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Today marks the formal end of the Church’s Christmas season with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The event of the baptism of the Lord is very intriguing and paradoxical. All of the three synoptic Gospels mention the baptism of the Lord (Lk 3:21-22; Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11). However, there is a problem: we are told that the baptism offered by John the Baptist was “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3:3). John began with the message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand” (Mt 3:2). And Matthew adds: “and as [the people] were baptized by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins” (Mt 3:6). If Jesus was without sin (1Jn 3:5) why did He go to John to be baptized?

The Magi's visit is celebrated as the Epiphany, marking the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. In our contemporary world, where faith is often challenged, this feast reminds us Catholics of the ongoing need for Christ to be revealed in our lives and in society. It calls us to be bearers of this revelation through our words and actions. The Magi's long journey guided by a star represents the spiritual journey of every one of us. Like the Magi, modern believers are called to seek Christ with determination and faith. This journey often requires leaving behind the familiar and comfortable, much like the Magi left their homeland. For contemporary Catholics, this might mean stepping out of their comfort zones to live out their faith more authentically in an often-challenging secular world. Like the Magi, we might encounter disconcerting experiences in our journey of faith. First, they met King Herod. He was certainly interested in the Child of which the Magi spoke; not to worship him, as he wished to make them believe by lying, but rather to kill him. Herod was a powerful man who saw others solely as rivals to combat. Basically, on reflection, God also seemed a rival to him. Herod is a figure we dislike, whom we instinctively judge negatively because of his brutality. Yet we should ask ourselves: is there perhaps something of Herod also in us? Might we too sometimes see God as a sort of rival? Might we too be blind to His signs and deaf to His words because we think He is setting limits on our life and does not allow us to dispose of our existence as we please or give expression to our wanton way of life with unlimited freedom?

No room at the inn. No room anywhere. They gave him the only place they could spare and the promised Messiah was born that night on the floor of a stable without any light where they cut the cord and cleaned up the mess and wrapped him in somebody's workaday dress and while Mary slept there, exhausted and cold, Joseph sat by feeling helpless and old.

Mary, shortly after the Annunciation, traveled from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth. This journey was approximately 90-100 miles long. Mary likely joined a caravan for safety and ease of travel, as it was uncommon for a young woman to travel alone. The route from Nazareth to the Judean hill country had two main options: The shorter trade route through the center of the region, which was strenuous and passed through Samaria. Mary must have taken the longer route through the flatter Jordan River Valley, which was about 90 miles long. The journey typically took 4-6 days, with travelers covering about 20 miles per day. Mary may have traveled on foot or ridden a donkey, which was a common mode of transportation at the time. The destination was likely Ein Karem, an idyllic village where the wealthier folks lived, about 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem, traditionally considered the birthplace of John the Baptist.

The first word of the entrance hymn today is “Rejoice!” This tradition originates from the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, where the first word of the Introit, or entrance antiphon, was Gaudete (rejoice, be glad). Hence, this Sunday has come to be known as Gaudete Sunday. Today, we light the pink candle on our Advent wreath to mark this day of joy.

Every year on the second Sunday of Advent, the Church has us ponder the words and deeds of Saint John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the coming of the Lord. Luke introduces John in a way similar to how the Hebrew Bible introduces the prophets, with a full reference to who was in power at the time. Luke is careful to include the full list of Roman and Jewish officials in office (secular and religious) at the time of John's debut around 27 AD and Jesus' movement from his hidden life to his public ministry. Jesus' emergence in Israel, emphasized through a genealogy that stretches not only past Abraham but all the way back to Adam, has implications for everyone everywhere.

As soon as the feast of Thanksgiving is over, we tend to fuss over our Christmas preparations with a flurry of activities to decorate our homes, shopping for gifts and of course planning the food platters. In households with roots in the Italian American tradition, cooking up a feast of seven fishes makes for a very special Christmas Eve, with generations of cooks in the kitchen and favorite foods that return year after year. But the Church calendar puts a kind of break and damper by highlighting the season of Advent. If Christ has already been born, what is this Advent waiting all about? Have we forgotten about His birth? Strangely the latter question contains part of the answer. It has to do with Jesus’ birth into our hearts and our forgetfulness.

