During the night prayer of the Church (compline) the prayer of Simeon is recited: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.” Simeon is saying that he has completed his bucket list. When we recite our night prayer we are asked to reflect on our spiritual bucket list. Are we… Read More »

It is easy to think of Herod as a monster. Only a monster could kill innocent children, right? But then I think of our own history as a nation. We glorify the Pilgrims — yet because of racism and greed for land within two generations the native peoples of New England were all but wiped… Read More »

“What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands…we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.” This is the opening of St. John’s first epistle. The apostle stresses that faith in Jesus is not a theory, something we… Read More »

In one sense it is pretty jarring. This is the day after Christmas. You would think that we would continue to “tell tidings of great joy.” Instead this day the liturgical cycle assigns as the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr. Why not continue to talk about angels and shepherds and magi and stars?… Read More »

The Christmas story has been told, performed, presented, acted out, staged every year for the past two thousand. It is a story, obviously, that bears repeating. The world keeps echoing the Christmas story through the ages. The combination of the ordinary with the extraordinary, of the mundane with the marvelous creates a compelling narrative. We… Read More »

There are masses assigned for Christmas eve, the vigil of Christmas, Mass at night, Mass in the morning and Mass during the day. It’s like the significance of the feast can’t be captured in a single event. We hear about the meaning of Christmas from the perspective of Old Testament prophecy and David’s kingship, from… Read More »

It wasn’t just John the Baptist. I’m sure that every mother on holding her child asks, “What, then, will this child be?” Every child has an unlimited potential. Which is why the message of the prophet Malachi struck me. The prophet is going to refine and purify the people, to put them the path of… Read More »

We should never lose sight of the human reality which underlies the Biblical stories. Eli thinks Hannah is drunk because of the heartfelt passion of her prayer. He doesn’t understand the lifetime of pain that led to that moment. No doubt when Mary returned to Nazareth with a baby bump after three months in Judea… Read More »

Mary was a first responder. She heard about her kinswoman’s delicate condition and, no doubt, asked herself, “Who will be there to help her?” Even though she was newly pregnant and a four day walking journey away Mary realized that she was the one who could respond. And she did. That models the Christian life.… Read More »

I’ve been puzzled that when the angel told Mary, “‘Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you’ …she was greatly troubled at what was said.” You would think that after hearing such compliments she would be pleased, not troubled. On further reflection, I realized that if someone came up to me and said “John,… Read More »