December 17 2025 (school mass) - O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

 

Today, December 17, begins the last stretch of Advent before Christmas—what is called late Advent.

And beginning today until Christmas Eve, as you heard just before the Gospel, the Church sings these beautiful musical phrases called the O Antiphons. Today, I first sang the verse in Latin then in English because the O Antiphons were first written in Latin, 1500 years ago—in the sixth century. Before America was discovered—before English was even a language spoken by human beings—the Church was singing these beautiful O Antiphons in latin in preparation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

In each of these O Antiphons, the Church asks God for special help—help to prepare well for Christmas. Today, the O Antiphon asked God for Wisdom. O Sapientia, Sapientia is the latin word for Wisdom. I sang O Wisdom which comes forth from the mouth of God, help us to order our days rightly and prudently.

What is wisdom? What does it mean to be wise? Wisdom helps us to get our life in order—the right order. Particularly during these 8 days before Christmas, we want to make sure our life is rightly ordered—that we are not being foolish with the time we’ve been given. And wisdom does just that—wisdom helps us to know what matters most.

Wisdom isn’t just about being smart and knowing a lot of things. Your mind might be filled with a million facts about science and technology and sports and literature and art and music. But just because you know a lot of things doesn’t make that you make good choices. We need the wisdom, the instruction that comes from God, to make good choices that help our souls grow in holiness.

And right at the beginning of Late Advent the Church turns to God, and asks God, God grant us wisdom, that we might use the time we’ve been given to prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas. Help us to be prudent with our time and our abilities to prepare well for Christmas.

In the Gospel today, we heard the long genealogy, the long family tree of Jesus stretching all the way back to the beginning of the people of Israel with Abraham, through King David, and finally to Joseph the husband of Mary. From all time, God had been ordering the generations of the human family to prepare for the birth of His Son. And if he can do that, he can certainly help us order our lives to get ready for Christmas.

To wisely prepare for Christmas, we need to think about Jesus every day, we need to pray every day, we need to make sure that evil and selfishness are not taking root in us, and make sure that we are practicing the kindness, gentleness, patience, and generosity we are capable of.

By practicing wisdom, we come to recognize that Christmas isn’t just about getting presents, but about celebrating the birth of Jesus who came to save us, reconcile us to God and grow in union with God, who enables us to be the people God made us to be, wise and prudent, good and holy for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

December 18 2024 - O Adonai - Lord God and Lawgiver

  

Yesterday, began that wonderful part of the church year called “late Advent” the seven days leading up to Christmas. And on each of the days of late Advent, we use one of the ancient chants known as the O Antiphons. 

Each of the O Antiphons highlights a title for the Messiah—and an important aspect of his identity and mission: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel ( God with us). 

Today we sang, O Adonai, O Lord, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law at Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

Adonai is the Hebrew word for the Lord God. When you are reading the Old Testament in Hebrew, and you come across the word ‘Lord, the Hebrew word is Adonai. 

So today’s O Antiphon highlights something of great importance about the child born on Christmas. He is God. He is the God who appeared at the burning bush—the one who heard the cries of the Hebrew people enslaved in Egypt, who delivered them out of the land of Egypt, who gave the Law at Sinai to help them to be a holy people. 

Again, this O Antiphon helps us to remember that Jesus Christ is born to deliver us, to save us. We heard this from the lips of the angel in the Gospel this morning. The angel tells Joseph that Mary will bear a child and he is to name the child Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. 

And just as God freed the people from physical slavery in Egypt, he gave the 10 commandments at Sinai to help people live free from slavery to the ways of evil and sin. In his teaching, the Lord Jesus stresses the importance of following the commandments of God through which we attain to the moral and spiritual perfection befitting of the sons and daughters of God. 

