The True Meaning of Christmas: Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist I had been an avid reader of books for many years before I discovered that many people start at the end. I was unfamiliar with the practice of reading the…

Jesus Christ reveals to us the truth about our identity. In today’s Gospel, crowds come to John the Baptist asking who he is. He answers by describing who he is in relation to Jesus Christ. “I am not Elijah...I am…

Preparing a Place for Jesus As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, let us remember to make a place for Jesus in our homes. The Gospel passage of the Second Sunday in Advent always recalls the preaching of St.…

God made you to be happy with him forever. And God made everything else to help you find your way to that happiness. Learning how to use everything this world offers as a way to grow in friendship with God is…

Offer It Up. I’m sure you’ve heard these words a thousand times. “Offer it up.” It’s sort of a shorthand way of saying, “stop your complaining,” “get over it,” “suck it up, buttercup.” But of course that’s not the first…

Why do we honor the Saints? If they are in heaven, what difference does it make to them to have a special feast day or prayers or devotions on earth? Bernard of Clairvaux gave a famous sermon that started with…

Our actions have long-lasting consequences. God’s actions are eternal. Both the first reading and the Gospel give us a little insight into this mystery – which remains mysterious in the midst of every new challenge we face. In the first…

You Are Invited! In the Gospels, Jesus commonly compares the kingdom of Heaven to a wedding feast - the best party in the ancient world. The idea had already been around for a long time. It was a common belief…

"Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5) Jesus is the example and pattern for the Christian life. Being a “success” as a Christian means being conformed to Jesus. St. Paul’s Letter to the…