FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Isaiah is the great prophet of the Advent season. We have heard from him every Sunday of Advent. Today, we hear him announce that a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel. It is such an important prophecy that we hear it quoted in today’s gospel. The hope that one day prayers would be answered and prophesy fulfilled would sustain the faith of God’s children through many a crisis as the centuries ticked by. It is hope that sustains us during our darkest times, isn’t […]
ADVENT COMES TO AN END
All of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” (Mt 1:22-23)
On this, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we all realize that Christmas is just a few days away! As we hear proclaimed in both our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and our gospel from Matthew, Jesus, the son of Mary, is also truly God: Emmanuel – that is God-with-us. […]
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
You will notice that the two Christmas trees that had been filled with almost 300 tags for women’s and children’s gifts at Mercy Hospice are gone – so are all the tags! Over the past few weeks, so many of you have so generously taken the tags and returned with gifts for these needy women and children whom you will probably never meet; in their name, I want to thank you! Let me also thank those of you who filled the school cafeteria last Saturday with gifts and food baskets […]
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Just 21 days left until Christmas! PREPARE! We see that the second candle of the Advent wreath is lit today. The countdown to Christmas continues. And all the ads on television, online and in the stores remind us constantly that the time is drawing short. Unfortunately, all they’re reminding us about is how many shopping days are left until Christmas.
Today’s readings give us a different point of view which we, as followers of Christ, need to consider. In today’s Gospel, we hear John the Baptist point to the emerging reign […]
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
This Thursday we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is under this title that Mary is Principal Patroness of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as well as the Patroness of the United States of America, Spain, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a holy day of obligation and we will celebrate Mass at 6:00pm on Wednesday evening as well as at 6:30, 8:00am, 12:10 and 7:00pm.
What does this title given to Mary mean […]
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
As we quickly approach the shortest day of the year, I’m sure we’re all noticing that the sun rises later and sets earlier every day. Perhaps your drive home to or from work is now in the dark, or you have to turn a light on for your morning routine. We notice this seasonal shift and we long for sunlight since need it for our physical and psychological health and wellbeing. Millions of people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately called SAD
Our souls also long for light. Every one of […]