Dec. 13: Third Sunday of Advent

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” is the Latin word for “rejoice.” This Sunday’s readings, especially the first two, ring with exuberant joy.

Dec. 6: Second Sunday of Advent

One of my professors who taught us liturgy used to caution us about trying to make the celebration of daily Eucharist in a parish too long or too extravagant. Most people who come on a regular basis to daily Mass come for quiet spiritual nourishment at the beginning of their day. In his memorable words: “Don’t try to make every Eucharist like opening night at the Met!”

Nov. 29: First Sunday of Advent

A popular word I only recently became aware of is “woke.” Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary tells me that “woke” originated in African-American dialect and refers to being alert (or awake) to racial and social issues.

Nov. 22: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

In the church’s liturgical calendar, this is the last Sunday of the year. Advent and a new year begin next Sunday. Traditionally, the year goes out with a bang — not fireworks or fanfare but a burst of homage and praise to Christ, the king of the universe.

Nov. 15: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

I have often wondered about the hardworking editors who put together the Lectionary, the set of biblical readings read at every Mass over a three-year cycle. This was one of the innovations mandated by the Second Vatican Council.

Nov. 8: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

How to define true wisdom? That is a question raised in this Sunday’s readings. I suspect most of us recognize a wise person when we meet them. They are someone who is thoughtful, mature, not rash or impulsive; someone who thinks things through and draws on good experience when making a decision; someone we turn to for good advice.

Nov. 1: Solemnity of All Saints

All Saints' Day is a beautiful feast celebrating the call to holiness open to all the daughters and sons of God — those already wrapped in God’s loving embrace and those of us still on the road.

Oct. 25: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Catholics can be proud of the church’s social teaching. Built up since the end of the 19th century, this body of teaching brings the values of the Gospel and our Catholic tradition to bear on the key issues of our society.

Oct. 18: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are only a few days away from a national election that virtually everyone concedes has great consequences in these unusual days of pandemic and rancor. I am sure the editors of the Lectionary, used worldwide, did not have this in mind when they chose the readings for today.

Oct. 11: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Each of the readings for this Sunday are striking, but finding a unifying current running through all of them is a challenge. Obviously, the motif of a banquet binds Jesus’ parable of the royal wedding feast from Matthew’s Gospel with the lush banquet described in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah.
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