Knowing how difficult this is, the O Antiphon cries out to God, asking him to “come to redeem us with an outstretched arm” 

These final days of Advent help us to draw near to the Lord in wonder and awe, and continue to seek that deliverance from evil through our obedience to him, that transformation of our mind and heart and life that he desires for us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

That the Pope Francis, all bishops and priests, religious and laity may shine with the Light of Christ’s love for the scattered peoples of the earth. 

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

For those who have fallen away from the Church, who have become separated from God through error and sin, for those who reject the teachings of Christ, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

That our young people will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the healing graces of Christ. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 17 2024 - God's Wisdom orders all things

 Today, December 17, begins late Advent. The O Antiphons begin to be used in the Church’s liturgy, the countdown to Christmas intensifies.

During Deep Advent the Church also sings the ancient O Antiphons both in her official evening prayer and also during the Gospel Acclamation at Mass. Today we sung of the Sapientia, the wisdom, that comes from the mouth of God, by which we are to order our life. O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: come and teach us the way of prudence

The Church’s liturgy sings of wisdom to help us understand that all time and history has been ordered according to God’s wisdom—from the beginning of history to its end—God has arranged creation for its greatest good. And even when Adam and Eve introduced discord and death into creation through Sin, God’s wisdom included a plan for salvation. 

Deep Advent enters deeply into a reflection of this plan. Our first reading is taken from the very end of the first book of the bible, the book of genesis. Late in the life of Jacob, Jacob, son of Isaac, lays on his death bed, and speaks to his sons. And he lays out a plan for his twelve sons who will become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, Jacob issues a series of prophetic oracles about their futures and the future of their tribes. 

One would expect Jacob to predict the greatest blessings to be upon his first-born son. But God had other plans. It is not for Jacob’s first born, Rueben, nor his second or third, Simeon or Levi, that he predicts the most exalted future. But, as we read today, it is for Judah that Jacob foresees a royal future. Jacob calls Judah a lion, the king of beasts, and from Judah shall come a ruler, a king.

In our Gospel, today, St. Matthew traces the royal lineage through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then Judah, leading to the great kings of Israel, David and Solomon, and then generations later, to the king of kings, Jesus who is called the Christ.

As a King wisely orders his kingdom, God wisely ordered the generations of Abraham to make way for the Christ. So too, God will order our lives, when we conform our lives to his wisdom.  

God has a plan for our lives, just as He had a plan for Jacob and Judah and for the generations of Israel, and when we surrender to that plan our lives become ordered mightily and sweetily from end to end and begin to resound with his glory. May we open our ears to receive His wisdom, our hearts to receive His Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - 

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the Pope and all the clergy may always be guided by the Wisdom of God. 

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with divine wisdom, justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That the wisdom of God may direct the hearts of non-believers to the truth of the Gospel.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the healing graces of Christ. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

December 21 2022 - O Rising Sun, splendor of eternal light

 

On this darkest day of the year, the first day of winter, the church in her wisdom gives us this reading from the song of songs proclaiming, “For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth”.  We are able to say this as we are called to live by faith, not by sight.  

The world may be at its coldest and darkest and most barren, but God’s Word enables us to detect another reality: of supernatural warmth, light, and fruitfulness due to the nearness of God. 

The sun is rising. The church sings: “O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni”. O rising sun, splendor of eternal light and sun of justice, come and illumine those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

The O Antiphon is a direct reference to Micah chapter 7 verse 8: “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” It is also a reference of course to Psalm 23, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is at my side.” 

Again, Christ is the fulfillment of these old testament verses. He is the light, which enlightens everyone, light for the whole human race, who dwells in the darkness of the ignorance of God. And he is the light that is with us always, even in the face of evil and death. The birth of Christ signals that man is not abandoned to suffering and mortality; there is something more, there is something beyond finitude. His birth is the beginning of a new creation, in which God says once again, let there be light. The light of the Christian faith enables us always to begin anew—to live in newness, in which we are continually recreated by God.

What a powerful message the Church joyfully proclaims at a time when many people begin to feel the extremes of seasonal depression, stressed finances, family turmoil, injustice, and sickness. Knowledge of Christ brings consolation, patience, peace, strength, endurance, and even physical health, for even science shows the physical benefit of being filled with hope and faith and joy.

