Most people at this time of year are counting down to Christmas – the number of shopping days that remain. In the Church this time of year we are just starting up – beginning a new liturgical year of grace with the arrival of Advent. It is so easy for us to get wrapped up in the frenetic pace of Christmas preparations, sending Christmas cards, decorating hearth and home, gift shopping, Christmas parties and planning holiday menus. As necessary and worthwhile as all these things are, the Church invites us to take some time to step back and contemplate the meaning of the coming of our Savior into the world, so we may more fully appreciate and celebrate his coming on Christmas. Carving out some quiet space to reflect more deeply upon this mystery we call the “Incarnation” – God taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus – is so critical during the hustle and bustle of December. I would encourage us all to be sure we save a little space this Advent season for more focused prayer and reflection in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s coming. Click the title to read more.

While Thanksgiving is really a secular holiday, for us as people of faith it can be the occasion to be mindful of all that God has blessed us with, and to take time in prayer and worship where possible to thank Jesus. The Thanksgiving Day Mass readings include the Gospel account of the ten lepers who were cured by Jesus, and that only one – a Samaritan – returns to thank Jesus. The Gospel story tells us that when he realized that he was healed, he returned glorifying God. There are so many blessings that we receive from the Lord each day. So often, myself included, we may not even realize they have occurred, like the other nine lepers who never return to thank Jesus. We may also take those blessings for granted. Sometimes we may even feel entitled to those blessings, thinking, “I deserve this! I worked hard for this!” Click the title to read more.