Readings 1 John 2:29-3:6; John 1:29-34 Christianity can be quite fractious when it comes to articulating our relationship with God. While Pharisees, Sadducees–even some Essenes–and people who were none of the above, disagreed about the priesthood, doctrine and the books that constituted the scriptures, they managed to worship in the same Temple and observed the […]

Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Looking at the traditional Nativity scene, we usually see a pleasant pastoral idyll. There’s a good reason for the charm of such representations: they try to communicate something of the beauty of God’s graciousness. Today’s Gospel reading is stark by contrast and definitely odd. There we find a […]

Readings: 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18 As we round out the Christmas Octave, we’re returned to the Gospel of the Christmas Day Mass. One reaction could be, “Here we go again.” And, in fact, life often feels like that. Again and again in confession, for example, penitents talk as if nothing ever changes. In actual […]

Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 The community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM (preceded by the Office of Terce at 9:45 AM). It is a non-work day for the community and we follow the Sunday schedule. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament follows Vespers (5:30 PM).

Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 In the beginning as the Word…We’re familiar with that majestic and mysterious verse. It may be less familiar that in Hebrew there is no word for “thing.” Instead, all existent beings, objects, every element of the world around us is referred to as a “word”–not an abstract object, […]

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Luke 1:67-79 The narrative impact of the Benedictus follows on Zachariah’s nine months of enforced silence. His too narrow religious perspective did not allow him to believe Gabriel’s announcement that his wife would bear them a son. Throughout Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Zechariah, too, had to conceive anew his relationship […]

Note what I have said, that you ought to love. You fear the Lord of the angels, but love the little Child. You fear the Lord of majesty, but love the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. You fear Him reigning in heaven, but love Him lying in the manger. What sign did the shepherds receive? […]

Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:45-56 Whether you consider the Magnificat the words of Mary, the composition of the Evangelist or a prayer of the early Church, I believe it is the confession of a woman’s heart. One could, I imagine, interpret it as dependence on male patronage, but I don’t think that is what […]

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 Clearly John the Baptist is such an important figure in the life and ministry of Jesus that all four evangelists introduce his story in each Gospel. Saint Luke’s Gospel, which dominates this liturgical year, and his Acts of the Apostles provide the most information about John’s teaching, his […]

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26 This week the prophecies from Isaiah become more hopeful and less critical of our short-comings. I find that a welcomed relief. Of course, that does not get us off the hook and I’d be as stupid as I’d be irresponsible to forget the impact of last week’s admonitions. I feel […]