John the Baptist, in the darkness of his mother’s womb, leaps for joy at the nearness of the Christ child. May we, who sit in the darkness of the world do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - -  

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find light and peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord. 

 

3rd Week of Advent 2022 - Friday - A burning and shining lamp

 Tomorrow, December 17, begins what is often called “Late Advent” or “Deep Advent”; the Scripture readings and orations begin to take on slightly different tones and themes. Where the first part of Advent proclaims joyfully that the Christ is coming, this last part of Advent begins to focus on who is coming, the identity of the Christ child. 

The O Antiphons of “Late Advent”, for example, each ascribe Old Testament names and titles to the one who is born on Christmas Day. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those Old Testament prophesies: He is the Rod of Jesse, He is the Key of David, He is the Rising Star from the East, He is Adonai in the Flesh, He is Emmanuel—God With Us. These ancient prayers of the Church show how the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus; how God prepared the human race for His own coming in the flesh.

In the same vein, John the Baptist is a lot like those O Antiphons. He dresses and acts and speaks like a prophet from the Old Testament speaking about the one who is to come. He helps Israel transition from the shadows of prophecy to the reality of God-in-the-flesh.

Because John witnessed to the truth of his identity, Jesus called John in the Gospel today “a burning and shining lamp”. Could he say the same about us? We are to be lamps, spotlights, the point others to Jesus.

Isaiah gives us wonderful instructions in the first reading for becoming burning lamps for Christ: “observe what is right, do what is just”. 

Observing what is right, doing what is just, performing good deeds, engaging in acts of mercy, these works are not for the purpose of gaining honor for ourselves, but to point to the one who has set us on our way. 

The Lord Jesus himself urges us that our choices can point others to God. He says, “Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and they should glorify your Father in the heavens.”

As the light of the sun is seen less and less during these late December days, let us shine forth with the light of the Son of God by praying a little harder, giving a little more, striving to walk in the ways of righteousness and justice for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

We raise up our prayers of petition, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That Advent repentance and good works may prepare us rightly for Christmas joy.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

That all those who wander in the darkness of error, far from the Gospel of Christ, may be led through the preaching and example of the Christian people to the fullness of the light of faith. 

That Christ may heal every disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and bring peace to the suffering.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

December 23 2020 - E-R-O C-R-A-S

 

Just two days prior to Christmas, we read from the prophet Malachi. Malachi was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. Like Isaiah and Jeremiah before him, Malachi foretold how a Savior would come to redeem us and usher in the kingdom of God’s peace.

He also spoke of the events that would occur just prior to the arrival of the Messiah. There would be a forerunner to prepare his way, a messenger to point out to God’s people that the Messiah is coming soon. And in the Gospel, we read about the birth of the forerunner, John, who would preach from the banks of the Jordan, calling Israel to repent, to prepare their hearts for the imminent arrival of the Savior.

The final O Antiphon today sings of the Messiah as Emmanuel, the awaited Savior of the nations. All the nations of the earth look for him and long for him. Christians among every nation on the planet prepares today for the celebration of the Saviors birth. But also, the antiphon is saying that even those who do not believe in Christ, still long for him—they are looking for him in all the wrong places, worshiping false idols, engaging in immoral actions which are unfulfilling substitutes for right worship. And so Christians, like John the Baptist, have this mission, this duty to announce to the nations that the One whom they long for, his Christ. And judging how hard headed and obstinate the current generation seems—we need to be clear and persevering and also subtle and creative in this mission.

