Advent Reflections for 2018
The Epiphany of the Lord Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2; 7-8; 10-11, 12-13; Eph 3:2-3, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12 After the tree has gone dry, after the echoes of Christmas carols have danced their way out of our heads and the gifts and wrapping paper have been put away for another year, the Feast of [...]
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop 1Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1B-2, 3, 4, 5; Jn 1:43-51 Today we learn about the call of Philip and Nathanael. Jesus himself actually sought out Philip. With Nathanael, it was Philip who immediately thought about his friend and wanted to share what he had found with him. Philip [...]
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious 1Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9; Jn 1:35-42 Two of the basic tenets of Christianity are God is good and “Love one another as I have loved you.” The message is simple: if we aim for goodness, we avoid sin. Acts of goodness, charity and righteousness [...]
Christmas Weekday 1Jn 2:29-3:6; Ps 98:1, 3-4, 5-6; Jn 1:29-34 Those around me know that I am a seeker of God Nods. I coined that term while teaching second graders about their First Communion experience. I wanted to give them a tangible sign of God's love around them. I would give them examples [...]
Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nanzianzen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church1Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4; Jn 1:19-28Remain in Him….the epistle writer reminds us to have faith,to rely heavily on Jesus . Jesus is our anchor. He will give us the strengthand the hope that we need to help us [...]
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 We are often encouraged to place our trust in God. Rightly so...but as I ponder today's readings, I am struck by how much God trusts us to share in His work. Although abundantly [...]
Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas 1Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96: 1-2, 11-12, 13; Jn 1:1-18 Today is the last day of the year and it is an opportunity to reflect on how we have made Christ present during the past year. During this Octave of Christmas, we are still marveling at the [...]
Feast of the Holy Family Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52 There are some people who are born with an innate GPS or WAZE already hardwired for knowing in what direction to travel. While such a gifted talent is crucial in our technological environment where location is everything, [...]
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas 1Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 5-6; Lk 2:22-35 Simeon. What a perfect embodiment of Advent. His whole life spent waiting for “the Christ of the Lord.” Do you think he only lived in the future? Did he live in his own present? How do we [...]
Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1Jn 1:5–2:2; Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 2:13-18 As an English teacher, I have taught the use of literary devices in texts, in which light is often used as a symbol for truth. For example, in Orwell’s 1984, the protagonist, who struggles with finding truth in a [...]
