The Fourth Sunday in Advent – December 21, 2025 In dreams, time moves differently. On this last Sunday of Advent, we get a Christmas story, Matthew’s account of Jesus’s birth embedded as a flash-forward in Joseph’s dream. In our waking … Read More
The Third Sunday in Advent – December 14, 2025 Many on the front lines of parish leadership have been questioning, wondering, retiring, or just leaving ministry (maybe even the church) altogether. They’ve seen too much false hope and hypocrisy and … Read More
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – December 8, 2025 As humans we have become ill with shame. Many of us have spent much energy, time, and money healing from childhood trauma born of shame. There’s so much pressure, especially … Read More
The Second Sunday in Advent – December 7, 2025 Isaiah’s radical “peaceable kingdom” that we proclaim today has been so romanticized in our religious art and imagination that its eschatological meaning gets lost. John the Baptist warned the Pharisees and … Read More
The First Sunday in Advent – November 30, 2025 The beginning of a new year is always a special occasion. Like birthdays or first days of school, we mark this First Sunday of Advent and the season it ushers in … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Dec 22, 2024 “Do not forget that closeness, proximity, was God’s most authentic language,” said Pope Francis. “That style of God, of closeness, went farther, farther and farther until it reached that great, essential closeness: … Read More
Third Sunday of Advent – Dec 15, 2024 Today we get the great opening line from the second reading: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). Why is joy so important that Paul has to … Read More
Second Sunday of Advent – Dec 8, 2024 In stark contrast to last Sunday, today’s set of readings are some of the most hope-filled and consoling poetry in our lectionary. From the lavish imagery of Baruch, to the tender affection … Read More
First Sunday of Advent – Dec 1, 2024 As she loaded her grocery bags into her car, my friend heard a street preacher make an odd comment as he tried to evangelize the shoppers in the busy parking lot. The … Read More
The Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 3, 2023 No one else in the course of history other than Mary of Nazareth has ever or will ever give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. No one else will give … Read More