Reflecting on the Gospel and Living the Paschal Mystery To ponder and pray: Christmas is a season for traditions. We return to familiar rituals of our childhood. We renew the bonds of friendship through customs of gathering and greeting. And … Read More
Dear friends in Christ, Christmas is always a beautiful time to be with the people we love both at home and in our church communities, and I pray that these upcoming days of Christmas are filled with peace and grace … Read More
About Liturgy The gradual nature of seasons: Our secular calendar marks the days one season ends and another begins. Yet in our daily life, that line is not as sharply defined. Fall colors gradually turn to winter cold as, day by … Read More
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B If you’re a parish minister, today will probably be a marathon for you. With the Fourth Sunday of Advent falling on the same day as Christmas Eve, many of us will … Read More
About Liturgy Liturgy doesn’t lie: In today’s gospel, John the Baptist testifies to the light “so that all might believe through him.” In other words, he was to tell the truth about the light. At the midway point of Advent, today’s … Read More
Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B Leave it to Pope Francis to give us an authoritative papal document with the colorful word “sourpuss” in its official English translation. He wrote the original text of Evangelii Gaudium (“Joy … Read More
Advent has a twofold character: [I]t is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds … Read More
About Liturgy Roaring like a lion: Have you ever seen an ambo, gospel book, or another item in your church decorated with four winged creatures? Take a closer look. You’ll probably find a human, a lion, a bull, and an eagle. … Read More
Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the cities along the Louisiana coastline, a Christian church wanted to bring comfort to the people living there. The parishioners saw homes lost to flooding and people … Read More
Readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Beyond our focus on Mary and her sinless nature from the moment of her conception, on this day, I also like to remember her parents, Joachim and Anne. It’s as much their … Read More