It’s late in the calendar year. The darkness increases as we draw nearer to winter, but on this first day of Advent—the very first day of our Church year—we are called to wake up early, while it is still dark. “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw…
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In a special way, we recognize our role as subjects who have the honor and privilege of helping to bring about the Kingdom of Christ here on earth. Jesus spoke of His Kingdom often. Sometimes He spoke of it directly: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15).…
If you had a tiny seed—say an apple seed—and you wanted it to grow into a strong tree, full of good apples, what would you do? First, you’d find a sunny spot with rich soil for planting. A place protected from harsh winds. You’d water and feed it. You’d cultivate the soil around it to keep the weeds from stealing its nourishment. You’d protect it from attacks of pests. After several years of this loving…
Today’s Scripture readings continue our theme from last week of keeping our eyes and hearts set on heaven. The first reading tells how the Jewish people in Egypt were prepared for their Exodus. They were to eat their Passover as those ready to leave their homes in Egypt and allow God to deliver them: “This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand,…
Scripture tells us that St. Mary Magdalen had a special devotion to Christ’s precious feet. She wept over and anointed His feet in contrition for her sins. She humbly sat at His feet, listening to every word of His teaching. She stood courageously at the foot of His cross, bearing the weight of His passion. What a humble devotion, to worship at the feet of our Lord. “How beautiful are the feet upon the mountains…
The Blessed Sacrament—Jesus Himself—is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). This means that, as Christians, our day-to-day living is both nourished and sustained by (the source) and directed toward being united with Jesus Christ (the summit), the Holy Eucharist. “The Gospel of God’s love…finds its highest expression in the Eucharist. In the Mass and in Eucharistic Adoration we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus…
How fitting that the first week after Easter Sunday is the Sunday of Divine Mercy. First we celebrate Christ’s powerful victory over sin and death, and then we celebrate His powerful mercy. Our call today is to accept and trust in God’s ocean of mercy and then pour it out for others. Divine Mercy means that God helps us when we are in distress: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit…
Alleluia! He is risen! Pope St. John Paul II said, “Do not abandon yourself to despair. We are Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” We are Easter people; hope is our Christian identity. We are not people of fear. We are courageous, hopeful, beloved sons and daughters of God. Our very identity is tied to the Resurrection. We are called to believe that Christ is truly risen, to feel it deep in our bones,…
“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Mt 2:2). There’s been much debate on the origin of the Christmas Star. Some think it was a comet or supernova. Others think it was a conjunction of planets. Planetariums even have “Star of Bethlehem” shows to explore all the theories. Whatever the cosmic origin, the star was from God. He placed it in the sky for a purpose: to guide…