First Sunday of Lent-C Regardless of the year, the Gospels on the first Sunday of Lent lead us into the desert with Jesus. The focus, of course, is to reinforce the principle of self-sacrifice as a spiritual tool to strengthen our relationship with God. The desert and self-sacrifice are not comfortable places. There is a … Continue reading Into the Desert, We Go
Tag: Baptism
The Baptism of the Lord
As we end the Christmas season with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, some may find it difficult to link the two milestones in Jesus’ life in the same season. Christmas reflects on the infant Savior while his Baptism in Jordan happened when he was an adult. Upon further reflection, there is a … Continue reading The Baptism of the Lord
Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday
Third Sunday of Advent-C The tradition of the Church has a special name for the Third Sunday of Advent. She has named it Gaudete Sunday, which is translated as Rejoice. In previous times, when Advent was more a penitential season focused more on fasting and abstinence, the third week gave believers hope that the season … Continue reading Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday
When Hope Transforms into Reality
Second Sunday of Advent-C The Church gives us a reading from St. Luke to correspond with the Second Sunday of Advent. The beginning of the Gospel message makes clear that the person of Jesus is not some mythical manifestation but rather an individual of flesh and blood present in the world. St. Luke accomplishes this … Continue reading When Hope Transforms into Reality
Christ the King of the Universe
On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church draws our attention to Jesus Christ, the King of the universe. It presupposes the Kingdom of God is here but not yet in its fullness. It recognizes that Christ rules an eternal and universal Kingdom. A Kingdom of truth and life, a Kingdom of holiness … Continue reading Christ the King of the Universe
Baptism is Our Spiritual Ark
First Sunday of Lent-B On the First Sunday of Lent, it is customary to hear from one of the synoptic gospels about the Spirit driving Jesus into the desert, where he will be tempted and without food for forty days. It is fitting to hear the story about our Savior entering the desert again because … Continue reading Baptism is Our Spiritual Ark
Third Sunday of Ordinary Time-C
Both God and human, we claim our Jesus of Nazareth to be. All that is authentically Divine, all that is authentically human, wrapped up in one Divine Person. One of the great mysteries of our faith. Perhaps, the greatest mystery next to the Trinity. This perplexing thought is termed in theologically parlance as the “Hypostatic … Continue reading Third Sunday of Ordinary Time-C