(Audio recorded live, 15 March 2025)

(Audio recorded live, 8 March 2025)

“The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;” (Sir. 27:6a) “The just one shall flourish like the palm tree;” (Ps. 92:13a) “For every tree is known by its own fruit;” (Lk. 6:44a) “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). Jesus talks of good fruit and bad. What kind of fruit do we produce?

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which has also been known as Candlemas as well as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Luke tells us: “When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord….” According to the Law, when a woman gave birth, she was unclean for seven days, and then an additional thirty-three days in which she could not touch anything holy or…

Last week, we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord. As soon as John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, Jesus begins to gain followers, the first of which are Andrew and John. We may also intuit that James, the brother of John, was present as the other gospels relate. By the third day, Jesus has already called two brothers, Simon & Andrew, James & John, as well as two of their friends, Philip & Nathanel. Andrew is the first to call Jesus the Messiah, while Philip tells…

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, which marks the conclusion of the Christmas Season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. The season really flew by this year. Perhaps it is a sign of how busy we all are. Busyness is one of the hallmarks of being American, isn’t it? We love to be busy. I say, to each their own. But, sometimes it is good to take time to unwind and to reflect. The Baptism of the Lord is the kind of day that invites us to reflect on the life of Christ as well as our own…

Happy New Year and Happy Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Since this is a Jubilee Year, I pray that this year will be full of hope, good health, love, and a time of true encounter with the Lord Jesus. Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, the revelation, of the God-man and the awesome significance this event has for all people. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a great light, the glory of the Lord, which has overcome the darkness to make Jerusalem a shining example to all nations. He also prophesies…

Today, on this Octave day of Christmas, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. I can think of no more significant way to ring in a new year than to recall the events of this eighth day of Jesus’ life. Let us reflect on these matters a bit more deeply.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This Feast Day is celebrated on the Sunday that falls within the Octave of Christmas. The Christmas Octave is the eight days from Christmas Day to the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, on January 1st. The Nativity of our Blessed Lord is so important that we spend an entire week reflecting on the awesome significance of the Word made flesh. As St. John reminded us on Christmas Day, “In the beginning was…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. On this Christmas Day, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. I want to welcome anyone from out of town who is visiting family and thank you for worshiping with us. For many of us, Christmas brings back memories of childhood, family, hot chocolate, eggnog, and that sense of wonder that can only come from pondering the birth of Jesus, our Savior. He is…