Camino de Fe

        A woman whose husband died six months before Christmas, sat down to write out a Christmas card to a close friend. This is what she said: “Some say to me, ‘This first Christmas without your husband will be hard for you.’ It will be, of course. But without Christmas, my life would be impossible.”       At the time of her husband’s death, that woman thought that God had turned out the light. But then came the Christmas Message to remind her that God had reached out and turned on the light for all time and for all people.       Today we celebrate the birth of the messenger from heaven.  In the gospel today we read that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.”  Christ was always present with God.  He was there at the very foundation of the world.  Jesu...

Brothers and sisters, We are close to Christmas.  In just a few days we will be entering into the Christmas season.  The word of God is seeking to open our hearts to the mystery which we celebrate each year. Today in our Catholic faith we celebrate the 4th week of advent.  It is during the 4th week of Advent that we finally arrive at the greatest celebration of all history, the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Through the birth of such a great redeemer the light of the world was turned on and remains on. It is during this week that our focus is turned to the historical Jesus.  It is of great importance to us as Christians to understand that the coming of Jesus was foretold. In the first reading from the prophet Micah, we are reminded of the promise that God made to all humanity; the promise of a shepherd that was coming from humble beginnings.  During the time that Micah wrote this passage, the world was a complete me...

Gaudete! Rejoice! The scriptures on this Sunday take a different proclamation.  Instead of calling us to repent and turn to God, they call us to rejoice in the Lord. Zephaniah says Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!"  St. Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I shall say it again: Rejoice!"  Joy seems to be lacking in our world today because of all the darkness we face daily.  Just this past week, in Connecticut, we heard of the tragic murder of innocent children and adults at the hands of an ill person.  Every day we hear of the constant struggle of Christians losing their lives to violence and persecution.  Respect for life from conception to natural death is always in the front lines, some say we should respect life and others that it should be a choice.  When we drive around town, we see homeless and hungry people looking for assistance....

5. This year of faith is of great importance because it "will assist all the faithful to profess the true faith and its correct interpretation".  Celebrating this year 50 years later shows that all is alive and well.  It allows us to see the grace from the council and a guide for now.  This council, if interpreted correctly could be very powerful for renewal. 6. Renewal is not only offered through the work of the council but also by the lives of the faithful in the world.  Christians are called to corrugate the word of truth.  Jesus came to offer himself for the salvation of mankind yet the church continues to clasp sinners to her bosom and calls all to the path of penance and renewal.  The church, even through persecution, continues to proclaim the cross and death of Christ.  Through the power of the risen Lord the church is strengthened to overcome all suffering, both within and without, in patience and in love. This year of faith is a summo...