The Road to Mount Zion: Walking Toward God’s Peace

The Gospel recounts Jesus’ warning that the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden, . . .

. . . just as the flood came unexpectedly in the days of Noah. Therefore, believers must remain spiritually awake and prepared at all times.

The Homily connects this vigilance to the Advent call for peace and reconciliation. Reflecting on the United Nations monument inspired by Isaiah’s prophecy . . . “They shall beat their swords into plowshares” . . . the Homily notes that true peace does not come from political power or military strength but from turning toward God, the God of Jacob.

Despite global efforts, . . .

. . . wars persist, reminding us that peace must begin within each person.

During Advent, Christians are invited to “beat their swords into plowshares” by reconciling with those who have hurt them. The greatness of a Christian lies in seeking peace, healing relationships, and living each day as though the Lord is coming in every moment.

Paul’s call to “wake from sleep” emphasizes living daily life in holiness, attentiveness, and readiness. Advent begins not with the beginning of time but with the end in view . . . the ultimate fulfillment when God will be all in all and peace will reign. The Church becomes the place where this peace begins as believers set aside hostility and walk together toward God.

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The Road to Mount Zion: Walking Toward God’s Peace

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Art Work

The Journey of the Magi: French Painter: James Tissot: 1894

Part of the online collection of the Brooklyn Museum. Why was this panting selected for this post: A visual metaphor for pilgrimage toward God, paralleling Isaiah’s call to “go up to the mountain of the Lord.”

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Gospel Reading: Matthew 24: 37-44

First Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5

Second Reading: Romans 13: 11-14

The King We Did Not Expect, but the King We Need

The Gospel recounts Jesus on the cross being mocked . . .

. . . by rulers, soldiers, and one of the criminals, while the other criminal acknowledges Jesus’ innocence and asks to be remembered in His kingdom. Jesus responds with the promise of paradise.

Christ the King

The Homily reflects on the Feast of Christ the King, instituted in 1925 to counter rising secularism and remind the world that true authority belongs to God. While earthly kings are associated with power and honor, Christ’s kingship is revealed paradoxically through His suffering on the cross. Unlike Adam, who misused his authority through disobedience under a tree, Jesus restores humanity through obedience on the cross, offering His life for His subjects.

The message emphasizes that if Christ is truly King of our lives, He must influence every part of us . . . our decisions, actions, words, and daily living . . . not just selective areas or limited moments like Sundays. As the liturgical year ends, the faithful are invited to reflect on whether they have allowed Christ to reign fully in their hearts, lives, and families, asking God for the grace to let Christ transform and lead them completely.

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The King We Did Not Expect, but the King We Need

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Gospel Reading: Luke 23: 35-43

First Reading: 2 Samuel 5: 1-3

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20

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Art Work

Christ the King: American Artist: Charles Willson Peale: between 1920s and 1950s

No Mold for Holiness: The Unique Path of Every Saint

Today’s Gospel reflection, centered on the Beatitudes, . . .

. . . highlights the universal call to holiness and the unity of the three “churches”: the Church Militant (pilgrim believers on earth), the Church Penitent (souls being purified), and the Church Triumphant (saints in heaven).

The Homily emphasizes that sainthood is not something we wait for after death, but something we are called to pursue now through our daily lives. Each person reflects Christ uniquely . . . there is no single “mold” for holiness. Using examples like St. André Bessette, who served humbly as a doorkeeper, and Blessed Carlo Acutis, who used technology to evangelize, the message encourages the faithful to mirror Christ in their own circumstances.

Holiness is expressed through living the Beatitudes, displaying the fruits of the Spirit, and manifesting God’s love, peace, mercy, and goodness in ordinary life. The faithful are invited to see themselves already on the journey toward the communion enjoyed by the saints, and to ask: How am I reflecting Christ today?

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No Mold for Holiness: The Unique Path of Every Saint

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Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1-12

First Reading: Revelation 7: 2-4, 9-14

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-3

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Art Work

L’Innocence,: French Artist and Painter: William-Adolphe Bouguereau: 1893

Seeing Others as Christ Sees: The Gospel Call Revealed in Soldiers and Saints

I was hungry. You fed me thirsty. You gave me to drink. I was alone, and you were with me. I was naked and you clothed me. This marvelously simple description of the greatness of Christian life.

