we will understand the seriousness of not placing our gifts in God's service: wasting our time and misusing our freedom to engage in pursuits that do not please the Lord and give joy to others. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/33rd-sun-a.html Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:08:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/32nd-sun-a.html The NRSV bible uses the terms "bridesmaids", "foolish", and "wise" in this Sunday's gospel. The Jerusalem Bible uses the same words, except for the term "sensible" for the term "wise". The New American Bible uses the same terms as the NRSV, but subtitles the parable as the "Parable of the Ten Virgins" and uses the term "virgins" once in the parable. The Good News Bible has simpler terminology: it uses the word "girls", instead of bridesmaids. But the crux of this parable lies in the wide difference between "foolish" and "sensible". http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/32nd-sun-a.html Sun, 30 Oct 2011 02:18:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/31st-sun-a.html Chapter 23 of the gospel of Matthew describes Jesus being at loggerheads with the scribes and the Pharisees of His time. Verses 1-12 tells of His attacking the Pharisees' hypocrisy and vanity; verses 13-32 has Him speak of a sevenfold indictment against them; and in verses 33-36 He tells of their crimes and of the impending punishment awaiting them. Jesus came into conflict with the scribes and Pharisees of His time, because He wanted to teach His people the virtue of humility - an advocacy He exemplified very well by His entire life. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/31st-sun-a.html Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:00:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/30th-sun-a.html What Jesus was presenting to His people is not something totally different from what they had always known. Since the religious laws of the people of His time were so numerous that they found it difficult to fulfill, Jesus just simplifies it. With just two commandments, Jesus was able to teach the spirit of the Law and all the teachings of the prophets. These two commandments are stated as: "Love God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself." http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/30th-sun-a.html Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:30:00 GMT http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/29th-sun-a.html Jesus teaches God's way to His people with a hierarchy of values different from the Pharisees of His time. For the Pharisees, it was their Hebraic Law above all that matters; but for Jesus, the Father's love and mercy is greater than this Law. This Hebraic Law (all the laws given by God through Moses and others handed down from generation to generation) emphasizes the importance of rituals and liturgical legalities. When the Pharisees tell Jesus that He does not follow this Law, Jesus defends Himself by saying that He came to fulfill the Law - meaning, to make the Spirit and the heart of man a matter of importance also. http://www.c-web-developer.net/reflections/ordinary/29th-sun-a.html Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:08:00 GMT