Advent, Womb, and Word
Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent A Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14 (RM) or 10-16 (RCL); Psalm 24 (RM) or 80 (RCL); Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 (RM) or 18-25 (RCL.) A…
Prepare the Way: Finding Hope in the Wilderness
Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent A Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-9 (RM) or 4-13 (RCL); Matthew 3:1-12. If I were standing in front of you preaching…
Advent Begins: From History to Hope
Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent A Readings:Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24: 35-44 (RM) or 36-44 (RCL.) It’s the purple season for Roman Catholics, blue season…
Pilgrims of Hope: Using Advent’s Tools
I woke up on November 6, 2024, hardly daring to breathe. Turning with trepidation to my mobile’s incessant notifications, my heart sank with the realization of my worst US election…
Pregnant with the Future
Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent C Readings: Micah 5: 1-4a (RM) or 2-5a (RCL); Psalm 80; Hebrews 10: 5-10;Luke 1: 39-45 (RM), or 39-45 or 46-55 (RCL). We’re…
How Should I Change My Life?
A Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent C Readings: Zephaniah 3: 14-18a (RM) or 14-20 (RCL); Isaiah 12; Philippians 4: 4-7; Luke 3: 10-18 (RM) or 7-18 (RCL). How…
The Rough Ways Shall Be Made Smooth
Reflection for the Second Sunday in Advent C Readings: Baruch 5: 1-9 (RM) or Malachi 3: 1-4 (RCL); Psalm 126 (RM) or Luke 1: 68-79 (RCL); Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 (RM)…
The Weary World Rejoices
Here it is again. Advent is suddenly here, and I am once again thrust into the world (and the work) of “waiting in joyful hope.” Waiting, in its many forms…
Social Justice: Doing Hope
Advent 2023 was a different one for me. Against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian war wreaking unimaginable devastation on already bereft people, the ongoing violence in the Ukraine, Myanmar, and…
The Angel Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary
2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 (RM) or 1-11, 16 (RCL); Psalm 89 or Luke 1: 47-55; Romans 16: 25-27; Luke 1: 26-38. A few years ago I was…