That ability, not so much to see Jesus in each other as to see others as Jesus sees them.

Today’s Gospel draws from Matthew’s teaching on the Final Judgment, . . .

. . . where Jesus separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats, praising those who cared for “the least of His brothers.”

The Homily then focuses on Saint Martin of Tours, a soldier-turned-bishop whose famous act of charity . . . cutting his cloak to clothe a beggar . . . reveals the heart of the Gospel: seeing others as Christ sees them and responding with compassion. Martin’s life of disciplined holiness, service, and unwavering focus on Christ is presented as a model of Christian discipleship.

Seeing Others as Christ Sees Them

The Homily also highlights two American military chaplains whose causes for sainthood are advancing: Father Vincent Capodanno, a Marine chaplain killed in Vietnam after repeatedly risking his life to save wounded soldiers, and Father Emil Kapaun, a Korean War chaplain known for heroic sacrifice, spiritual strength, and care for fellow prisoners of war. Each embodies Christlike service . . . feeding the hungry, comforting the suffering, and valuing every human life.

On Veterans Day, the Homily emphasizes that the vocation of a soldier, when lived with compassion and courage, mirrors the Gospel call to serve others. As Christ nourishes and strengthens us in the Eucharist, we are sent forth to care for the hungry, the thirsty, and the vulnerable in our own lives, following the example of these remarkable witnesses.

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Seeing Others as Christ Sees: The Gospel Call Revealed in Soldiers and Saints

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Art Work

Seeing Others as Christ Sees: The Gospel Call Revealed in Soldiers and Saints : AI and Queen of All Hearts’ Digital Team: 2025

Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary: Glorious Mysteries

One Who Descended So All Might Ascend: A Theology of the Glorious Mysteries

This conference initially explores the deep unity and movement . . .

. . . within the original fifteen mysteries of the Rosary . . . Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious . . . and shows how they mirror the central pattern of the Creed: Incarnation → Passion → Resurrection and Glory.

The conference highlights how only one . . . Christ . . . descends from heaven, taking on our humanity, and then ascends again carrying that humanity into glory. Mary’s Assumption confirms that where Christ has gone, we are meant to follow.

The Time Scale of the Mysteries

The meditation considers the time scale of the mysteries:

• The Joyful Mysteries span about twelve years;

• The Glorious Mysteries unfold across roughly 50 days followed by many years;

• And, The Sorrowful Mysteries, in stark contrast, take place within a single intense day.

The conference also gives attention to the public versus private character of the mysteries: Christ’s passion is witnessed by thousands, whereas the resurrection and ascension are revealed only to a small circle of disciples. Jesus does not showcase His triumph; instead, He entrusts the proclamation of His resurrection to a handful who did not even witness the moment itself.

The reflection then expands the First Glorious Mystery, urging a broader meditation on the many appearances of the risen Christ . . . from Mary Magdalene to the disciples on the road to Emmaus—emphasizing how His glorified humanity is the true pattern for our own.

The Glorious Mysteries

The Ascension is presented as Christ’s heavenly enthronement, witnessed only by His disciples. It is inseparable from the Great Commission, in which Jesus commands this small, fragile group to evangelize the nations, promising His abiding presence and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Third Glorious Mystery, Pentecost, reveals the Church’s true beginning. The Holy Spirit descends not randomly, but upon the Church gathered on a Sunday, in prayer, in the place of the Eucharist, with Mary. Pentecost mirrors the Incarnation: as the Spirit once formed Christ’s physical body in Mary, He now forms Christ’s mystical body, the Church.

The disciples step out into the world . . . and the world is already waiting, drawn by the Spirit. Peter’s preaching leads to the conversion of more than three thousand, marking the start of the Church’s mission to the nations.

Overall, the conference shows how the Glorious Mysteries reveal Christ’s victory, the exaltation of our humanity, the birth of the Church, and the continuation of the same divine movement from Incarnation to Redemption to Glory.

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Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary: Glorious Mysteries

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Art Work

Madonna of the Rosary: Spanish artist: Esteban Murillo: 1650

As in the Days of Noah: Living Prepared in Ordinary Times

Jesus warns his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden and unexpected, . . .