That’s why I love singing those O Antiphons, they are clear of who the Messiah is and what he comes to do. But there is also a subtle hidden meaning inside the O Antiphons. If you take the first letter of each of those latin titles for the Messiah – S for Sapientia, the wisdom of God, A for Adonai, R for Radix, the Root of Jesse, C for Clavis, the Key of David, O for Oriens, the rising star, R for Rex, the King of the Nations, and E for Emmanuel, and then you reverse the order, the letters spell out the words Ero Cras—which means—I will be here tomorrow. Creative and Clear at the same time, just like we are supposed to be, in announcing the coming of the Messiah, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - 

Please respond to each of these petitions, “Come Lord Jesus”

May Christ, the Wisdom which comes from the mouth of God, guide us in knowledge and love.

May Christ, Adonai, leader of the House of Israel, bring deliverance to all of the oppressed.

May Christ, the Root of Jesse, come to the aid of nations and leaders of nations to walk in the ways of peace.

May Christ, Key of David, free all those captive to sin. 

May Christ, the Morning Star, enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death.

May Christ, King of the Nations, reconcile all divisions caused by sin.

May Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, bring comfort to all those who mourn, and salvation to N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

 

December 21 2020 - Christ, the Rising Light

  

Throughout the church year, we do not read very often from the Song of Songs, yet this book has been the favorite of many great Saints.  The Song of Songs has been called “the Great Love Story between God and the Soul”, yet, it is the only book of the Bible that never once mentions the name of God.  But when you read it, with the eyes of faith, you find God everywhere, in the symbolism of this book’s poetry and song-like dialogues.  

Song of Songs is a series of love poems about a Bride and her Groom.  The traditional Jewish interpretation identifies the Groom as the God and the Bride as the people of Israel.  It’s no surprise then how early Christian interpreters saw the Song of Songs fulfilled by Jesus—in his love for the Church. Saint Paul refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ several times.  

In just a few short verses, we realize that the Bride and Groom in the Song of Songs are passionately in love.  And so, what an appropriate reading for Advent, no? For as two lovers joyfully anticipate being in each other’s presence, calling out to each other, speaking their desire for each other, so the Church joyfully and passionately awaits Christ: “Hark! my lover–here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills.”

He rises over the mountains, much like the rays of the morning sun. Which is why, in the O Antiphon for today, the Church calls out to Christ, “O Oriens” O Rising Sun, O Radiant Dawn, come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. On this, the darkest day of the year, the day of the winter solstice, the Church announces Christ as the rising light.  

I hope your advent preparations have helped you encounter this God who loves you.  I hope you have encountered Him as light that pierces through the darkness of your life.  Each of us have struggles, anxieties, darkness.  The relationship with Christ may not eliminate the darkness from your life, but in Christ we encounter the light shining in the darkness, a love which accompanies us amidst all of our worldly trials. So we must look for him and listen for him especially in the darkness and quiet of prayer!

Rejoice, the Lord, our Lover is coming to meet us. Let us open our arms and hearts to Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - 

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church

For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.

That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find light and peace and joy in Christ.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord. 

December 18 2020 - O Adonai (School Mass)

 

Yesterday, began that wonderful part of the church year called “late Advent” the seven days leading up to Christmas. And on each of the days of late Advent, as you heard just prior to the Gospel, was the ancient chant called the “O Antiphon”. Each day of late Advent uses one of the O Antiphons to call upon God, to bless us, and teach us, to lead us. It is typically sung in latin, because that was the language of the Church when the O Antiphons were composed. And that’s the great thing about Catholicism, we use latin, Greek, Hebrew, and our own native tongues to praise God, and for Christians in Cleveland that might be English, Spanish, Italian, german, Arabic, and others. All the people of the world are called to gather together to worship the One True God.

And that’s what today’s O Antiphon is all about. Today’s O Antiphon is one of the rare days where we call upon God with one of his Hebrew titles from the Old Testament, we called him, “O Adonai” . Adonai is one of the Hebrew titles for God which calls upon him as the Lord of all Creation. The whole O Antiphon said, “O Adonai, O Lord God and Leader of the House of Israel” who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the law of the covenant on mount Sinai, come with your outstretched arm to redeem us all. 

