Joseph's Angel Dream Love Story

For the Catholic Liturgy of the 4th Sunday of Advent, Dec. 18, 2016. Matthew 1;18-24. Today's Gospel if a love story told from a man's point of view...Joseph's love story for Mary. Unwilling to condemn her publicly, Joseph is willing to sacrifice his own life and reputation for the woman he loved, but is told by an angel to take a third option and proceed with his plans to marry the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this gospel we learn that God can direct and guide us through our personal angel if we have the ears of our heart open to his words. in any difficulty or decision, we can turn to God to guide us through our angel and make our lives love stories for others.

Shall We Look for Another?

From the Catholic Liturgy for Gaudete Sunday, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Dec. 11, 2016. Matthew 11:2-11. The third Sunday of Advent has been called "Gaudete" ('Rejoicing") Sunday since the 5th Century in Rome.  But today's Gospel doesn't seem at first glance to be about any kind of rejoicing or gladness. We encounter St. John the Baptist in prison, facing a crisis of faith in Jesus as Messiah and Lord. John's response to this crisis in his suffering gives us a model to follow: honesty with God, rejection of isolation, and turning to Jesus even when it might be difficult to do so. Then we can experience the true "Gaudete" of the soul that endures through anything.

Repent and Enter the Kingdom This Advent!

From the Catholic Liturgy for the Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 4, 2016. Gospel: Mt. 3:1-12. St. John the Baptist calls us to repentance, that is, to a new way of thinking & a new way of living called the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus, the One-Who-Is-To-Come, we will receive the Fire-Power of the Holy Spirit making it possible for us to persevere in our decision to repent, to do a 180 in life and live for God and others. We will become an influence for good around us, like Jesus our beloved Brother ad Lord, spreading the Kingdom on earth to overcome the kingdom of darkness. We will experience the Kingdom of God within us and it will be brought to its fulfillment one day in Heaven.