St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
1 John 1:1-4  +  John 20:1,2-8
December 27, 2016

“…what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us….”

“God is love.”  There’s hardly a less controversial statement in modern Western culture than this one.  But if you were to press people as to the implications of this simple statement, you’d quickly see a divergence from the scriptural witness to this belief that God is, in His very Three-Personed nature, self-giving love. Continue reading →

St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59  +  Matthew 10:17-22
December 26, 2016

“‘Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.’”

Today’s feast stands alongside the feast of the Holy Innocents, whom we’ll honor in the Sacred Liturgy in two days.  To some, the celebration of these martyrs within just days of celebrating the birth of the tiny God-man might seem macabre.  In fact, the Sacred Liturgy is focusing our attention on the integrity of our Faith. Continue reading →

The Nativity of the Lord  ―  Mass during the Day
Isaiah 52:7-10  +  Hebrews 1:1-6  +  John 1:1-18
December 25, 2016

“And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us….”

It’s telling that the Gospel passage on Christmas morning is repeated just six days later, on December 31.  This Gospel passage speaks to the beginning and end of not just our salvation, but of God’s entire work of creation. Continue reading →

Late Advent Weekday — December 24
II Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16  +  Luke 1:67-69
December 24, 2016

“‘…the dawn from on high shall break upon us….’”

This morning’s Scriptures are beautiful in their simplicity.  The Gospel passage is a prophecy.  We’re so familiar with the Benedictus from praying Lauds each day that we might forget the words by which St. Luke the Evangelist introduces this hymn:  “Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying….” Continue reading →

Late Advent Weekday — December 23
Malachi 3:1-4,23-24  +  Luke 1:57-66
December 23, 2016

“…he spoke blessing God.”

In these last weekdays before Christmastide, our Gospel passages focus not on the Holy Family, but on Elizabeth, Zechariah and John the Baptist.  These passages come from St. Luke’s account of the Gospel.  It’s striking how much attention Luke shows to the events surrounding the birth of John, and how many parallels to and contrasts with the stories of Jesus’ birth that Luke makes. Continue reading →

Late Advent Weekday — December 22
I Samuel 1:24-28  +  Luke 1:46-56
December 22, 2016

“‘From this day all generations will call me blessed:  the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.’”

From the day of the Visitation, all generations of Christians have called Mary “blessed”.  Unfortunately, the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary is used by some to divide members of the Body of Christ against each other.  But we cannot fruitfully reflect on the mystery of Christmas without reflecting on the person of Mary, her blessedness, her maternity, and the One who is her Lord and ours. Continue reading →

Late Advent Weekday — December 21
Song of Songs 2:8-14  +  Luke 1:39-45
December 21, 2016

“‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’”

Today our Scriptures present responses to the coming of the Lord.  Both are worthy of our reflection and imitation, although they are very different from each other. Continue reading →

Late Advent Weekday — December 20
Isaiah 7:10-14  +  Luke 1:26-38
December 20, 2016

“‘May it be done to me according to your word.’”

Of all the contrasts between Zechariah and Mary in St. Luke’s infancy narratives, the starkest is found in their responses to the good news announced to each.  What makes Mary’s response to St. Gabriel even more striking is that objectively, the message entrusted to her was much more difficult to understand from an “earthly perspective”.  After all, what Gabriel announced to Zechariah was news which he and his wife had been longing to hear for many years.  While the facts foretold by Gabriel were unlikely from a human standpoint, they were not impossible even by human standards, and had precedent in biblical history. Continue reading →

Late Advent Weekday — December 19
Judges 13:2-7,24-25  +  Luke 1:5-25
December 19, 2016

“He was gesturing to them but remained mute.”

During the last eight days of Advent, which are usually called the “Late Advent weekdays”, the Gospel heard at weekday Masses shifts to the infancy narratives.  It might surprise some that not all four Gospel accounts tell us about the infancy of Jesus.  Only Matthew and Luke do.  In his prologue (John 1:1-18), John one-ups those two evangelists by accounting for the life of God the Son from all eternity in brief and brilliant poetry.  Mark begins his Gospel account (the shortest of the four) with Jesus already an adult. Continue reading →