"Do whatever he tells you." These are the words of Mary to the stewards at the wedding feast of Cana. Her wisdom guides us as we strive to follow her Son.

"I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." The Baptism of Jesus is a celebration of our own baptism.

"Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you." The long-expected Savior has come and calls all nations into communion with him.

"All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." The deepest reflection of Mary's heart is the deepest truth of the universe: the Son of God has become human and is the Lord of all creation.

"See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. And so we are." The Holy Family is our model of holiness.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..." On this Mass During the Day, we reflect on the meaning behind the wondrous events of the Incarnation story.

"Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place." In the City of David, God's promise of salvation has been fulfilled as the Eternal Word, Jesus the Lord, is born of Mary.

"For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord." At his very birth, Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, was Savior and Lord. Tonight, we adore the infant who became our salvation.

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord said through the prophet: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel..." Merry Christmas! The Vigil Mass begins the four-fold liturgical celebration of the Nativity of the Lord.

"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Mary's joyful faith inspires us as we transition from Advent to Christmas.