The Word

We have just passed the winter solstice the shortest day of the year We will now enjoy a little more light each day Christmas itself is a feast of lights Trees are brought into homes and made radiant with brilliant lights yards are also illumined In other ways too our lives are aglow with lig

Honor thy father and thy mother rdquo We all know the Fourth Commandment We learned it as children and we may think that it was intended for children It was but probably more for adult children than for younger ones The Commandments were part of God rsquo s covenant pact made with the Israeli

Did Mary understand how amazing her child was Does any mother We love our children and celebrate every little thing about them but no one really knows the potential hidden deep within that squirming bundle of humanity True whenever a child is born there are always those who gather around and m

The feast of Christmas is so rich that we need three sets of readings to throw light on its meaning Even then we only scratch the surface At midnight we are struck by the contrast between a child in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes and the Wonder-Counselor of whom Isaiah speaks He who was th

We are at the midpoint of Advent the Sunday known as Gaudete the Sunday for rejoicing It was so designated at a time when Advent was considered a penitential preparation for Christmas Since penance is no longer the emphasis the Sunday seems to have lost some of its initial purpose But the rejo

In some parts of the country it seems there are only two seasons winter and road construction The excitement of a trip is often tempered by detours and single-lane traffic Major sports events political conventions or an upcoming visit by dignitaries also prompt the repair of our roads though

rsquo Hail full of grace The Lord is with you rdquo Mary was puzzled at such a greeting She was certainly familiar with God rsquo s mysterious presence in the Holy of Holies which made the temple in Jerusalem so sacred But this greeting was addressed to her The Lord was with her And she wa