In the first chapter of the Gospel According to John (NABRE), Jesus’ cousin John bears witness to Jesus as the one sent by God. In the Gospel According to John 1:32 (NABRE), John describes how he was able to identify Jesus because he saw the Holy Spirit remain on him. …

As we celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John we reflect on the word baptism, which comes from the Greek word βαπτίζω (baptizo) and means “dip” or “plunge.” Baptism as it’s usually mentioned in the Bible is a dipping or submerging of the person being baptized into water. John’s baptism …

Epiphany occurs as a part of the Church’s celebration of the Christmas season. During this solemnity, we contemplate the three magi coming to Jesus and, by extension, the manifestation of God in human form to the Gentiles. The concept of Epiphany, however, has a broader meaning, and there is perhaps …

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. …