This O Antiphon calls to mind that the One True God and Lord of all creation, appeared to Moses in the burning bush and commissioned Moses to free the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. That same Lord of all Creation then gave Moses the 10 commandments, so that the people that he just freed from physical slavery could live free from slavery to the ways of evil and sin. The O Antiphon calls upon Adonai, the Lord of Creation to come and save us and redeem us.

I really love these O Antiphons and I sing them every day, because they really help us to prepare for and remember what Christmas is all about. It is about God, the one true God, and Lord of all Creation, who frees people from slavery and sin, taking on human flesh, becoming one of us, to save us and redeem us. And not just a particular people, who speak only one particular language, but rather, all the people of the earth. All the people of the earth are called to know him, believe in him, and love him. 

To all of our school families, I pray that your Christmas breaks may be blessed with a deep and abiding love for the Christ Child, our Adonai, our Emmanuel, our savior and redeemer, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

That the Pope Francis, all bishops and priests, religious and laity may shine with the Light of Christ’s love for the scattered peoples of the earth. 

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

For those who have fallen away from the Church, who have become separated from God through error and sin, for those who reject the teachings of Christ, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

That our young people will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the healing graces of Christ. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 20 2019 - Angelus Bells and Remembering the Incarnation

One of my favorite features of St. Ignatius of Antioch church is our large bell tower. It is the tallest catholic church bell tower in the diocese of Cleveland, 240 feet tall. You can see the tower from miles
away, and you can hear it ringing from miles away as well.

Every day, as you might have noticed the Church bells ring at 12 noon and at 6pm. In the old days, they would ring at 6am as well. 6, noon, and six, to mark the day’s beginning, middle, and end, but they are also rung for a religious significance, for they are known as the Angelus bells. Angelus is the word in the latin language for Angel.

There is also a prayer that goes along with the ringing of those angelus bells, called, The Angelus Prayer, which calls to mind one of the most important events in human history, again, the event we just read about in today’s Gospel.

The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary, and she conceived a child by the power of the holy spirit.

Why is this important? Well, it had never happened before and it will never happen again. It was an event that Isaiah had foretold, as we heard in our first reading, that a virgin would conceive a child through the intervention of God, and that the child’s name would be Emmanuel, which means “God is with us”. It was something God had been planning for thousands and thousands of years—His plan to save us from our sins.

I’ve been praying the Angelus Prayer every day for many, many years, and I believe it is a very important prayer for us Christians. For Christians need reminders of who God is, what God has done, and what God calls us to. And the Angelus does just that. It reminds us that God has done this amazing thing for us and for our salvation. And it reminds us that we are respond to God like Mary did, saying to God, “may it be done to me according to your Word…may God’s will be done in my life…may I respond to God with faith, always, daily, many times a day.” And the Angelus reminds us who Jesus is. He is God made flesh. He’s not just an ordinary baby, he’s not just another worldly teacher, he’s God, and we owe him our love, our devotion, our worship.

[Morning Mass] In the O Antiphon Today, Christ is called the Clavis David, the Key of David who frees us from prison and from the shadow of death. By calling to mind what our great Lord has done for us, may our minds and hearts be freed from selfishness and fear, that we may glorify the Lord in all we say and do today, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

[School Mass] You will notice something different at Mass today, we will be ringing bells during mass. The bells at Mass are very similar to the Angelus bells. The first time they ring, they are a sign of the holy spirit descending upon the altar, just like the holy spirit descended upon mary. And the second and the third time they ring, they call our attention to the fact that Jesus is now present in our midst, bread and wine have really and truly become transformed into the body and blood of Jesus, our Lord.

As you prepare for Christmas break, remember the reason for Christmas, that mary said yes to God, and that God became human to save us from our sins. May you and your families be blessed this Christmas with profound faith, hope, love and the peace of the Christ-Child, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.


