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Feast of the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph have just experienced every parent's worst nightmare: their son was missing for THREE DAYS, as they searched and asked and retraced the steps of their journey. Imagine their relief when they returned to the Temple and saw him at last. Surely they ran to him with joy and exasperation, only to hear his answer, “Why were you looking for me?” Why? WHY?!

The Nativity of the Lord Christmas can be disappointing. We remember the Christmases from our childhood, all the joy, the excitement, and the fun we had. When we grow up, we have to shop for gifts, write and mail the cards, put up the decorations, and do all the preparations that seem to stress us out. We may be sad that the day did not meet our expectations. Now that most of that is done, (unless you are reading this on a break from cleaning house before the grandkids arrive) we can reflect on how the first Christmas upset all expectations.

Fourth Sunday of Advent There is a Christmas song that says of Bethlehem: “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light.” Bethlehem is a suburb of Jerusalem. Its main tourist attraction in the time of Jesus was that it was the birthplace of David. Though today it has many modern homes and buildings, you can still see that it is part of “the hill country…of Judah.” (Lk 1:39) It is not too far from En Kerem, where John the Baptist was born, and apparently where today’s Gospel takes place.

Third Sunday of Advent While Advent is a beautiful time to prepare for the coming of the Lord, we often get so caught up in all the things we do to prepare for Christmas that we forget Advent all together. The readings remind us that in spite of the stress we may feel thinking about how close Christmas is, we are called to rejoice for the Lord is near.

Immaculate Conception. Adam and Eve were created without any sin. This means that they were not burdened by selfishness or fear or unmet needs. God created the whole universe and placed them in the beautiful Garden and walked with them in the cool of the evening. He entrusted the whole created world to them, and they in turn, knowing clearly where they came from and where they were going (they came from God and were returning to God and God was taking care of everything every step of the way), entrusted themselves completely to their loving Father. They obeyed because they trusted.

Second Sunday of Advent. It seems the early Church had a different view of Advent than we do. Christmas was not even celebrated in the first two centuries after Christ. Easter was the original great feast of the Church. After the resurrection, Christians looked for Jesus to return in glory. They expected this return to happen soon, so we see references in Paul’s letters to the “coming of the Lord Jesus” (1 Thess 3:13) or to the “day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) So in a sense, the rest of their lives were a long Advent, a time of waiting for the Lord.

First Sunday of Advent How good is good enough? Do you have to be perfect to get to heaven? In the second reading this Sunday, Paul seems to think so when he tells us to be “blameless in holiness” (1 Thess 3:13.) In fact, he tells the Thessalonians who are pleasing God, to do even more. (4:1) Now Paul never considered himself as perfect: “I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.” (2 Cor 12:7-9) But even with his weakness, Paul always did the best he could. So what should we strive for? Maybe we can take a hint from his phrase “strengthen your hearts.”

Christ the King. When we celebrate Christ the King, we are not talking about political power. That is the only kind of king that Pilate recognized. Our first two readings describe in poetic terms what Christ’s kingdom is like: a priestly kingdom of glory and power that will never end. Pilate was judging the One who would one day judge him. He wanted to know if Jesus claimed to be a king, or if the Jews who wanted Jesus destroyed were behind the rumors of kingship. Jesus does not deny his kingship; after all, he says his purpose in life is the Truth. If you were reading this in the Bible, you would see Pilate’s response, “What is truth?”

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time This week is the last we will hear from the letter to the Hebrews. It makes the point that when Jesus allowed himself to be crucified he was actually being a priest, offering himself for the sins of the world. Jesus replaces the high priests of Israel, whose offerings had no power to forgive sins. After giving his life for us, he takes his place as God’s equal. He is now the eternal Priest, so all clergy since the time of Jesus are visible signs of that priesthood.

Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: I always thought it took a lot of nerve for Elijah to beg that poor woman for a meal. Even though, during a long drought, she has only a bit of her food to give to her son, he still asks her to make a little cake for himself. It would be easier to understand if we heard the verse before this reading begins: God tells the prophet that he has “commanded a widow…to feed you.” (1Kgs 17:9)

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Every four years, we engage in one of the core activities of our democratic system: a presidential election. Actually, the institution of election can be traced to traditions in the Church, and although bishops are no longer chosen in this way, abbots and abbesses (heads of monastic communities) have almost always been elected by full voting members of their communities. The lifetime appointment begins when the monks or nuns are gathered in “chapter” at the death or resignation of the abbot, and fortunately for all involved, campaigning is not allowed! The members of the community discern, with prayer to the Holy Spirit, who among them is the best suited for leadership.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time When you think of Jesus, what do you think was his job? Healer of the sick, the lame and the blind, as in today’s gospel? Preacher? Teacher? Leader of men? Messiah? The second reading from Hebrews reminds us of his main duty: Priest. It calls him a High Priest, referring to the Jewish priesthood in which one priest was chosen each year to offer the most important sacrifices and so appeal to God for forgiveness of the peoples’ sins. Now this may sound like primitive religion, but it actually lets us understand Jesus even better.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time In Mark’s gospel, he has a short description of the Last Supper, without the washing of the disciples’ feet found in the gospel of John. Today’s passage has a similar message. While James and John seem to be close friends of Jesus, they obviously have not learned what it means to follow him. But they think this is the time to ask for their share in the glory of Jesus’ Kingdom.

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time he first reading is supposed to remind us of Solomon, who, when God promised to give him whatever he asked, chose wisdom over wealth or power. Now our modern view of wisdom is usually pictured as the knowledge and experience of an older person. In the scriptures it is God’s Wisdom that is desired. More than just the wise sayings of a Benjamin Franklin or Yoda, scriptural wisdom means doing God’s will in all things. As Jesus tried to tell the man in the gospel, knowing and doing God’s will is more precious than wealth, or even family!

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time St. James is exaggerating a little when he describes how people might greet visitors or new members in the church. Hopefully, no one was that obvious at treating wealthy members better than poor ones. Sadly, prejudice is a sin that is just as prevalent today as it was 2000 years ago. Today we have laws for business and government to prevent prejudice. But the subtler forms of judging people by their race, clothing, speech, religion, etc. sometimes hide behind patriotism, faith, or the desire to protect our families. So how can we stop it?

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sometimes we think the argument of faith vs. works started with the Reformation. But the second reading shows that it was already being debated in New Testament times. The simplified version of the debate has the Reformers saying that faith alone is all we need to be saved, while the Catholic side says we have to do good to be saved. Actually, they are both right.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time St. James message of peace is as true now as it was two thousand years ago. Where else do wars and terrorism come from, than people holding on to wealth, power, or hatred? But the message James shares, and that of Jesus in the gospel, is a simple call to be different. Neither of them condemns anyone. They call us to look at what we really want and what truly brings happiness.

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time The first reading might be what Jesus was talking about when he scolded the disciples. They wanted to stop an exorcist whom they didn’t know. In both cases, whether prophesying or driving out demons, someone wanted them to stop. Why? Because the persons doing those things were not members of the group. In the gospel, the disciples objected simply because they didn’t know the ones who were casting out demons. Back in Moses’ days, the two “renegades” were actually on the list, they just weren’t present with the rest gathered around Moses. Both Joshua and the disciples of Jesus thought they should control who could do God’s work and who couldn’t.

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Respect Life Sunday. Jesus insists that the little children can come to Him. He is available to them just as much as He is to the adults, much to the shock of the adults surrounding Him. Jesus then asks those shocked adults to consider how these children have qualities the adults are lacking. “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” As I pondered the qualities a child has, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to an aspirational prayer in a Mass journal I have.

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. When someone mentions laws and/or commandments, we usually think of them as burdens that we have to bear to be good citizens or church members. But if you listen carefully to the first reading from Deuteronomy, you get the sense that the laws Moses presented to the people of Israel were gift from God, something to be proud of. Moses gives two reasons for this.