The story is told of three wise ones who seek a baby. They have seen his star rising in the East and wish “to do him homage.” They share their intention with the ruler of the land to which they travel, Herod, a most unwise man. Herod will not do homage to a child…
On this fourth Sunday in Advent we share in the lives of two women, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, both soon to give birth to sons. In communion with them, we too feel an “infant in (our) womb leap for joy” and we too are “filled with the Spirit.” Together, we wonder “how does…
The Third Sunday in Advent has a Gospel reading that once again focuses not on Mary but on John the Baptist. John is sought out for his wisdom. Included as the seekers are men paid to be violent, soldiers. They ask John, “And what is it we should do?” He tells them, “Do not…
The season of Advent has arrived. Advent means arrival and thus during Advent peacemakers prepare with Mary for the arrival of her baby, Jesus. Except, liturgically speaking, based on the usual Gospel readings for the season, we do not. Little attention is given to Mary and instead to John the Baptist. How is it…
A man who lives in silence, “a deaf man who has a speech impediment,” is brought to Jesus. His friends “beg Jesus to lay his hand on him” and heal him. Jesus does so by “putting his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue.” Jesus then says, “Be opened!” – and…
Sunday’s readings celebrate John the Baptist and the sanctity of his life. They speak much of wombs; “The Lord called me…from my mother’s womb.” The Lord “formed me as his servant from the womb.” “(Y)ou knit me in my mother’s womb.” “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant (John) leaped in her womb.” It…
This Sunday’s first reading concerns the conversion of Saul to Paul, from being a persecutor of disciples to being a disciple. Saul has been befriended and healed by disciples in Damascus. He joins them in their fruitful ministry. Paul then feels the need to join with disciples in Jerusalem. But the Jerusalem disciples know…
Peter has performed “a good deed done to a cripple.” He has healed him. Peter does not take credit for doing so. He says the man has been healed “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean.” Peter then makes a statement that has unfortunately been twisted in its meaning. He says, “There is…
Mary Magdalene met the challenge to change. She had been driven mad by a mad world, mad with oppression, mad with suffering. Her mad way of coping with the madness needed to end. She needed to make changes if she was to have a new life. Moving from no longer insanely coping with demons…
The story is told of those who are wise making a journey toward a star, a radiance in the sky. They know not where their journey will take them. They believe they know who it will take them to. They journey toward an innocent child; one they think is destined to be king. Along…