 
 - - - - - - - -
We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 17 2019 - May God's Wisdom Order Our Lives

Today, December 17, begins late Advent. The O Antiphons begin to be used in the Church’s liturgy, the countdown to Christmas intensifies.

And on this first day of late Advent, our first reading is taken from the very end of the first book of the bible, the book of genesis. Late in the life of Jacob, Jacob, son of Isaac, lays on his death bed, and speaks to his sons. Surrounded by the twelve, who will become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, Jacob issues a series of prophetic oracles about their futures and the future of their tribes.

One would expect Jacob to predict the greatest blessings to be upon his first-born son. But God had other plans. It is not for Jacob’s first born, Reuben, nor his second or third, Simeon or Levi, that he predicts the most exalted future. But, as we read today, it is for Judah that Jacob foresees a royal future. Jacob calls Judah a lion, the king of beasts, and from Judah shall come a ruler, a king.

In our Gospel, today, St. Matthew traces the royal lineage through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then Judah, leading to the great kings of Israel, David and Solomon, and then generations later, to the king of kings, Jesus who is called the Christ.

The O Antiphon for this first day of late Advent sings of the “sapientia”, the wisdom which comes forth from the mouth of God. As a King wisely orders his kingdom, God wisely ordered the generations of Abraham to make way for the Christ. So too, God will order our lives, when we conform our lives to his wisdom. 

God has a plan for our lives, just as He had a plan for Jacob and Judah and the generations to follow. And when we surrender to that plan our lives become ordered mightily and sweetily from end to end and begin to resound with his glory. May we open our ears to receive His wisdom, our hearts to receive His Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -
 
We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the Pope and all the clergy may always be guided by the Wisdom of God.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with divine wisdom, justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That the wisdom of God may direct the hearts of non-believers to the truth of the Gospel.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the healing graces of Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

December 21 2018 - The light of God's love

Throughout the church year, we do not read very often from the Song of Songs, yet this book has been the favorite of many great Saints.  The Song of Songs has been called “the Great Love Story between God and the Soul”, yet, it is the only book of the Bible that never once mentions the name of God.  But when you read it, with the eyes of faith, you find God everywhere, in the symbolism of this book’s poetry, and song-like dialogues.

Song of Songs is a series of love poems about a Bride and her Groom.  The traditional Jewish interpretation identifies the Groom as the God and the Bride as the people of Israel.  Early Christian interpreters understood the Groom as Jesus and the Bride as the Church.  Especially in light of Saint Paul who refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ several times.  In just a few short verses, we realize that the Bride and Groom in the Song of Songs are passionately in love.  If you wish to more deeply encounter the love God has for you, meditate with the eyes of faith, on the Song of Songs!

The Song of Songs is very appropriate for Advent.  For as two lovers joyfully anticipate being in each other’s presence, they call out to each other, they speak their desire for each other, so the Church joyfully and passionately awaits Christ.

Hark! my lover–here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills.

He rises over the mountains, much like the rays of the morning sun. Which is why, in the O Antiphon for today, the Church calls out to Christ, “O Oriens” O Rising Sun, O Radiant Dawn, come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. On the eve of the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, the Church announces Christ as light.

I hope your advent preparations have helped you encounter this God who loves you.  I hope you have encountered Him as light that pierces through the darkness of your life.  Each of us have struggles, anxieties, darkness.  The relationship with Christ may not eliminate the darkness from your life, but in Christ we encounter the light shining in the darkness, a love which accompanies us amidst all of our worldly trials. This light is so powerful, that even in the midst of darkness, we are able to cry out with St. Paul, “death, where is thy sting?” Darkness may be present, but it has no power over the Christian who walks in the light.

Rejoice, the Lord, our Lover is coming to meet us. Let us open our arms and hearts to Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.
That those in the darkness of error and faithlessness may be enlightened by the light of Christ through the witness of the Church
For the protection of the unborn, and the overturning of all laws lacking respect for the dignity of human life.
That those struggling with winter depression or addiction may find peace and joy in Christ.
That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 19 2018 - Already and not yet

The third week of Advent is characterized by joy. We began the week, lighting the 3rd candle of the Advent wreath, donning the rose colored vestments, and singing, “Gaudete in Domino Semper, Rejoice in the Lord Always, For the Lord is near.”

