I hope you like our nativity display here in front of the altar. It really is splendid and I thank all of you who contributed to our Christmas flowers special collection and those who helped to put it up on Friday. You will notice, however, that the central figure – the infant Jesus – is missing from the manger; he won’t arrive until Christmas and we’re still in Advent for a few more hours. And so, like in the Wizard of Oz, I say, “Pay no attention to the man […]
It’s not very often that we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent one day and Christmas the next. The last time this occurred was six years ago in 2017 and it won’t happen again until 2028. As I have heard from so many, it seems that Christmas has come much sooner, even though it’s on the 25th of December, as it is every year. As we end the Advent Season and jump right into Christmas, allow me to reflect on the significance this time has for all of us.
Last Sunday, […]
Rejoice always! Today is known as Gaudete Sunday. We wear rose vestments and light the rose candle on the Advent wreath. Unlike the purple vestments and dark purple candles, which call us to repentance, the rose candle and rose vestments invite us to have a lightness, a joyful spirit as the end of Advent approaches and the celebration of Christmas draws near. Christmas one week and one day away; are you ready? The word, “Gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice” and, in today’s second reading, we hear St. Paul exhort the […]
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.” (Mark 1:1-2)
As we enter into this new liturgical year, we hear again today from the Gospel of Mark. As I mentioned in last week’s article, we will be hearing almost all of Mark’s Gospel over the course of this year since it is year B in the liturgical calendar. As we begin to hear from this, […]
Once again, Happy New Year and welcome to another liturgical year … another Advent … a new opportunity to prepare our minds and hearts for the coming of Jesus into the world on Christmas Day and at the end of time. How blessed we are to believe that the infinite, almighty, eternal God came among us in time. We are even more blessed to believe that his coming offers us the hope for eternal live in God’s loving embrace. Advent Season speaks of both of these comings and it’s important […]
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. …Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” (Mk 13:33, 36-37).
With these words, our Lord calls us to prepare us for his coming; he comes to bring us to God’s kingdom. As […]