La Alegría. Muchas veces sentimos alegría al recordar eventos placenteros del pasado o sueños agradables de futuros proyectos. ¿Qué tal la alegría del presente? Cuando miramos hacia otros momentos de la vida sin vivir el presente frecuentemente nos llenamos de tristeza y soledad. Las lecturas de hoy nos invitan a una alegría verdadera y duradera…
Joy. So often it comes from happy memories of past events or the pleasant dreams of future plans, but what about the present? When we only look to other moments rather than live in the today of life, we are often filled with sadness and loneliness. Today’s readings invite us to a true and lasting…
Mary, the mother of Jesus Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a maiden waiting for God to fulfill her people’s dreams. She was a maiden waiting for God to fill her and, through her, all of us. She rejoiced because she was beloved. God’s Spirit had descended upon her with love’s gift, her child, who…
It is not only individuals who are in need of renewal God promised to “turn the desert into a marshlands, and the dry ground into springs of water” (Is 41). It is not only individuals who are in need of renewal. The entire world moves from crisis to crisis, from one man-made disaster to another….
The infant of Bethlehem appears weak Jesus came on the first Christmas “to strengthen the hands that are feeble and to make firm the knees that are weak.” He will “say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” (Is 35). It is the human condition to “get in beyond our depth.” Many…
A promise of deliverance Jesus gave hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind and a promise of deliverance to the poor and lowly. This had been foretold of him: “On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see….
In God, justice and mercy are united Isaiah wrote: “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord…he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted”…
“Make ready the way of the Lord” “In Isaiah the prophet it is written: ‘I send my messenger before you to prepare your way, a herald’s voice in the desert, crying, “Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path.’” (Mk 1). John the Baptist came to call us to prepare for…
He takes us as we are When Jesus is near his presence is the outreach of his love for us. At such moments it is enough to receive his gift with gratitude. He comes to those who love him, who look for his coming. He comes in peace, making restless hearts peaceful. Human nature may…
First Sunday of Advent The readings of Advent are filled with hope as we vigilantly await the coming of our Lord. He is and always will be victorious over the forces of evil operating in our world and sometimes in our own selves. We are called to be hopeful. Hope doesn’t mean we just sit…