by Father James Rodriguez
As our nascent new year of ordinary time marches on, and the glow of Christmas grows fainter, Isaiah continues to cry out in our wilderness, challenging us not to become complacent, since “anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness.” Though he prophetically looks forward, at the same time he is looking backward, speaking as one who has already seen the promise fulfilled. Such is the trust of true prophets.
As the church and world return to the ordinary time of work and life in the afterglow of Christmas, God continues to nourish and inspire through His word. Isaiah, never too far away, continues to bellow the theme that in many ways defines his prophecy-vocation. God calls each person by name to His service, so that we might find there the freedom of being His children.
Last week, the readings illustrated God’s never-ending work of bringing light into darkness. Today, we look to a different element born at creation — water.
by Father James Rodriguez
In timeless and typically beautiful language, the Gospel of St. John tells us that “in the beginning was the Word.” The book of Genesis speaks to us of the void in which the Word existed, how before God gave shape or form to the world, there was “darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters.”
by Msgr. Joseph P. Calise
The preamble to Alcoholics Anonymous is a statement of who the group is and is usually read at the beginning of an AA meeting. It reads, “Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Sometimes people do painful things to others without intending or understanding it.
By Msgr. Joseph P. Calise There are two messages in today’s readings that strike me as particularly important. One is a perennial message, and the other — although always true — is especially pertinent to Advent. Once again, John the Baptist is at the center of the Gospel. This time, however, rather than being seen […]
by Msgr. Joseph P. Calise
While traveling through Manhattan, I occasionally encounter someone oddly dressed and proclaiming the nearness of the Lord. My natural tendency, and that of most other pedestrians, is to avoid getting too close.
by Msgr. Joseph P. Calise
One of the most popular games we played as children was hide-and-seek. The basic premise was simple: whoever was “it” had to cover his eyes and count while everyone else hid. His mission was to find everyone before they could return to home base and be safe. The warning signal to those in hiding was his post-counting battle cry, “Ready or not, here I come.”
by Father John P. Cush
With this solemnity of the Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we come on this Sunday to the end of the Year of Grace 2019. In order to understand this great feast, we need to put it into the proper context.
