I noted a while back that a new English translation of the Bible was published NT or in the process of being published OT and Apocrypha called the ldquo Common English Bible rdquo Like many biblical scholars I received a copy of the newly minted NT to consider and review Their website is

nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp The Gospel today is what we know as Matthew 4 18-22 nbsp This is an account of Jesus call to Peter and Andrew on the one hand and to James and John on the other - all four to follow me nbsp There are two observations about this story which deserve some reflection

Father Joseph Johnson in his homily for the First Sunday of nbsp Advent at the Cathedral of St Paul reflected on something that is very much in the air right now at least for me and those whom I know and read the continuing exteriorizing of life He chose to contrast the life of Facebook Twitter

Advent is preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ nbsp It is anticipation waiting Yet as the readings for the First Sunday in Advent demonstrate it is not simply the waiting for Christ at his first coming as a child in the manger but for his second coming at the end of time when all things

Knowing I could not master Wisdom but by the gift of God - and it is a gift of God to know to Whom I owe the gift - I turned to the Lord to entreat him Wisdom 8 20 Someday may all Americans be blessed to know to Whom to credit all our gifts John Kilgallen S J nbsp

In the technical breakdown of Pauline letters which are simply Hellenistic letters with a Christianizing twist they begin with a Salutation senders recipients and grace and then move on to the Thanksgiving with the notable exception of Galatians The Thanksgiving sets the tone for the letter