As I have for the last two years I shall recall any good things from the popular culture that are harmonious or helpful to Catholic culture. There were many things past year and many things coming up in 2016 that…
Catholic Pop Culture
The Deeper Meaning of Christmas
Readings for Christmas, Dec. 25, 2016 In the days of Caesar Augustus, an era of peace was established in the Mediterranean world after centuries of strife. But this peace was forged by the proud ambition of emperors and the edge…
Welcoming a Child
Then [Jesus] took a child and had him stand in front of them. He put his arms around him and said to them, “Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not…
Advent Vocabulary
One of the gifts of our Church is the way that our rituals are folded into the rhythm of life. So it is with the season of Advent. In our Liturgical practice, Advent is really the doorstep to Christmas and…
Putting the pieces back together
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…
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…
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,…
Images of Christ in Those Around Us…and in Ourselves
I was looking through old photographs the other day. Yes, actual have-them-developed-and-hold-them-in-your-hand type of photographs. Many of the people in those images are no longer part of my life. Some have died. Some have moved on, and some I simply…
Advent: The Real Meaning of Christmas Lights
Readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2016 As fall moves onward towards winter we have places to go, things to do, people to meet. Yet as we go about our business, we notice the days are getting…