. . . just as in the days of Noah and Lot, when people were absorbed in ordinary activities and unprepared for God’s intervention. Jesus urges readiness, detachment from worldly attachments, and a willingness to surrender one’s life to God.

As the liturgical year nears its end, the Church’s readings focus on the end times . . . not to inspire fear, but to remind believers that life is a journey toward God. The Homily explains that preparing for Christ’s coming involves two essential steps: acknowledging the existence of God and allowing God to influence one’s life.

The first reading from Wisdom warns against admiring creation without recognizing the Creator. True wisdom is to see beauty in the world and let it lead us to God.

What Does Being Ready Mean

The Gospel adds that being ready means letting God shape our daily lives, rather than resisting His influence. Ordinary activities become spiritually empty when God is excluded from them. Preparation involves letting God’s will challenge and transform us, trusting Him even in moments of doubt or suffering. Genuine trust requires a full surrender of the heart . . . not holding back parts of our lives from God.

The Homily concludes with an invitation to affirm love for Jesus from the heart and to let this love guide all actions and decisions.

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As in the Days of Noah: Living Prepared in Ordinary Times

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Art Work

Noah and His Ark: American Artist: Charles Willson Peale: 1819

Noah kneels in the foreground surrounded by family and creatures.

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Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 26-37

First Reading: Wisdom 13: 1-9

Mary’s Prayer and Ours: How the Dawn of Salvation Breaks Into the World

The Gospel presents Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge . . .

. . . as a lesson on the necessity of persevering in prayer. Even a corrupt judge responds to persistence . . . so how much more will God, who loves His people, answer those who cry out to Him with faith. Jesus warns that many give up too quickly, mistaking God’s “not yet” for “no,” when persistent prayer actually purifies the heart and prepares the soul to receive what God desires to give.

When the Night was Half Spent

The Homily then turns to the First Reading from the Book of Wisdom, a text the Church connects to the mystery of Christmas. It describes the moment “when the night was half spent” and the “all-powerful Word leaped down from heaven,” imagery the Church recognizes as a prophetic anticipation of the Incarnation. This dramatic vision portrays Christ as a mighty Redeemer who breaks the darkness of sin and restores creation.

The Homily also reflects on humanity’s long night of spiritual darkness from Adam and Eve onward, during which the world groaned for salvation. Throughout history God’s people cried out like the widow seeking justice. Their prayers . . . Abraham’s, David’s, the prophets’ . . . reach their fullness when Mary, conceived without sin, adds her own pure prayer. Her plea becomes the hinge of history, and in response, God sends His Son, quietly and humbly, in her womb.

The Homily further emphasizes that Mary continues to pray with and for the faithful. In this shrine dedicated to her, no one prays alone; her intercession elevates and perfects our petitions. Just as the Word once leapt from heaven in the Incarnation, He continues to do so at every Mass . . . descending upon the altar in the Eucharist for our salvation. In this mystery we recognize that we are no longer dwellers of a doomed land but witnesses of the dawn brought by Christ, the light of the world.

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Mary’s Prayer and Ours: How the Dawn of Salvation Breaks Into the World

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View of the Sun from Long Island, NY, not too far from the Shrine.

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Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 1-8

First Reading: Wisdom 18: 14-16; 19: 6-9

The Kingdom Is Already Here: Responding to God’s Presence Today

Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is not something that arrives with visible signs . . .

. . . because it is already present among us. The Gospel warns against chasing dramatic predictions about the end times or following voices that claim secret knowledge about God’s plans. Christ emphasizes that His final coming will be unmistakable and needs no advance decoding, but before that He Himself must be rejected by the present generation.

The Homily reflects on how people today, like in every era, are tempted to run after loud, strident voices . . . political, cultural, or spiritual . . . that promise clarity or insight yet draw them away from the Gospel. True wisdom, the preacher notes, is quiet, penetrating, rooted in charity, and grounded in the Church’s authentic teaching.

The Kingdom of God Demands a Response Now

The Kingdom of God demands a response now, not later. Christ is already present . . . especially in the Eucharist . . . even when His presence is not visible to the human eye. The real question is not when the Kingdom will come, but how each person responds to God’s presence today. If Christians seek first the Kingdom, everything else will fall into its proper place; but if they focus on lesser things first, they risk missing the Kingdom altogether.

