Today’s gospel is an attempt, in simple language, to describe what happened on that day, so long ago, when Jesus was born. It was the second of heaven and earth, in the incarnate Word of God …

The naming of a child is an important decision. People will have different ideas about what is most meaningful. But ultimately, it is the choice of the parents. Their relatives and neighbours expected Zechariah and Elizabeth..

22 December. Tuesday of Advent, Week 3 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:24-28 Samuel’s mother, Hannah, dedicates her young son to a life of service to God When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to…

Mary and Elizabeth felt the saving grace of God flowing through their lives and were not afraid to encourage each other by saying so. Many of us were raised on the principle that ‘God helps those who help themselves’…

Luke has annunciation stories to both Zechariah and Mary, which are parallel in various ways. When startled at the angel’s appearance, both are told not to be afraid. Each is promised a child and given a hint of ths child’s future greatness…

God was doing something new, something extraordinary, in the life of Mary and of Joseph, indeed, in the life of the human race…

There is an understandable interest in learning about our family tree; most people want to know their genetic background. “Who are the people who have helped to make me who I am?”

When we come to God in our brokenness, in our poverty, in our weakness and need, we will experience his presence as healing and life-giving and renewing. That is good news for the church, especially in these times…

The infant Christ recalls our basic humanity as created by God. He requires of his followers to give each person a chance to be truly who he or she is, respecting them as God’s image as truly as we ourselves are…

The officials who administered the Temple certainly had not given Jesus permission to drive out the merchants or disturb the business of the money changers and others who were making the temple a market-place…

John the Baptist was martyred, because “they did not recognize him, but treated him as they pleased.” This rejection of the Baptist would also become the experience of Jesus himself…

We are called dance to the music of Jesus, the music of his Spirit in our lives. If we tune in to the Lord’s rhythm and melody it can shape all that we say and do. That is our Advent calling in preparing for the birthday of Jesus…

When Jesus praised Johnthe Baptist it was for the people’s profit, to revive their memory of John’s ministry, which was in danger of being forgotten.

Advent is a good season to come before the Lord in our weakness and our tiredness, asking him to give us new strength, so that we can be channels of his life-giving strength to others…

On this feast day, Mary inspires us as the most favoured one, the mother of our Saviour, who enjoys the fullness of the grace of God…