A Word of Hope

The first chapter of the Gospel of John reminds us: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." As we prepare to welcome a new year, let us move forward with confidence that God's unfailing light will help us create all things new and shake off the darkness of the past year.

The Prophet(ess) Anna recognized the Christ child as the new messiah when he was presented in the Temple. Let us honor all the women whose resilient, prophetic, and steady faith has fed the church and our guided our own faith journeys.

On this Feast of the Holy Family, we recall Jesus being lost for days and finally found in the Temple, seemingly oblivious to the worry he caused his parents. Every family has some degree of chaos as different members pull in different directions. There is not only one way to be a "perfect" family. Families and churches are best when they let each member be the best version of who they really are, and then together they create their own best version of family.

On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, we remember how, warned by an an angel in his dream, Joseph fled with his family in the middle of the night to escape Herod's deadly wrath. There is still genocide and evil in our world, and we still need to listen to God about when to stand and when to run.

John, the apostle, shared with others about the Love of God he found in Christ so that his own joy would be complete. We have the same opportunity. Let us share with others what we have come to learn about Christ with those around around us, so that they might share in our joy and that our joy might be complete.

On this Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, we remember how he earned his crown of martyrdom, being stoned to death for proclaiming Christ. He died knowing he had a place in heaven and praying for those who were killing him. We too are called to wear the crown of glory with the Father, to share his life forever.

In this extra A Word of Hope video, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP, Br. Joseph Hilliker, OP and Fr. Dick LaPata, OP share about what gives them hope in the this lovely season of Hope.

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When Jesus was born, the angels announced to the shepherds "Peace on Earth!" There is nothing that we need more in this world right now than peace over all the Earth. Let us pray for that, and look for that gift from God.

When Zechariah can finally talk after the birth his son, John the Baptist, he proclaimed that his son would, "give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins." This is what the Christmas season is all about: revealing the tender compassion of our God.

The birth of John the Baptist was surrounded by miraculous events, so that it made people wonder, " ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him." This Christmas, let us all be open to experiencing the exceptional quality of God's presence in the miraculous things that happen around us.

Our Gospel today is about Mary going to visit Elizabeth, her cousin who is pregnant in old age. Elizabeth gives voice to the blessing Mary brings her in this Visitation. In this season of visits, will we bring blessings to everyone we visit?

In our first reading from the Song of Songs, we encounter lovers who thrill to be in each other's company, and we remember God's love for his people, and Jesus' love for each of us. In the Gospel, Mary, full of love, rushes out to help her cousin Elizabeth, not worrying for herself. God loves each of us, and if we allow ourselves to be touched by that love, we respond both to God and to the world in overflowing love. Are you a lover? What would it take for you to become one this Christmas season?

King Ahaz refused to listen to God's plans to defend Israel, prefering to trust the fate of the country to his own plans. In contrast, upon hearing of God's surprisings plans for her, Mary said "let it be done unto me according to your word." Do we prefer our own plans for our life, or God's, and what does it cost us?

When it was announced to Zechariah that he would be a father in his old age, he doubted the Angel Gabriel and was struck dumb. His silence, however, gave him the opportunity to reflect on God's power. If you have doubts, embrace God is silent contemplation and you might be given all that you need in that powerful encounter.

St. Joseph was confronted with the unbelievable situation of Mary's pregnancy, and he believed through the help of an angel, and a life of faith. Sometimes the demands of faith seem almost unbelievable to us, but if we live out our faith every day, we will have a greater ability to believe even difficult truths of our faith.

In today's Gospel we hear the genealogy of Jesus going back 42 generations to Abraham, emphasizing that God has been on this bruising journey with us for a long time. In Advent, we are called not to remain aloof and pure, but to be more in touch with the world so that we can bring God's presence to it.

In our readings today, the Jewish Priests refuse to speak about God while the pagan prophet Balaam speaks eloquently of God's wonders. It is our job today to give witness to our hope arising because of Jesus Christ, and in Advent, we prepare ourselves to embody that presence.

In the Gospel today, various people respond to John the Baptist's message of repentance asking what they need to do to repent. Do we hear the voice of God calling us to repent? Are we aware of God, or are we wandering in the dark?

Our first reading recalls the mighty deeds of the Prophet Elijah. But the most difficult deed is to move the human heart, which was Elijah's real job. But God can move hearts. May your heart be moved this Advent so that you can in turn, move others' hearts.

Jesus tells us that wisdom is vindicated by its works. We need to judge what is true not by what sounds good, but what this teaching or this person accomplishes for us and for others.

On this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we celebrate the fact that God now dwells within each one of us. This givest the dignity of every human life, ourselves and others, and we are called to respect that dignity with our actions.

On this Eve of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we remember that in her day, as in the days of Paul the Apostle, and still in our own, the Church was filled with all kinds of people, good and bad, and all kinds of divisions. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared dressed in native clothing, speaking the native tongue, cutting through divisions. We are meant to do the same.

On this Memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, we see Mary as the new Eve. Through the disobedience of Eve, our relationship with God was wounded. Yet Eve received a promise that God would restore this relationship, and the promise is fulfiled through the obedience of Mary, the New Eve, who said "let it be done to me according to your word." Might we repeat those words with Mary today?

On this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, we remember the miracle that God did with Mary, preserving her from original sin, and ponder what other great and impossible things God might do in our own lives.