CHRISTMAS — IS THAT ALL?
My son was four years old when, on the morning of December 25, far too early after the short night before, he finished unwrapping the last of his gifts. Then he turned to me, an anxious look in his eyes:…
Category Christmas
O ANTIPHONS
Have you ever wondered about the O Antiphons? These chants and prayers show up during the week before Christmas. They are part of the Acclamation prayers in the weekday masses. What might be most familiar to us about the O…
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
Over the last few weeks, I have been privileged to attend the funerals of several people who were faithful to their baptismal promises. Their baptisms were meaningful in defining who they became and how they lived. I had a personal…
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
This story begins by ancient wise ones appreciating a stellar anomaly. A bright star shining in the sky and a decision to follow a prophecy’s truth, the sign of wonder. How does one follow a star? By keeping one’s focus…
NEW YEAR
For the secular world, New Year’s Day is full of resolutions: we will eat less, drink less, exercise more, be more generous, less greedy, better in every way. But for Christians, it’s also about blessings. The scripture readings for the…
THE HOLY FAMILY: PILGRIMS OF HOPE
Churches and Cathedrals in Canada and around the world are beginning the celebration of the Jubilee Year whose theme is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Mary and Joseph carrying the Christ-child within are the first Pilgrims of Hope we encounter in the…
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We sing of a silent night when Christ, our Saviour is born to be present with us. The silence of donkey hooves, plodding through the darkness. The silence of Joseph and Mary –a quiet couple, trusting each other to get to…
THE STRANGE AND WONDERFUL BLESSINGS OF EPIPHANY
If you ever need evidence that many of us are not listening all that closely to the Sunday readings, watch the faces of the assembly on the feast of the Epiphany (though you’ll have to be an altar server, lector…
HOLY INNOCENTS
I hope your Christmas was complete with some of the good things this beautiful season has to offer. In whatever way Christmas came to you this year, I hope you were reminded of the best we are, the best we…
GLIMMERS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHT
On Christmas morning light glimmers through the stable door: the light of hope, the light of peace and the light of love. These shards of light glimmer around us today. A glimmer is like a positive trigger. Whereas a trigger…