Perspective
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
THE OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Luke 2:16-21 The Book of Numbers provides the first reading. It is the fourth book, in sequence, of the first five […]
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Perspective
He, the Eternal Light of the World, is Born
Feast of the Birth of Our Lord John 1:1-18 The third section of Isaiah supplies the first lesson. To understand the reading, it helps to be aware of the historical […]
Perspective
Live in the Spirit of Bob Cratchit this Christmas
Charles Dickens writes in the preface to his famous story “A Christmas Carol”: “I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall […]
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Singing the Joys of Advent
The hymns of Advent often are rooted in biblical faith and filled with varied symbols and imagery pertinent to salvation history’s central themes — primarily focused on when our Savior […]
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Focusing on Christ Dispels the World’s Darkness
Fourth Sunday of Advent Matthew 1:18-24 The Book of Isaiah is the source of this weekend’s first reading. Isaiah was between a rock and a hard place, so to speak. He […]
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The Blessing of Four Full Weeks of Advent
What day is Christmas? It’s a delightful thing to think about. Easter, tied to the celebration of Passover, occurs each year on Sunday. But Christmas, tied to Dec. 25, is […]
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The Advent of Population Decline
As we await the birth of the Savior Child, it seems fitting to note that in many parts of the developed world, the lack of babies is a growing concern. […]
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David and Goliath
Certainly, in the biblical framework, an important dimension of leadership is skill and courage in battle, and David’s possession of these qualities is presented as unambiguously as possible in his […]
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Focusing on Christ Dispels the World’s Darkness
Third Sunday of Advent Matthew 11:2-11 The Book of Isaiah is the source of this weekend’s first reading. Isaiah was between a rock and a hard place, so to speak. He […]
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Jesus Was a Teenager Too
If I asked you to imagine Jesus’ childhood, you’d likely picture Him as a baby in the manger. But have you ever considered that Christ was once a teenager too? […]
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The First Notes: When Music and Prayer Converge
From the beginning, there was music. It signaled the parade of life — comings and goings, mornings and evenings, the chirping of birds, the clatter of dishes, and the croaking […]
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The Mission of Advent: Seeing the Holy Face of Jesus
News about a baby is always good news. For me, as an uncle, undoubtedly the most exciting moments came when I finally got to gaze upon the faces of my […]