The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 1, verses 1-17
We make a turn in Advent today.  No longer are we focusing on the adult Jesus.  Now, we are preparing for a birth and thus, we have to focus on the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke for the next 8 days.  Today, we hear of the importance of our ancestry.  Why?  It grounds us and helps remind us from whence we came and who we are.  True for us.  True for Christ.  

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 7, verses 24-30
I know - it's super late.  But it's worth the wait!  Dig it!John was doubting?  Let me tell you how good he is...even in the midst of that space.  

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 7, verses 18b-23
John the Baptist, having been imprisoned, sees the works of Jesus.  And he begins to doubt.  This can't be the One to whom we were looking.  He's not at all what I expected.  So what happens when that same thing happens to us?  What happens when we begin to doubt and see God operating in a way that is outside of our expectations?  We have a choice to make.  Either downplay what we are seeing and experiencing and, by doing so, put God back in our nice little box.  Or expand our notion of God.  That's not easy.

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 21, verses 28-32
Jesus continues his dialogue with the leaders of the Jewish Temple and presents them a parable - "A man had two sons..."  And the key to this parable?  Who really is the one that does the will of God.  Which one?  The one that was able to change his mind.  Are we set in our ways?  Do we have God figured out?  Are we in a groove or routine?  This parable is for you.St. John of the Cross - Pray for Us!

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 21, verses 23-27
Jesus, once again, is confronted by the leaders of the Temple and asked for His credentials.  By what authority do you do this?  He doesn't answer the question, but rather turns the question on them at which they obfuscate and play games.  What can we learn through this short interchange?St. Lucy, pray for us!

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 11, verses 16-19
Jesus compares the actions - or should I say inactions? - of the Scribes and the Pharisees to that of children.  They use every excuse in the book not to engage in what they see going on around them.  But that sounds like lukewarm water.  And we know what God does with that in His mouth.  We have to plant a flag, my friends.  We have to make a decision.  

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 11, verses 11-15Jesus speaks of His great love and respect for John the Baptist - how there is no one born of woman who is greater than he.  Yet the least in the Kingdom is greater.  How do we make sense of this statement?  And what does it mean for us?

Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26-38Today we discuss the greatness of Mary and the lengths that God will go to in His incredible love for humanity and for each of us individually.  This feast is so good!

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 18, verses 12-14
On this Feast of St. Ambrose, we hear not only the Gospel reading but parts of the first reading from Isaiah chapter 40.  And while the Gospel speaks of the particular love of God for each one of us, Isaiah reminds us of God's collective love for us, too.  It's always both/and.  And we participate in that same reality.  

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 5, verses 17-26
Jesus, surrounded by great crowds, sees the belief and the desperation of friends on behalf of a paralytic man.  And so moved by this act He frees the man.  But not in a way that was expected.  We may think that the healing power of Jesus does not reside in us because we have never lifted a paralytic person from their mat.  We would be wrong.