Connecting St. Blaise's story to today's Gospel: while pursuing "great big actions" for the Gospel is good, it is equally, if not more, important to meet the needs that come before us, however small they may seem.
Simeon and Anna waited patiently for decades in the temple for the Messiah, enduring immense opportunity costs in their lives, yet greeting the Christ Child with pure joy, devoid of bitterness.
In this reflection, Fr. Dominic contrasts two very different gifs. On one hand, we have the disciples offering a humble five loaves and two fish to feed a multitude. On the other hand we have the Magi presenting royal gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Is Christmas about caring for the needy, or is it about the theological mystery of the Incarnation? Fr. Dominic suggests it is both. Just as the Peanuts gang only cared for the tree *after* hearing the Gospel, we too are empowered to love our neighbors because we first believe that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.
On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we reflect on the difference between the evasion of our first parents and the pure, direct "Yes" of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