Our joy is similar to that of Manoah and his wife. Not only did the angel announce that Manoah’s wife would bear a son after years and years of barrenness, but that child, Samson, would be especially consecrated to the Lord, and would begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines.

Our joy is similar to the sentiment of the psalmist: trusts that the Lord is a rock of refuge, who knows that God will give him strength to fulfill his life’s purpose.

And our joy is similar to that of Elizabeth and Zechariah. God intervened in their lives as well to bring an end to decades of barrenness, decades of shame. To an even greater degree than Samson in the first reading, their son, John, would be especially consecrated to God, and be filled with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous. What could bring greater joy to these parents?

And yet, our joy is greater still, because of the nearness of God. The Eucharistic Preface since Sunday and up until Christmas proclaims that “already we rejoice at the mystery of His Nativity”. Christ has already been born into history, and for this we “already rejoice”, yet we reflect upon these wonderful Advent scripture passages, that our understanding of the miracle, the impact of the incarnation, may deepen. And as our understanding and wonder and awe deepen, so too does our joy.

The O Antiphon for December 19 speaks of Jesus as the “Root of Jesse” who is a sign for people, before whom kings are silent, and to whom the nations make their supplications: “come to deliver us, and tarry not”.

We pray that we may know times of Advent silence, we may be fervent in our Advent supplications, and pray that the Lord will deliver us from all that keeps us from knowing him, loving him, and following him, and experiencing the joy of his presence in our minds and hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.


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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That God may bring the faithless to believe in His Son and increase the faith of those struggling to believe.

For all expectant mothers and for those who struggle with barrenness and infertility, that God may grant them strength and grace.

That children and young people may seek to be consecrated to the Lord in word and deed and become instruments of Christ’s Truth and Love.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 18 2018 - O Adonai - He shall save His People

One of the things that has always struck me about today’s Gospel story, of the archangel’s visit to St. Joseph, is that the archangel tells Joseph what he is to name the Christ child. Modern parents will often spend a lot of time flipping through books of baby names, actually they have websites for that now, to help them decide what they will name their child. They might pick a name in honor of a grandparent, a celebrity or saint, or they might pick a name whose meaning contains characteristics they hope their children will embody. My first name, for example, Kevin, has irish or gaelic roots, and means gentle, noble, and kind. I think my parents did a pretty good job with that, don’t you?

In ancient Israel, the child’s father was responsible for naming the child. Earlier in the Gospel of Luke, we hear how Zechariah names his son to be John. That God chooses the name of the Christ child shows that the son of Mary is the true Divine Son of the Heavenly Father. And God too chooses a name that will characterize the Son’s identity and mission. The Archangel announces the Father’s will, “You shall name Him Jesus”  The name ‘Jesus’ is derived from the Old Testament name “Joshua” which means, “God is salvation”.  What a perfect name. Jesus is God, and He is our salvation.

Now, first-century Jews were expecting God to save them from their political enemies.  Rome was occupying their land, controlling their religious life, cruelly torturing and murdering Jews who spoke out against Rome.

But the angel tells Joseph, that Jesus wasn’t going to save Israel from their earthly enemies.  Jesus was going to save Israel and all mankind from their sins.  For sin is a greater threat than any political enemy. Sin brought about not just an enemy’s occupation of one’s homeland, but the occupation of one’s soul. Sin threatened not just one’s national identity, but a defacement of one’s identity as a child of God.

The Advent O Antiphons for this morning applies another name from the Old Testament to the Christ Child. I sang “O Adonai”.  O Lord and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm. 

Jesus is identified as the God who led Israel out of Egyptian slavery, who gave them the law that they might be a holy nation.

