As Roman Catholics, centered in the Eucharist, our mission is to live Christ's Gospel message to love, teach, pray, and serve.
SCRIPTURE:
1ST READING: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
2nd reading: Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
Can you remember the most important day in your life! Some might say, “My birthday, of course”. Yes, that is pretty important I would say! But that’s really not it, is it? Some might say, “The vacation I took last year.” Is that really it? Some might say, “The day I got my drivers license.” That is pretty important, don’t you feel?
…
Baptism of the Lord Read More »
We are just two/three days into a new year. New Year’s resolutions have been made and maybe, some, already broken. It is my hope and prayer that you will, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, make new New Year’s resolutions today.
We enter the new year with readings expressing a time of hope. Our first reading from Isaiah was likely written at the time the Israelites were released from exile and returned to the promised land. Truly a manifestation of a divine presence—by the mercy of God. In the second reading, we are reminded that this divine presence, formerly hidden, is now revealed to the Gentiles–even to those from the east –the magi.
…
O Holy Night is a timeless Christmas hymn that can touch us deeply. In the first v. we hear, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining
till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth.”
That verse captures the depth of the mystery we celebrate now: God loves us so much that the Father sent his Son to defeat evil for us and to be one of us. Together the Father and Son gave us the Spirit to empower us to continue the Divine Presence and lead others back into an intimate union with God, making his presence felt by what we say and do.
…
For me, Advent is more than a time of preparation and anticipation of the birth of the baby Jesus. It is the beginning of a new liturgical year—an exciting time when we move from one Gospel’s focus on Jesus to another focus or emphasis.
As you may know, each of the gospels have a different emphasis—Mark is the gospel of the humanity of Jesus; Matthew of the mission of Jesus; Luke of social justice and John’s gospel is one of contemplation. My favorite is Luke’s gospel, in part, because it is only in Luke’s gospel that we find the annuncition (the angel Gabriel’s announcement that Mary would conceive the Son of God) and the visitation (Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.).
…
4 Sunday of Advent Read More »
Despite its penitential overtones with shades of purple, Advent is really meant to be a time of joy. Paul tells us from his prison cell, “Rejoice in the Lord, always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” Zephaniah urges his community, “Sing joyfully! Be glad and exult with all your heart!”
Gaudete Sunday, the midway point of Advent, directs us toward joy and away from the more somber view that is so common through this season of preparation. Deep down, joy is what we want in life. The quest for joy is what motivates many of the choices we make. That likely prompted the question repeated three times in today’s gospel, “What should we do?”
…
3rd Sunday of Advent Read More »