A closer look at the Nativity story in Luke's Gospel

Christmas is a major feast day, yet it is based upon small passages in two Gospels. These are the Nativity accounts in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Feb. 17: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The phrase “the preferential option for the poor” frequently appears in Catholic writings about social justice. “Option” here does not mean, as it might in everyday language, a possible choice among several options.

Feb. 10: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

An intriguing feature of the Bible is the “call” stories. Great characters such as Abraham, Moses, the prophets, Mary and the disciples of Jesus receive a call from God that dramatically changes the course of their lives.

Feb. 3: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Often the Sunday Scripture selections are each so beautiful that it is difficult to choose which one to concentrate on. That is the case this Sunday, which includes the powerful call story from Jeremiah where God tells the prophet “before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”

Jan. 27: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Both the first reading from the Book of Nehemiah and the selection from Luke’s Gospel — each describing a dramatic beginning — remind us of the beauty and dynamic power of God’s word.

Jan. 20: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we step into Ordinary Time in the church’s liturgical calendar. This is the part of the liturgical year that focuses on Jesus’ public ministry. John’s Gospel, always the maverick among the four, marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry with the story of the wedding feast of Cana.

Jan. 13: Baptism of the Lord

This Sunday’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord signals the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. The church’s liturgical calendar now begins its long reflection on the mission of Jesus that will be viewed this year through the prism of Luke’s Gospel.

Jan. 6: Epiphany of the Lord

The feast of the Epiphany lifts up a fundamental conviction of Christian faith that poses a strong challenge to some trends in our American society. The heart of this feast is the scene from Matthew’s Gospel where “Magi from the east,” led by a star glowing in the night sky, travel to Bethlehem to pay homage to “the newborn king of the Jews.”

Dec. 30: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

On this Sunday immediately following Christmas, the church focuses appropriately on the family. All during the lead-up to Christmas, television ads have bombarded us with joyous and idealistic family scenes — parents and children exchanging gifts under the tree, husbands surprising delighted wives with the gift of a new car in the driveway, beaming children on Santa’s lap. You get the picture.

Dec. 23: Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Gospel for this last Sunday of Advent is Luke’s account of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. In no other Gospel passage do two women command the stage, and two pregnant women at that.
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