The First Reading (Isaiah 7: 10-14) and the Gospel (Matthew 1: 18-24) for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, contrast two figures—King A...

The Gospel for Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, Cycle A (Matthew 11: 2-11), is curious.  John the Baptist is in prison.  He send...

Advent began this year with a beautiful reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (2: 1-5).  Isaiah presents us with a picture of the w...

As far as I can determine, December 21 is the only day of the year when there is a Mass reading from Song of Songs , a title which basic...

We're in the final days of Advent, days of expectation and hope.  Many people, especially children, are hoping to find certain things un...

I like to imagine the moment when Mary told the Archangel Gabriel, “let it be done to me according to your word.” At that moment the Holy S...

Today and last Friday the Gospel at Mass was the story of the Visitation, how, after Mary heard that her kinswoman Elizabeth was pregnant,...

I began a parish mission at St. Mary's in East Dubuque, IL today.  Here's part of what I said in my homily for Sunday Mass. From 1...

The readings at Mass today (Isaiah 25: 6-10 and Matthew 15: 29-37) show us two mountains. In the Gospel, after walking along the Sea of Gali...