Epiphany, Year C Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 January 6, 2013 Christmas is a season to be very aware of Jesus’ presence in the world. Today we celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord but Christmas is really a season of epiphanies. The word epiphany primary meaning is “appearance” or “manifestation.” As we celebrate [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Christmas category.
Feast of the Holy Family Homily
Holy Family, Year C 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-8 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24 Luke 2:41-52 December 30, 2012 Christmas is not over. Christmas is too important to be a single day. We celebrate Christmas as a season from Christmas Day till the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which we will celebrate on January 13th. [...]
Christmas Homily
Christmas, Year C Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 December 25, 2012 O Come All Ye Faithful! Familiar words to many. It’s my favorite Christmas hymn. It also fits today. Look at all the people. There’s something about Christmas that draws many people out. We welcome all of you here, whether you are a regular, [...]
With Abundant Joy and Great Rejoicing
You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing. These are the words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading for Christmas Mass During the Night. Today we can truly know abundant joy and great rejoicing for as Isaiah also writes, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon [...]
School Visit
This morning I joined our school children for Morning Prayer. I asked them if there was an important day coming up to which they responded yes. Then, I asked what the day was. Lots of hands went up and I told them to say it aloud together. They gave me a very enthusiastic “Christmas.” I [...]
O Come All Ye Faithful
My favorite Christmas song is O Come All Ye Faithful. Even though it is my favorite, I only know one verse of it because that is all I learned as a child. For those of you who don’t know me, I can’t sing. When we sing at Mass, I try to make sure I turn [...]
It’s Christmas!
Today is a day to rejoice for For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord (Luke 2:11 – from Mass at Midnight Readings). Many people celebrate Christmas as a holiday without really knowing and appreciating its origins as Christmas. There was a Roman holiday on [...]
The Christmas Spirit
Many Christians wonder if the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. I share this concern. There are people who have never been to church in their lives who celebrate Christmas. I bet you could even find atheists who celebrate Christmas. Of course, they celebrate it as a secular holiday. Of course, other religions also [...]