A dear friend calls — her marriage is on the brink of despair. Another texts, “Please pray; I am losing my home.” Some of us feel the pain of estranged relatives or friends. Somehow, the holidays just magnify the pain. Shattered…
Putting the pieces back together
Trust Jesus Enough to Wait for Him
Doing the right thing in the modern world is full of challenges and difficulties: we struggle with our own limitations while being bombarded with troubles from all quarters. A globalized world with inputs from all quarters is sometimes too much…
A Faith Checklist
It is the Season of Christ’s birth and the end of the year which means it is a season of checklists. Dad has one, the kids have their list, Mom has at least fours lists covering everybody from her own family…
Rejoice in Hope
Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2016 Moses’ mission had taken him quite a distance . . . from the splendor of Pharaoh’s palace, to a stroll through the Red Sea, to wrestling with Israel’s stubbornness for…
Early Gifts
Are you excited? Did you get it? What, you say? Your gift, your early Christmas gift from Jesus. It was right there, in his conversation this morning, the third day of Advent: “Turning to the disciples in private he said,…
Are you ready?
Something wonderful also is about to happen to you. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. As you ready for his joyful coming? Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like…
The 10 Commandments in the Modern World Part 3 – Keep Holy the Sabbath
We Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath per se. The original Sabbath, still observed by our Jewish brothers and sisters, is Saturday, the day God rested from creation. For Christians, the Sabbath has been replaced by “The Lord’s Day,” which…
First the Fast, Then the Feast
Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2016 Christmas cards speak about it. Christmas carols sing about it. Even the angels at Bethlehem proclaimed it. “Peace on earth.” “The lion shall lie down with the lamb.” (Is 11)….
Praising God In Everything
I n today’s responsorial, take from Psalm 147, we are urged to praise God in everything because it is right to do so. We praise God wholeheartedly, not just with our lips, but with our songs and poems, indeed our…