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The Kingdom Is Already Here: Responding to God’s Presence Today

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Art Work

The Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve’s Departure: AI and Queen of All Hearts’ Digital Team: 2025

This website showcases masterpieces from centuries of art. Occasionally; the Queen of All Hearts’ Digital Team enhances the collection with Artificial Intelligence Art . . . a modern approach to creating art using AI technology. This particular piece portrays the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve’s departure. In the scene, the Sun rises in the East, symbolizing God’s continued guidance for humanity.

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Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 20-25

First Reading: Wisdom 7: 22–8:1 ...

Settle Accounts While There’s Time: St. Paul’s Honesty and Christ’s Deliverance

Today’s Homily reflects on two Scripture passages . . .

. . . St. Paul’s candid confession of his inner struggle (Romans) and Jesus’ call to read the signs of the times (Luke).

St. Paul admits that although he desires to do good, he often fails, revealing the inner conflict between grace and the lingering effects of sin. His honesty shows that even the greatest saints struggle internally, reminding us that the Christian life is not a self-improvement project but a reliance on Christ, who alone delivers us from our divided selves.

The Homily then helps us to connect this with Jesus’ teaching about interpreting signs. People easily read the weather or social cues yet fail to recognize God’s movements in their own lives. Jesus urges His listeners to discern the spiritual signs around them and respond.

Discern the Spiritual Signs

Jesus warns that our lives are moving toward a final judgment, likening it to walking with an adversary toward a magistrate. Therefore, we must “settle accounts” now through repentance, charity, and works of mercy.

The Homily also touches on the Church’s understanding of purgatory . . . where remaining spiritual debts are purified . . . and highlights the importance of praying for the dead.

Ultimately, both readings invite believers to face their own struggles honestly, remain attentive to God’s grace, and live now in a way that prepares them for their final meeting with the Lord.

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Settle Accounts While There’s Time: St. Paul’s Honesty and Christ’s Deliverance

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Art Work

The Tribute Money: Flemish Artist and Painter: Anthony van Dyck: 1623

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Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 54-59

First Reading: Romans 7: 18-25

Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary

The Sorrowful Mysteries

Where Wisdom Dwells: Suffering, Redemption, and the Sorrowful Mysteries

This conference explores the deep meaning of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, . . .

. . . emphasizing that the heart of these mysteries is The Cross of Christ, the fullest revelation of God’s unconditional, unmerited love for humanity. The conference explains that while the Rosary traditionally seemed to bypass the public ministry of Jesus, the early Church understood His ministry as presupposed in the proclamation of His passion, death, and resurrection . . . the core of apostolic preaching.

The Cross of Christ

The conference highlights that the cross exposes both the radical depth of human sin (understood as love rejected) and the redemptive power of suffering when united with Christ. Drawing on St. Louis de Montfort and Scripture, the conference shows that suffering without Christ is destructive, but suffering with Christ becomes a path to holiness, hope, and resurrection.

Each of the five Sorrowful Mysteries is then examined:

1. Agony in the Garden: Jesus’ anguish reveals the weight of His mission and perfect obedience. The disciples’ betrayal and abandonment invite us to stay spiritually awake, embrace suffering with Christ, and cultivate contrition.

2. Scourging at the Pillar: This mystery summarizes the rejection of Jesus—by His people, His closest followers, the crowds, and His executioners—mirroring humanity’s own tendency to refuse God’s love.

3. Crowning with Thorns: The mock coronation exposes our inclination to choose worldly “kings” over Christ. Mary’s presence urges repentance and conversion.

4. Carrying of the Cross: Our attitude toward our personal crosses reveals our discipleship. With Christ, the cross becomes a treasure, a sign of victory, and our lifelong standard.

5. Crucifixion: At the foot of the cross, Mary stands united with Jesus, witnessing the reversal of the Fall . . . where Adam grasped the fruit of a tree, Christ now gives Himself as the true fruit that brings life.

The conference concludes by reaffirming that the Sorrowful Mysteries draw us into the heart of God’s love and the mystery of redemption accomplished through the cross.

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Where Wisdom Dwells: Suffering, Redemption, and the Sorrowful Mysteries

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Art Work

Madonna of the Rosary: Spanish artist: Esteban Murillo: 1650