What do we do now?

"I am the gate for the sheep."

By Dr. Scott Hahn

Easter’s empty tomb is a call to conversion.

By this tomb, we should know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah, as Peter preaches in Sunday’s First Reading.

He is the “Lord,” the divine Son that David foresaw at God’s right hand (see Psalms 110:1,3; 132:10-11; Acts 2:34). And He is the Messiah that God had promised to shepherd the scattered flock of the house of Israel (see Ezekiel 34:11-14, 23; 37:24).

As we hear in Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is that Good Shepherd, sent to a people who were like sheep without a shepherd (see Mark 6:34; Numbers 27:16-17). He calls not only to the children of Israel, but to all those far off from Him - to whomever the Lord wishes to hear His voice.

The call of the Good Shepherd leads to the restful waters of Baptism, to the anointing oil of Confirmation, and to the table and overflowing cup of the Eucharist, as we sing in today’s Psalm.

Again on this Sunday in Easter, we hear His voice calling us His own. He should awaken in us the response of those who heard Peter’s preaching. “What are we to do?” they cried.

We have been baptized. But each of us goes astray like sheep, as we hear in Sunday’s Epistle. We still need daily to repent, to seek forgiveness of our sins, to separate ourselves further from this corrupt generation.
We are called to follow in the footsteps of the Shepherd of our souls. By His suffering He bore our sins in His body to free us from sin. But His suffering is also an example for us. From Him we should learn patience in our afflictions, to hand ourselves over to the will of God.

Jesus has gone ahead, driven us through the dark valley of evil and death. His Cross has become the narrow gate through which we must pass to reach His empty tomb - the verdant pastures of life abundant.

Dr. Scott Hahn is professor of theology at Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio. He was formerly a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986. Lighthouse Catholic Media has many of his talks on CD or for download.

Father Barron on Pope John Paul II

Father Robert Barron is in Rome for the Beatification Mass of Pope John Paul II. This is an excerpt from the upcoming Catholicism series that deals with the John Paul II and his impact on the world. Here is an article about the beatification by Father Barron. Lighthouse Catholic Media offers CDs of Father Barron.
• A life in pictures
• Bishop Lynch on John Paul II

From Dr. Scott Hahn

This CD is now available from Lighthouse Catholic Media.

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord

The Adoration of the Magi, 1617-1618, Peter Paul Rubens.

By Dr. Scott Hahn

An “epiphany” is an appearance. In this Sunday’s readings, with their rising stars, splendorous lights and mysteries revealed, the face of the child born on Christmas day appears.

Herod, in Sunday’s Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. The answer Matthew puts on their lips says much more, combining two strands of Old Testament promise – one revealing the Messiah to be from the line of David, the other predicting “a ruler of Israel” who will “shepherd his flock” and whose “greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth.”

Those promises of Israel’s king ruling the nations resound also in today’s Psalm. The psalm celebrates David’s son, Solomon. His kingdom, we sing, will stretch “to the ends of the earth,” and the world’s kings will pay Him homage. That’s the scene too in today’s First Reading, as nations stream from the East, bearing “gold and frankincense” for Israel’s king.

The Magi’s pilgrimage in today’s Gospel marks the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Magi, probably Persian astrologers, are following the star that Balaam predicted would rise along with the ruler’s staff over the house of Jacob.

Laden with gold and spices, their journey evokes those made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the “kings of the earth.” Interestingly, the only other places where frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in songs about Solomon.

One greater than Solomon is here. He has come to reveal that all peoples are “co-heirs” of the royal family of Israel, as today’s Epistle teaches.

His manifestation forces us to choose: Will we follow the signs that lead to Him as the wise Magi did? Or will we be like those priests and the scribes who let God’s words of promise become dead letters on an ancient page?

Dr. Scott Hahn is professor of theology at Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio. He was formerly a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986. You can spend the day with Dr. Hahn on January 29 at Light of Christ Catholic Church in Clearwater. Lighthouse Catholic Media has many of his talks on CD or for download.

Dr. Hahn on Catholic teaching

There is still time to register for a special all-day session in January with Dr. Scott Hahn, a former Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986. If you are unsure whether you'd like to attend, listen to this compelling talk by Dr. Hahn on Catholic teaching. It is only audio. The image is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. There are links below for the other parts if they don't come up at the end of each video.

Dr. Hahn is a popular speaker who has given more than 800 talks across the country and overseas. He is one of the featured speakers for Lighthouse Catholic Media. His books and CDs are available in the narthex at church.

Here is an article with the details about Dr. Hahn's visit to Light of Christ Catholic Church in Clearwater on January 29.

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Catholic convert to speak in January

Registration begins Monday, November 15, for a special all-day session in January with Dr. Scott Hahn, a former Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986.

Dr. Hahn is a popular speaker who has given more than 800 talks across the country and overseas. He appears regularly on EWTN. He is the author of many books on theological subjects, including Rome Sweet Home, which chronicles the process of conversion of him and his wife, Kimberly.

Hahn boasted as a young minister of having converted some Catholics to what he called a purer Christianity. However, he and his wife began to have doubts when they became convinced that contraception was against God's law.

The more he studied the differences between Catholicism and Protestant denominations, the more he became convinced that Catholicism was the true church. Hahn credits the Catholic organization Opus Dei with influencing his conversion.

The Spend a Day with Dr. Scott Hahn runs 10 a.m to 3 p.m. January 29 at Light of Christ Catholic Church in Clearwater. An optional Mass begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by registration and refreshments. Tickets are $20 each and include a box lunch.

You may register in advance at www.locchurch.org or at the Light of Christ rectory. Call (727) 386-9248 for more information.

Dr. Hahn's topics for the day will be The Lamb's Supper, Letter & Spirit and Why Scripture Matters.

Dr. Hahn is one of the featured speakers for Lighthouse Catholic Media. His books and CDs are available in the narthex at church.

The return of Matthew Kelly – on CD

Parishioners who heard Matthew Kelly when he came to St. Raphael may be delighted to learn of his new CD, Our Lives Change When Our Habits Change.

Kelly (left), the Australian-born motivational speaker who wrote Rediscovering Catholicism, visited our parish in January as part of a three-day mission in the Tampa Bay area.

Kelly challenges Catholics to wake up the sleeping giant that is the Catholic Church. He urges us to become a billboard for the faith by becoming "the best version of ourselves."

It is similar to the message he brings to secular audiences in his role as corporate motivational speaker tending to such clients as Chick-fil-A, FedEx, McDonalds, 3M, and Pepsi.

But Kelly was raised Catholic, and it is to those roots he returns when he embarks on missions like the one that brought him to St. Raphael. Recordings of Kelly's Catholic missions are distributed by Lighthouse Catholic Media. This new CD can be ordered here. The parish gets a donation back on any CD club subscriptions.

Parishioner Julie Musselman has made Lighthouse CDs and books available in the narthex at the church. Stop by the Lighthouse display for CDs and books from other dynamic Catholic speakers.

Three new featured pages

We've added three new permanent pages to the Saint Raphael Messenger.

• Catholic Video offers a selection of video from around the world featuring Catholic speakers who offer support and encouragement to Catholics living their faith.

• Who is St. Raphael? was inspired by the recent celebration of the feast of St. Raphael during the Children's Mass. Father Tim told the story of St. Raphael, St. Michael and St. Gabriel.

• Lighthouse Catholic Media offers detailed information about the weekly featured speaker available at the kiosk in the narthex as well as videos by other Catholic speakers whose CDs are available through the Lighthouse ministry.

Links to these new pages also can be found under Pages in the column on the right.