And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. – Luke 2:19 I imagine Mary’s Immaculate Heart like a beautiful jewelry box: decked with delicate flowers on the outside, yet still pierced with a sword (Luke 2:35). Like Christ’s Sacred Heart, it is on fire with love. Inside, her heart is lined with soft velvet, a sacred place to ponder the mysteries of Christ’s childhood. Her beautiful heart contains precious memories, prayers,…
Christ is nearly here! Just a few more days and our arms shall be filled with the Christ child. In today’s reading, we hear of Jesus’s first encounter with humankind. While carrying Jesus in her womb, Mary journeys to the outskirts of Jerusalem, to the hill country of Judah. In the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant—the most holy and powerful object in Israel—traveled through this very hill country on its way to Jerusalem.…
Rejoice, dear friends, rejoice! For Christ is on His way. Prepare the path, make it smooth and flat. Rejoice again, I say! Rejoice, dear ones, rejoice! Put cares and fears away. Make your kindness known to one and all. Rejoice with me today! Rejoice for Christ is near! At His feet we soon will fall. His love and peace shall guard our hearts. Rejoice, give thanks, ye all! Based on Luke 3:4-5, Philippians 4:4-7
One of the central themes of the Bible is exile and return. It goes like this: God calls His people, Israel, to holiness. They succeed at first, but then they fail through sin. Their brokenness leads them to hide from God and turn away from their relationship, leading to exile. But God seeks them out and they repent, turning back to Him. God brings them home to Him and the sadness of their exile is…
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. – Luke 21:27 Advent is here! While the days are getting shorter and darker each day, with the increasing darkness comes the promise of brighter days: “but for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays” (Malachi 4:2). Sun of Justice is one of the names of Jesus. In…
For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. – John 18:37 Happy Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe! Wow—what a title. Jesus, our brother who died for us, is the king of the entire universe. Jesus, who we receive in the Eucharist under humble appearances of bread and wine, has “dominion,…
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. – Mark 13:32 During these final dark, chilly weeks of the Church year, we turn our attention to the last things: heaven, hell, the life to come, and the Day of the Lord: the Second Coming of Christ. What a blessing…
“The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, – 1 Kings 17:10 Our Scripture passages about the poor widows who gave generously cause me to reflect on what I would be willing to give away out of love of God and others. I know that I do not have a perfectly generous heart. What is it that I am stingy or selfish with? Is it the “safe” space…
Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Mark 12:29-31 Love, caritas in Latin, sums up the purpose of our lives. Loving God and others is what makes us truly human. Love unites us to God spiritually. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “…charity,…
A “masterclass” is a lesson given by an expert to knowledgeable students. Thank you, St. Mark, for blessing us with a masterclass in prayer in this Sunday’s Gospel! Here we have the story of Blind Bartimaeus, the poor beggar who heard Jesus passing by and called out for healing. He had a dialogue with Jesus—that’s prayer! If St. Mark taught us in person, here are some high points he might hit. Approach prayer with listening…