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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Do you know the difference between the Pharisees and the Sadducees?  We hear about these two groups of Jewish leaders all the time in the gospels.  They’re always trying to discredit Jesus.  They saw him as a threat to their religion and, more important, their status as religious leaders.  It seems that too many of them were more concerned about taking care of themselves than their people and they felt threatened by Jesus who constantly talked about loving your neighbor and caring for the poor.  So, they were united in […]

As we look around our world today – whether it is the ongoing war in Ukraine or the increasing tension between China and Taiwan or the political tension in our country surrounding issues such as immigration, abortion or climate change, or car jackings and even stabbings right in our neighborhood, we see so much violence and injustice that plague the world around us.  And, there is no earthly reason to believe that it can change.  If you examine human history, you will find that it’s been like this ever since […]

At this time of the year, we usually have a rash of kids catching cold.  What’s the first thing parents are told when their kids get sick?  Keep them home so they don’t spread their disease.  Our readings today speak about another, much more serious disease – leprosy – that had devastating effects on those who were afflicted with it.  And, unlike today when we have medication to treat it, there was no cure in the day of our Lord.  It is a disease that causes serious deformity and even […]

At this time of the year, we usually have a rash of kids catching cold.  What’s the first thing parents are told when their kids get sick?  Keep them home so they don’t spread their disease.  Our readings today speak about another, much more serious disease – leprosy – that had devastating effects on those who were afflicted with it.  And, unlike today when we have medication to treat it, there was no cure in the day of our Lord.  It is a disease that causes serious deformity and even […]

As we enjoyed the first taste of fall this past week with those brisk, clear mornings, here’s a wake-up call: today, the 25^th of September, is only three months away from Christmas.  Can you imagine!?!  Soon, we’ll be getting involved in our annual Adopt-a-Family and Christmas Food Baskets.  One of the many aspects of our parish that I have found so inspirational and edifying over the 11 years that I have been here is your tremendously generous response to all of the charitable appeals we have throughout the year, especially […]

“You cannot serve both God and mammon.”  We all know that Jesus is an excellent teacher and, on this Catechetical Sunday, we commission all of our teachers – those in our school and in our PREP, as well as you parents, the primary teachers of your children – to follow the example of teaching as Jesus did.  His lesson today is summarized in the last line of today’s gospel passage:  you cannot serve both God and mammon.  We all know who God is and how we are to serve him: […]

Did any of you fly anywhere this summer and lose your luggage?  I didn’t have the occasion to fly recently but I’ve lost my luggage a few times over the years and, as those of you who have had it happen to you know, it’s a very frustrating experience.  Unfortunately, it seems to be even more prevalent now for a variety of reasons and reclaiming your luggage seems to get harder and harder.

It’s sad when anything – or anyone – is lost.  And yet, it seems that there are millions […]