These names and titles help us to truly prepare for Christmas because amidst all the busyness, they help us to focus on who Jesus is, and what really matters.  That to us is born a savior who came to free us from being separated from God, from our destructive habits.

That Jesus is Lord, Adonai, means that we belong to him, we owe our loyalty to Him we owe our obedience to his law, and we owe worship to his glory, bringing to him the pure and acceptable offering of the total submission of our minds, hearts, and lives. May our honor of him help every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 17 2018 - Jesus, Wisdom of God

December 17 begins what is called “Deep Advent” or “Late Advent”.  We hear on this first Deep Advent Day from the Gospel of Matthew, the genealogy of Jesus, tracing Jesus’ family tree all the way back to Abraham, who the first Eucharistic prayer calls “our father in faith”

St. Matthew the apostle, the Jewish tax collector, wanted to show the Jewish people of his day how Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jewish nation and the prophecies of the Old Testament. So Matthew, carefully derives the genealogy of Jesus through 42 generations, to show that Jesus is the true Messiah, promised by God to Abraham, to save the human race. Jesus is the fulfillment of their deepest hopes.


During Deep Advent the Church also sings the ancient O Antiphons both in her official evening prayer and also during the Gospel Acclamation at Mass. Today we sung of the Sapientia, the wisdom, that comes from the mouth of God, by which we are to order our life.

Nearly every culture of human history has had some sense of wisdom which helps us to judge right from wrong and to lead a good life. St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom” (1 Cor 1:22) well, Jesus is the sign of God’s providence, He is the wisdom that comes from God, He is our righteousness, our holiness, our redemption (I Cor 1:30). We are saved by wisdom, because Jesus is the Wisdom of God,  the Word spoken by God, who teaches us to live an ordered and prudent life on earth, that we may come to eternal life.

How different would our world, our city, and our families be, if more men and women, (Christians too), allowed themselves to be guided and taught and saved by the wisdom that comes from God. We long for peace, we long for justice, but these things are only attainable by learning and practicing and making room in our minds and hearts for the Wisdom who is Jesus Christ. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with divine wisdom, justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

December 18 2017 - O Adonai

Yesterday began what is often called “Deep Advent” or “Late Advent”.  Where the first two weeks of Advent focus on the Second Coming of Christ at the End of Time, the second half of Advent focuses on his first coming at his birth and his abiding with us.  The scripture and the prayers of the Mass help us to focus on the identity of the Christ Child, and the mission for which he is born.

The Gospel acclamations during these last few days of Advent are the ancient “O Antiphons.” Each Antiphon begins by addressing Christ by one of His messianic titles from the Old Testament. O Sapientia, O Adonai, O Radix Jesse, O Clavis David, O Oriens, O Rex Gentium, and O Emmanuel. The antiphon ends with a heartfelt plea for his coming.

The archangel in the Gospel refers to the Christ Child as a child with many names. He will be called Jesus, who name means “God saves”. His name signifies his identity and mission. Mary’s son is God in the flesh born to save us from or sins.

Archangel Gabriel explains this fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

Today, I chanted “O Adonai et dux domus Israel”.  O Adonai and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

The Christ Child for whom we prepare is identified with the Lord of Israel and the giver of the law. The O Antiphon refers to the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai and also the prophet Isaiah who says, “Adonai is our lawgiver, Adonai is our king: he will save us.”

Again, preparing well for Christmas isn’t simply about making sure our presents are wrapped and cookies are made. We do well to meditate deeply on the identity and mission of the Christ Child.

Recognizing that the Christ Child is Lord, Adonai, means that we belong to him, we owe our loyalty to Him as subjects to a king, we owe our obedience to his law, and we owe worship to his glory, bringing to him the pure and acceptable offering of the total submission of our minds, hearts, and lives.

May our honor of him help every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the witness of the Church may help all nations come to believe in the Lordship of Jesus.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and a strengthening of all marriages in holiness.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and strengthen all who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.