Advent
4th Sunday of Advent, Year AIsaiah 7:10-14Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (7c, 10b)Romans 1:1-7Matthew 1:18-24December 21, 2025 The Lord spoke to Ahaz to offer him a sign. One might wonder why God is offering Ahaz a sign. Judah is under attack. …
Read More3rd Sunday of Advent Year A Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (Isaiah 35:4) James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 December 14, 2025 Our season of Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare ourselves to celebrate the First Coming of Jesus at Christmas and we ask ourselves…
Read MoreA few days ago I received an email from a parishioner saying he had watched a bishop’s homily on the First Sunday of Advent and found it thought provoking. His email to me focused on one particular issue that struck him in the homily, the topic of when should the…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year AIsaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (7)Romans 15:4-9Matthew 3:1-12December 7, 2025 The nation of Israel had long since broken into two nations. At the time Isaiah is written, the two nations were defeated by their…
Read More1st Sunday of Advent, Year A Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 November 30, 2025 The birth of Jesus Christ began something new, our salvation. It was his first coming. Recognizing the new beginning brought in Jesus’ birth, today we begin a new year in the…
Read More4th Sunday of Advent, Year CMicah 5:1-4aPsalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)Hebrews 10:5-10Luke 1:39-45December 22, 2024 Those who have heard me preach know that my typed homily is seldom exactly the same as I wrote it. Once is a while there…
Read MoreIf we hear a message from a prophet of the Lord, we look for a message of hope. However, the messages received from prophets don’t always seem hopeful. They foretell of defeat. I’ve spoken of this recently when our first…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year CBaruch 5:1-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6December 8, 2024 How do you feel about the world today? There is war in the Middle East. There is war in Ukraine and Russia. There…
Read More1st Sunday of Advent, Year CJeremiah 33:14-16Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b)1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2Luke 21:25-28, 34-36December 1, 2024 In 24 days we will celebrate something wonderful, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. There is hope for Jesus comes to…
Read MoreWe are about to start a very busy weekend in the Church. This Sunday (December 24th) is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Then Christmas arrives on Monday. That means there will be the normal Sunday Masses. Then, at 4 pm…
Read MoreAs we approach Christmas, there are specific readings for daily Masses on the final eight days before Christmas. The gospel readings focus on the events just before the birth of Jesus including the announcements of the pending births of John…
Read MoreIn our present season of Advent, we are called to reflect on our readiness for the Second Coming of Jesus. This means we need to make a thorough examination of conscience. The color violent is a color that symbolizes penance…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)2 Peter 3:8-14Mark 1:1-8 December 10, 2023 Isaiah the prophet speaks of a voice that cries out. Today’s gospel speaks of a voice crying out in the desert. Isaiah…
Read MoreDefeated by their enemies, their nation and temple destroyed, many scattered in exile, the Israelites cry out to God, “Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?”…
Read MoreWith the new year just five days away, have you made plans for how you will celebrate the beginning of the new year? Will you make any new year’s resolutions? The new year begins on Sunday, December 3rd. I will…
Read MoreIn our first reading today (4th Sunday of Advent Year A), the Lord offers a sign to King Ahaz. He tells Ahaz, “let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!” Ahaz can ask for any sign,…
Read MoreIn our first reading, through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord offers a message to the Israelites in distress. “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers.” The message…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year AIsaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (7)Romans 15:4-9Matthew 3:1-12December 4, 2022 Our gospel passage today comes from the time just before Jesus began his public ministry during his first coming. It speaks of preparation. We…
Read MoreIn today’s gospel, Jesus speaks the coming of the Son of Man. Noah had been commissioned by the Lord to build an ark. The people did not know that a great flood was coming. “They were eating and drinking, marrying…
Read MoreIn today’s first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C, Micah offers the Israelites hope during a difficult time. It is written following the fall on the northern kingdom. The Israelites are worried what is going to happen…
Read MoreToday (December 12, 2021) we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, Year C. The normal liturgical color for Advent is violet (we often say purple). We use the color violent as a sign of penance, especially in Lent. Thinking of…
Read MoreToday, December 6th, is the Optional Memorial of St. Nicholas. We don’t know much about him. During our present season of Advent, the memorial of saints aren’t given as much attention. However, this year I feel inspired to use what…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year CBaruch 5:1-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6December 5, 2021 At the time of the event in today’s gospel, Jesus has already been born. Soon He will begin his public ministry. However, before…
Read MoreSoon we will celebrate the first Coming of Jesus with our Christmas season. Christmas is too important to celebrate with just a single day. We celebrate Christmas a season that begins with our Christmas Masses and lasts until we celebrate…
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