It may seem odd that, just as the secular world begins to celebrate peace and joy during the holiday season, we are asked in this week's Gospel to consider our sinfulness. The words of John the Baptist echo across the centuries: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Isn't John's talk about sin, God's wrath, and the need for repentance a bit of a downer as we prepare for Christmas?
Up Next in Year A
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3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Who hasn't felt discouraged at some point in life? We all know how it feels when things don't go the way we want or expect. John the Baptist was feeling that way in today's Gospel. He is languishing in prison, wondering if all that he said and did had any meaning. Jesus didn't look like the commo...
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4th Sunday of Advent (Year A)
This week's Gospel tells us how the "birth of Jesus Christ came about." More specifically, it tells us how an angel appeared to Joseph, explaining to him that Mary's son would save the people from their sins. While Joseph might not have understood it at the time, we know that Jesus is the fulfill...
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Nativity of the Lord (Year A)
When we think of the story of Christmas, we usually think of the "infancy narrative" of Luke's Gospel: Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, no room in the inn, Jesus laid in the manger, angels, and shepherds. This is the familiar account of Christ's birth, and we are surrounded by reminders of...
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