Royalty and Kingship, for most of us these days, is the stuff of tabloids and cartoons and for the younger generation challenging computer games. Our last collective focus on the matter of kings and queens occurred during the media attention given to the car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, France on Sunday August 31, 1997, when Princess Diana died. I was visiting Germany at that time, enroute to a seminar in Rome before my missionary assignment to Kenya, in Africa. Five days later the world mourned another death with less tabloid attention but with more worldwide participation when Mother Teresa died at the age 87 on Sept. 5, 1997. The high contrast of the two events had impacted me at that time as I had personal encounter with Mother Theresa several times and I also had admiration for the efforts that Princess Diana made particularly in raising global awareness of landmine victims and the indiscriminate nature of the weapons. Countries came together later in 1997 to sign the Mine Ban Treaty in Ottawa.

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the theme of end times is proclaimed in the reading at the Eucharist. The word ‘Revelation’ comes from the Greek ‘apokalypsis’. The common feature of apocalyptic literature is an unfolding of matters generally unknown, such as heavenly regions or the events of the future by someone who has been granted a special revelation of these things by God, either directly or through an intermediary, such as an interpreting angel. In many cultures like the Mediterranean culture of Jesus time, when a bride walks towards the groom, she is wearing a veil; a veil which prevents her from seeing the groom clearly and becoming close to him. The intimacy that is initiated when the husband lifts his new wife's veil will be like that for the church when Christ returns. Christ is the groom, and the church is His bride.

Our Catholic Faith teaches us to cherish the memory of our dear departed. It urges us to commune in prayer, especially at Mass, with the souls of those we loved while they walked this Earth. We are continually reminded that “life is changed, not ended.” Just as “the living” are helped over the rough patches of this early life by experiencing the love, sympathy and solidarity of their friends and family, so also, we believe that the dead are consoled and helped as they pass through the often painful “cleansing” which we call ‘purgatory’ in preparation for their ultimate encounter with God and enjoy eternal peace. We remember in a special way the members of our parish family who passed on in the last year.

When asked about the smallest measurement of time, a humorist went beyond the Planck Time (light travel) and Zeptosecond (particle physics) and coined a term, ‘honky second’ as the measurement of time between the light turning green and the honking of the car behind you at a stop on a busy highway. Stopping at a red light could bring different reactions in people. Some see it as a bother or a freedom limiter, while others see it as a safety guide and a prevention of rash driving. These attitudes can also indicate a person’s general reaction to rules and commandments as well.

I am writing this note from my room as I am convalescing from a viral infection with covid like symptoms. So, I followed the last Sunday’s events from the sidelines, away from the crowds as I did not want to be a ‘herald of virus’ but would like to remain the ‘bringer of God’s Good News’! I thank the Catholic Daughters of America for their continued dedication to their ministry of being a ‘leaven of change’ in our society. Their many charitable outreach ventures and sponsoring of our deserving youth to college education are very commendable. As they renewed their commitment to action on the past Sunday, we accompany them with our prayers. They have also started a social lunch out and invite you to join them. Please contact Christine Mooney .

One of the most intriguing passages of the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament) is Isaiah Chapter 53, from which our first reading for this Sunday is taken. Isaiah describes the suffering of God’s servant, whose personal sacrifice of himself brings about redemptive healing to the people. While some Jewish interpretations view the "servant" as representing Israel collectively, the details align remarkably with Jesus' individual experience. For Christians, Isaiah 53 powerfully foreshadows Christ's atoning work on the cross and continues to be a cornerstone text connecting Old Testament prophecy to New Testament fulfillment. Some scholars even call it, “The passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Isaiah” written 700 years before the actual event of Christ’s passion and death.

