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Friday – Our Lady of Guadalupe Gospel – Luke 1:26-38 The Visitation Sacristy, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth Today’s Gospel retells the story of Mary’s Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth.   It echoes Mary’s YES , John’s leap for joy and Elizabeth’s declaration that Mary is “Mother of my Lord.”    It speaks to us of a message of faith and hope. And as we celebrate today the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are reminded of another kind of visitation – that of Mary to Juan Diego in 1531.   Again it is a reminder to us all of Mary’s love and protection, especially in this time of pandemic and doubt.   Like Juan Diego, we have all been given a message of hope and faith.   God, give us the grace and humility to hear that message and grow in faith and love. O Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the ...
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  Thursday – 2 nd Week of Advent               (revisited) Gospel – Matthew 11:11-15 Hiding In Plain Sight Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem When I was little, I played more than my share of Hide and Seek and I think I was pretty good at the ‘hiding’ part.   But what really upset me sometimes was when I found what I thought was the perfect hiding spot.   They’ll never find me here.   Unfortunately that is exactly what happened!   They didn’t exactly NOT find me; they gave up looking!   And eventually I had to come out of hiding after waiting and waiting!   So sad! The last line in today’s Gospel stands out for me – whoever has ears should hear!   I would add ‘look’ to the equation!   In these difficult times, we often hear people complaining “where is God?”   My response is – are we even looking?   Or have we given up trying?   Looking and listening are not simply pa...
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  Wednesday 2 nd Week of Advent Gospel – Matthew 11:28-30 Share the Load! Sharing a Moment We all have our burdens; we are all weighed down with cares and stress and worries for ourselves, our family, and our world.   We all trudge through long days and sleepless nights, wondering when we will find a break from the load and relief from the hardships. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to bring our troubles to Him and He will give us rest.   Ok, sounds good.   But then He says to take on HIS yoke because His yoke is easy and light and we will find rest.   Seriously??   His yoke is easy?   Let go of my burden and take on His?   How is that gonna be any better?   Are we missing something here?   Well, of course we are! Unlike Jesus’ followers, most of us lack simple farming experience; we simply don’t realize that a yoke is meant for TWO oxen!   And that is the crux of Jesus’ words today.   The yoke is not meant for one; i...
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