1Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2,11-13; Jn 1:1-18 It’s the seventh day of the Christmas Octave; it’s the Memorial of Saint Sylvester; it’s the last day of the secular calendar. There is much to celebrate even when celebrating may seem too much. We have all had our share of holiday parties and family gatherings, and still there’s […]
Continue Reading1Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7,8ab,9,10; Lk 2:36-40 Where is the wisdom? The wisdom of this Christmas Octave is found in our responsorial psalm. We must give the LORD the glory due to his name. To give anything less is completely foolish. What is the glory due to his name? It is the glory of all the […]
Continue Reading1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18 “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Christ, the newborn king, was not welcome by the king. King Herod was deeply threatened by the news brought by the Magi. There was no room for any other king in Judea. If […]
Continue Reading1Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; Jn 20:1a and 2-8 “All peoples see his glory!” Without the witness of Saint John no one would see his glory. Indeed the Synoptic Gospels give witness to the King of Glory, Christ the LORD, but they do not have the unique perspective of Saint John, the Evangelist. Indeed, the gospels […]
Continue ReadingActs 6:8-10;7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4,6,8ab,16bc,17; Mt 10:17-22 “Let your face shine upon your servant.” “Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness.” We can be sure that this prayer from Psalm 31 was deep within the heart of Saint Stephen. Also, we can be sure that it is a dangerous prayer. If […]
Continue Reading25 Dec 19 The Nativity of the Lord, Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 Sing! Break into song! Sing praise! No less than six times does the Psalmist summon us and all the nations, and all the ends of the earth, to sing joyfully to the LORD. We have every reason to sing […]
Continue Reading24 December 2019 2Sm7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Ps89:2-5,27,29; Lk1:67-79 “Free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.” The Prophet John the Baptist would announce to all “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” This is the freedom for which we were born. […]
Continue ReadingMal3:1-4, 23,24; Ps 25:4,5ab,8-10,14; Lk1:57-66 O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their Savior. Come and save us, O Lord our God. “Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.” These words should resound with clarity in our ears, for we have prepared for the past three weeks and […]
Continue ReadingSgs 2:8-14; Ps 33:2,3,11,12,20,21; Lk 1:39-45 “O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” After a long time in the dark it takes a while for our eyes to adjust to the light. We don’t see too clearly […]
Continue ReadingIs 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab,5,6; Lk 1:26-38 “O Clavis David: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people to freedom.” What can open […]
Continue Reading