The fascinating story of the young man eagerly running to Jesus to get the answer to a burning desire in his heart, in many ways, mirrors the inner quest and disappointments of many in society. “What must I do for eternal life?” Our efforts and achievements are not enough. Our place and honor in society seem to have something still wanting. Our faithfulness to the legal system and basic commandments has been commendable and in fact, we kept them from our early days.

From the ‘rib-tickling’ account of the creation of the woman from Adam to the ‘knee-jerk’ teaching of Jesus that ‘What God has joined together; no human being must separate’ we have a brilliant scriptural beam of light that casts clarity on the current mired perception of modern-day marriage in contrast to God’s plan. While the exact timing of angelic creation is not specified in scripture, it is widely interpreted that they were created before humans based on their roles and presence during the creation narrative. Yet, after making the first human being, God muses that it is not good for him to be alone! The creation of Eve from Adam's rib holds profound symbolic significance in the biblical narrative. This act demonstrates the intimate connection between man and woman, emphasizing their shared essence and complementary nature. By using Adam's rib, God showed that Eve was not a separate creation, but an integral part of Adam, highlighting their unity in marriage. The rib's location near the heart symbolizes the close emotional bond between spouses. Additionally, the rib's ability to regenerate suggests that Adam's temporary loss resulted in a greater gain - a lifelong companion. In the original Biblical language, it was rendered as ishsha (“woman”) is made from isha (“her man”) signifying how men

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off … And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off … And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out …” These are stark words that make us cringe. Jesus spent three years curing the sick, giving sight to the blind and making the lame walk. This teaching seems to go diametrically against His actions. Interpreters are inclined toward giving these verses figurative rather than literal meaning. Surely, Jesus did not intend to gather a band of lame and blind followers around Himself. Though this view has merit, we must not forget even today in some Middle Eastern countries maiming punishments are meted out by courts to blasphemers and convicted criminals.

Jesus Christ's message was profoundly subversive to the traditional value systems of His time, which were centered on power, status, and hierarchy. His teachings and actions challenged the established social, religious, and political order in ways that were radical and transformative. The Scripture for this 25th Sunday offers us three insights. The first is that we need to take a deeper dive into Christ’s way of thinking, which is often counter cultural to our own popular notions. The second is to take a second look at our personal ambitions and our tendency to use every opportunity to our personal advantage. And finally, we need to accept that we are all finite beings in a finite and tainted world and striving to live by the wisdom of God will open for us a “God-willed” pathway through suffering!

Standing Firm Against Evil Forces We human beings tend to take extraordinary measures to create memories. Imagine a young man taking his fiancee to an exotic location to make a proposal for marriage or a family going to a far off land to celebrate a mile-stone event. Jesus brought his disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi before his final journey to Jerusalem. They had been together for almost three years and were followed by crowds wherever they went. Here, in this northeastern area of Israel not frequented by pious Jews, Jesus would have some private time to prepare His disciples for the inevitable. Jesus’ teaching in Caesarea Philippi would be the first time He spoke about His future church, and it seems curious why Jesus chose this faraway, pagan location for one of His most important lessons and revelations. Jesus, however, was a masterful, intentional teacher and storyteller. He must have selected this area for a powerful visual illustration of the disciples’ future challenges and responsibilities.

There is always a ‘buzz’ in media when a miracle-like happening takes place. When a disaster is averted or a few people survive a terrorist attack or are rescued from captivity, we get excited and glue our attention to the TV channels. The atmosphere in the time of Jesus was also fascinated with miracles. Not only was a miracle greeted with excitement but there was an underlying expectation that the messianic times had already arrived.

In his history of the Jewish people, Antiquities of the Jews, the Jewish historian Josephus, himself a Pharisee, identifies four influential Jewish sects that existed during the time Jesus was alive: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and the Fourth Philosophy. The New Testament mentions just the first three, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. Biblical scholars estimate that there were about 6,000 Pharisees, 4,000 Essenes, and substantially fewer Sadducees who in spite of it, wielded great influence in the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious authority of elders) and the Temple Liturgy. At the time of Jesus, there were approximately 4 million people living in Palestine.