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 […]

It was Archbishop Fulton Sheen who once explained that only innocence can fully understand sin and its destructive effects on the human person. For although we can certainly and intimately experience the effects of sin in our lives (and those of others), our perspective on sin is one seen through eyes clouded (if not blinded) […]

Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-4, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 The Community Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM; it is a non-work day for the monastic community and we follow the Sunday schedule. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM). Today, the First Vespers of the Second Sunday of Advent takes […]

Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Isaiah’s triumphant vision portrays a God who turns upside down what most societies value, and a God with a predilection for the poor and powerless. If many of the themes at the beginning of Advent give us pause, this prophecy should really have us worried. These are not the […]

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11 Isaiah’s sublimely harmonious vision of Jerusalem belies everything we know of that beleaguered city’s history. The prophet looks to the eschatological, not the historical, city. Certainly nothing in our contemporary experience corresponds to this prophecy. Yet I’ve heard from so many contemporary pilgrims and tourists, visitors to that same city, […]