Exploring the depth of our prayers
We’ve heard the story so many times that it ceases to amaze us. Yeah, water into wine. Nice trick.
It was Jesus’ first miracle that we know of. But this amazing event had so many other powerful connections for me!
Our own wedding 40 years ago was such a powerful sacrament. I wasn’t Catholic at the time, but it really drew us closer to God and His Church.
Continue reading “The wedding feast”
We just jumped ahead thirty years in a single week. We’re now celebrating Jesus’ baptism, which happened at the beginning of His ministry.
Continue reading “The Baptism of the Lord”After all the people had been baptized
Luke 3: 21-22
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”
The kings of the earth shall bow before Him. All the nations shall sing His praises.
I’m not sure I see that happening. But I imagine that it’s because I don’t see things in God’s timeline or through His eyes.
All I can do is to get the ball rolling on my end. By praising Him every day of my life.
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Today is a new year, and the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. What a perfect way to start afresh!
This very phrase is something to ponder deeply. We don’t believe that Mary existed before God the Father and somehow gave birth to Him. That might be similar to Rhea being the mother of Zeus.
No, we believe that Jesus is God and is with God the Father. Which means that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is mother of God as incarnated in our world.
Continue reading “Mother of God”
So much of our prayers can be summed up in the Holy Family, and we should be honored that God gives our own families as a small image of the Trinity itself.
That’s truly phenomenal.
Continue reading “The Holy Family”
Today we are truly blessed. Our God has come to live with us, showing us how to live with each other and our maker.
I wake today with joy and gratitude. For family, for friends, for the many gifts we’ve been given.
Continue reading “The gift of Nativity”
What a wonderful time of expectation we have!
Continue reading “Blessed are you”When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
— Luke 1:41-42
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” — Luke 3:16
We have a colloquial phrase in American English: “baptism by fire.” I have no doubt that it’s based on exactly this biblical passage, although with a slightly different meaning.
Do I actually want to be baptized by fire?
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.” — Luke 3:4
On this Second Sunday of Advent, we anticipate the birth of God’s only Son to become part of humanity.
It’s an amazing and unique event in the entire history of the world.
Our mother Mary was, herself, born without sin. That’s why this feast day is about Mary’s conception, not that of Jesus.
One explanation that I’ve heard of this is that the Ark of the Covenant must be unblemished. And since Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, Jesus, it is appropriate that she also be unblemished.
So it’s about faith, not scientific proof. And I’m quite fine with that.