Most Recent Posts
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A Holy Way for the Weak
Monday of the Second Week of Advent: Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 5:17-26. Isaiah was graced with such vision! He saw the coming of Christ and all that this meant for humanity; his poetic prophecies are treasures. Today’s readings again present us with the call and response, the promise and the fulfillment, of our faith. Isaiah prophesies…
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A Place for Fire
Second Sunday in Advent: Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-9, Matthew 3:1-12. It is not in fashion to bring up damnation as a part of our religion. Heck, people look at you like you’re a superstitious nut if you mention Satan. The decades after Vatican II in America attempted to make Mass more “engaging,” and the catechism…
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Laboring for the Master’s Harvest
aturday in the First Week of Advent: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26, Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5A, 6-8. I have reflected in the past on the use of agricultural metaphors in scripture (see The Generous Harvest Without Cost, and Laborers for the Harvest), and today’s readings provide another opportunity to do so. The backyard gardener in me loves these metaphors –…
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The Call and Response of Faith
Friday of the First Week of Advent: Isaiah 29:17-24 , Matthew 9:27-31. Today’s readings speak to one another in a grand call and response across the liturgy. Truly, this happens throughout the scriptures, as Christ fulfills the words he gave the prophets. The Liturgy of the Word shows us in written/oral form what happened in reality for people…
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Pylons of Faith, Sweat of the Brow
Thursday of the First Week of Advent, Year A: Isaiah 26:1-6, Matthew 7:21, 24-27. The beginning of the first week of Advent has set our eyes upon the goal: Christ’s entrance into the world and – at the same time – the fullness of the Kingdom that will come. Today’s readings remind us that to…
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Feasting in Christ
Wednesday in the First Week of Advent – the Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle: Romans 10:9-18, Matthew 4:18-22. Today we celebrate the Feast of an Apostle – St. Andrew, to be precise. The readings mark his calling and celebrate the evangelical work of all the apostles. Feasts stud the liturgical calendar like cloves spiked into…
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Joy in Revelation
Tuesday in the First Week of Advent: Isaiah 11:1-10, Luke 10:21-24. When I read today’s readings, it’s hard to contain my sense of expectation for the Kingdom. Isaiah’s poetic language gives sparkling life to the visions God has revealed to him. Luke then shows us an intimate moment outside of his teaching and miracles when Jesus…
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The Ultimate Authority
Monday of the First Week in Advent, Year A: Isaiah 4:2-6, Matthew 8:5-11. Today’s gospel reading is repeated, in part, during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The final words that we, the faithful, say before receiving Communion are derived from the centurion in today’s reading. They are also some of my favorite words used in…