Parish Blog

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today's reading helps us to consider the blessings that come when we enjoy the presence of Jesus and his Mother, Mary, in the midst of human events: “There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.” (Jn 2:1-2).

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we look at an adult Jesus. The child of the manger has grown to manhood and reaches that place in life when He must embark on the divine commission entrusted to Him by the Father. In preparation, He joins the candidates who have responded to John the Baptist in the Jordan River, who were submitting to baptism at his hands to wash away their sins.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, the prophet Isaiah encourages us: “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you.” (Is 60:1) The light the prophet has seen is the star, which the Three Wise Men see in the east, like many other men. The Magi discover its meaning. Others consider it as something admirable, but that does not affect them. And, so, they do not react. The Three Wise Men realize the fact that, with the star, God is sending them an important message for which it is worthwhile leaving comfort and safety to take on the risks of an uncertain journey. The hope of finding the King leads them to follow the star, which the prophets had spoken of and which the people of Israel had been waiting for centuries.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we are asked to contemplate, as a continuation of the Mystery of Incarnation, God's Son's insertion into the human community: the family, and Jesus' progressive education by Joseph and Mary. As the Gospel says, “And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” (Lk 2:52)

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the last Sunday before the arrival—the Advent—of God in Bethlehem. So as to be the same as us in everything, He wanted to be conceived—as any other person—in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary. And He was conceived by the action and grace of the Holy Spirit, as He was God. Very soon, on Christmas Day, we will celebrate His birth with great joy.

The Gospel today presents us with two people, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, who show us with their example the spiritual attitude we should have towards this event. It should be an attitude of faith, of dynamic faith.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today in the middle of Advent, the Word of God presents to us the Holy Precursor of Jesus Christ: Saint John the Baptist. God the Father prepared the coming, that is, the Advent, of his Son in our flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, in many ways and in many forms, as the beginning of the Letter to the Hebrews says (1:1). The patriarchs, the prophets and the kings prepared the coming of Jesus.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, almost half of the Gospel passage consists of historical-biographical data. Not even in the liturgy of the Mass was this historical text changed by the frequent “at that time.” This introduction, so “insignificant” for contemporary man, has prevailed: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee...” (Lk 3:1). Why? To demystify! God entered the history of mankind in a very “concrete” way, as well as in the history of every man. He did so, for example, in the life of John - Zechariah's son - who was in the desert. He called him to cry out on the banks of the Jordan... (Lk 3:6).

Dear Friends in Christ,

Advent can be called an “ardent” time, a time of contrasts. Advent begins the liturgical year, yet it is already speaking to us of the end of time. We prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ, His first arrival, yet we also listen to the announcement that prophesies His Second Coming as our Judge. We should live this time with our eyes wide open, expecting our final liberation. Jesus' preaching to His disciples puts us on guard that we should not be impressed by the violent upheavals that will come; instead, He invites us to anticipate the arrival of the Son of God in prayer and vigilance.