Names are important All of us like to be called by our names It indicates recognition and even friendship We are annoyed when someone gets our name wrong We are embarrassed when we do not know or forget the name of someone we should know When others make fun of our name or deliberately misprono

quot But you promised rdquo Most parents have heard this lament from their children more than once A promise is a declaration that something will or will not happen A promise indicates what may be expected A promise demands and elicits trust The Scripture texts for the Fourth Sunday of Adven

The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin verb for ldquo rejoice rdquo The opening line in Paul rsquo s list of imperatives at the end of 1 Thessalonians captures the spirit of the day ldquo Rejoice always rdquo Besides the theme of joy running throug

If you want to drive a New Testament scholar crazy start talking about how we bring about the kingdom of God Such talk is both unbiblical and bad theology It is God rsquo s kingdom to bring when and how God sees fit Our task and privilege is to bear witness to and cooperate in God rsquo s work

Many people even some with extensive Catholic education confuse the immaculate conception of Mary and the virginal conception of Jesus According to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception Mary was conceived without original sin and so was prepared to be the mother of Jesus In this respect Mar

For most Christians the First Sunday of Advent is a sign of hope We begin a new cycle in the church year We look forward to celebrating Christmas and getting into the ldquo holiday rdquo spirit And we think about the coming of Christ and what that event has meant in our lives and our history Th