The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 3:12 (NABRE) describes a number of traits Christians should endeavor to adopt in terms of getting dressed in them. Paul describes the process this way: “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” In many …

In the seventh and eighth chapters in the Book of Isaiah (RSVCE) we encounter the Hebrew word Immanuel. Since Immanuel symbolically is the name assigned to Jesus the Messiah, it’s worth delving a bit into what this name means. The Hebrew עִמָּנוּאֵל (Immanuel) is a combination of two words, the …

On the third Sunday in Advent, the Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday. Along with the fourth Sunday of Lent (called Laetare Sunday), Gaudete Sunday marks one of only two occasions in the liturgical year in which members of the ordained clergy wear rose-colored vestments. Both Sundays share the common theme of …

Early in the liturgical season of Advent, the Church’s readings at Mass turn toward the witness of John the Baptist as the voice of one crying out. In the readings we see both the original prophecy from the Book of Isaiah 40:3 (NABRE) and also the restatement in the Gospel …

In the Letter to the Romans 13:11 (NABRE), Paul urges that now is the hour to be awake and alert in preparation for the coming of the Lord. This passage is meant to convey considerable urgency and to persuade readers to remain constantly prepared for the return of Christ, an …

The Letter to the Colossians 1:15 (NABRE) contains a beautiful and powerful description of the kingship of Jesus Christ, and one of the key points in that description is that Jesus came before all other creatures as the firstborn. This seems like an odd concept because as a human person, …

As we approach the end of Ordinary Time, our Mass readings focus on completion and the end or fullness of time. In the Gospel According to Luke 21:5–19 (NABRE), Jesus talks about the eventual destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which becomes a metaphor for the destruction of all things. …

The Gospel According to John 2:13–22 (NABRE) describes Jesus driving the money changers from the Temple. Jesus’ followers see his actions and recall the passage from Psalm 69:10 (NABRE): “Zeal for your house has consumed me.” What is it about Jesus’ behavior that caused his disciples to think of this …

This weekend we celebrate the feasts of All Saints and All Souls. These two feasts fall back-to-back on the liturgical calendar and focus on the departed by first inviting us to entreat prayers from the saints and then to pray for all fallen souls. The distinction between saints and everyone …

In the Second Letter to Timothy 4:7 (NABRE), Paul describes his work spreading the Gospel as an athletic contest or competition that’s nearing completion. This view of serving God may seem foreign to us at first. In a contest, there are winners and losers, a view that may be challenging …