Which Beatitude speaks most forcefully to you at this moment in your life?

How did you experience your own call to ministry? Did it feel as if it came out of the blue for you, as it surely did for Peter and Andrew?

We speak of Jesus “taking away” the sin of the world.

In preparing to preach and preside at this celebration of the “manifestation” of the Lord, think of the ways you reveal the mystery of Jesus’ presence and the power of his message in your ministry, especially your preaching.

Mary "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." During the Octave of Christmas, the church has been contemplating the newborn Jesus, God's gift of self to us and all of creation.

One thing we hear in this week’s readings—and last week as well—is a quiet reminder of Jesus’ “Great Commandment”: Love your neighbor as yourself, as well as another one of his most important messages: Forgive others; judge not.

On the verge of Christmas and the end of Advent, now is a good time to reflect seriously on the meaning of the Son of God’s coming into the world and your life.

In scripture, deserts can be places of wandering and danger but also places of closeness to God.

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.”

We know the birth of the Lord is an accomplished fact. What we do in Advent is prepare to celebrate his Incarnation—and thus our salvation—and to reflect on how Christ’s reign is still to be fulfilled.