First Reading: Micah 5:1-4A Reflection: On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the anticipation is building for the fast approaching celebration of Christmas. This Sunday’s readings indicate that anticipation. The first reading from the Prophet Micah speaks of the coming of the… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18A Reflection: This Sunday we celebrate “Gaudete Sunday,” the Third Sunday of Advent. The Latin word Gaudete means “Rejoice!” On this Sunday, we take a short hiatus from the mostly somber nature of Advent and rejoice in the nearness of… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9 Reflection: The theme of this Sunday’s readings is preparation, as is a common theme during this season of Advent. We are invited, in particular, to prepare for the coming of the Lord through repentance and restoration. The… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Reflection: The Prophet Jeremiah here speaks of a time of fulfillment promised by the Lord. At that time, a descendent of King David would come forth to restore justice. This “just shoot” would bring fulfillment and peace… Continue Reading →
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Reflection: King David lived around 1,000 B.C. He was the second king of Israel after Saul, whose throne was taken away due to his infidelity to God. David, despite his shortcomings, was a… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 Reflection: Originally intended to refer to the Prophet Isaiah himself (thus, the use of “I”), this passage also pointed forward to the coming Messiah, who is the “anointed one.” In fact, the fulfillment of these words… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Reflection: Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare to celebrate Christmas, when we will commemorate the first coming of Christ at the Incarnation some 2,000 years ago. In that, we focus on the great and… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7 Reflection: This Sunday we begin a new liturgical year with the start of Advent. The season of Advent is focused on preparing us for the celebration of the first coming of Christ at Christmas (when… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Reflection: Ahaz was the Davidic king of the southern kingdom of Judah in the eighth century B.C. The exchange given in this passage can be precisely dated to 733 B.C. when Ahaz was in the process of… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6A, 10 Reflection: In this Sunday’s first reading, the Prophet Isaiah uses the symbolism of a “desert,” “parched land,” and “the steppe” (which is a grass-covered plain) as representations of desolation. But these barren places “will bloom with… Continue Reading →
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