"One mightier than I is coming. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John the Baptist declares that when Jesus comes he will immerse us in the Holy Spirit to set the world ablaze with the power and the presence of God.

"Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low." Just as Mary held the Word of God preparing to bring our Savior into the world, so we, too, are dwelling with the Word in order to bring Jesus to the world.

"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.'" On this joyful solemnity, we celebrate Mary's great Yes.

"They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory... Your redemption is at hand." The joyful season of Advent begins!

"Pilate said to him, 'Then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world.'" At the of the end liturgical year, we profess our faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There is a coming kingdom that will have no end.

"Stand up and go! Your faith has saved you." As we gather for Thanksgiving Day, let us be thankful for the gift of faith that grounds our families and binds us together in love.

Jesus will be victorious over the world's terror and uncertainty.

Faith asks for us to give everything and to trust that God will supply everything we need.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself." With these words, Jesus provides the fundamental pursuit of the Christian.

We celebrate our unity in Christ with the Communion of Saints in this week's episode of The Liturgy Podcast, presented by Ken Canedo