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"Major in majors, not in minors." "Get your priorities straight." How often our Scripture readings hammer home this theme. This Sunday is no different. Our Christian life is all about loving God and loving our neighbor. And we can't say that we love God whom we don't see if we don't love our brother whom we do see (cf.1 John 4:20).

This year marks 56 years since the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) at the Duquesne Weekend, February 17, 18, 19, 1967. Have you ever asked the question, "Where did it come from? How did it come to be?" I know, I know - from God! That is the shortest and the truest answer. But from a human and historical viewpoint, we can say what preceded and led up to the beginning of the CCR. We can distinguish some remote factors and some proximate factors.

We have all probably heard the saying that those who preach should "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." That would seem to be an apt description of the Book of Zephaniah. The prophet "pulls no punches" in pointing out the evils of his day; however, today's word from him is actually one of comfort and peace.

Imagine walking or driving along an unfamiliar road in pitch black darkness...not something anyone would really want to do! Physical darkness is bad enough, but spiritual darkness is far worse. That is the message today at the beginning of this year as we consider the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. He is the Light of the World, and in the gospel readings each successive week we will see this light glowing brighter and brighter.

Our liturgy today is concerned with pointing out Jesus as the Messiah. The root meaning of the word "messiah" is "anointed." Jesus is the Anointed One, sent by God on a mission to our sinful, rebellious world. Jesus is the one who fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah. John the Baptist saw the Spirit descending upon Jesus and recognized him as the one who would baptize mankind in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the "Anointed Anointer."

Communication is important, as I think we would all agree. We instinctively recognize the need to communicate and publicize the news about a person, product or event that we have found significant or helpful. Today's feast is all about that. Epiphany means "manifestation, " or "making known."

That is my feeling as we begin 2023! At the start of this year, my thoughts go back to 1973 - a very significant year in my life and, as it turned out, in the life of our country as well. Some explanation is called for here...

"What is today again?" We might be tempted to ask that because the liturgical feast celebrated on January 1 has seen multiple changes and titles over the years. At various times it has been called: The Circumcision of the Lord; The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; and The World Day of Prayer for Peace. In 1969, January 1 became known as "The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, and also the commemoration of the Most Holy Name of Jesus" - quite a mouthful!  Since 2002, however, the Name of Jesus is celebrated as an optional memorial on January 3. The fact is, January 1 has an ancient history of being a day to honor Our Blessed Lady.

The video series "The Chosen" is an interesting perspective on the gospel - an effective blend of Scripture and dramatic fiction. One scene that I found especially moving shows St. John writing the beginning of his gospel, which is what we hear at Mass today: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John, whose symbol is the eagle, wanted to soar into the very height of the Godhead, the inner life of the Trinity, to start his account of the life and ministry of Jesus - the Word made flesh.

The season of Advent, obviously, is very much concerned with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Fourth Sunday of Advent is in particular. Today's liturgy seems to have a distinctive Marian quality. We hear Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin conceiving and bearing a son, whom she will call Emmanuel. Today's gospel cites these words and proclaims them fulfilled in the Virgin Mary.

On this Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, we hear about messianic signs - signs that the Messiah will work. The first reading from Isaiah prophesies these and Jesus specifies in the gospel that he is indeed fulfilling them. So we can and should rejoice that Jesus the Messiah has come, and will come again.

"Christ's entire mission is summed up in this: to baptize us in the Holy Spirit" (Benedict XVI, Angelus, January 13, 2008). Advent is the season of expectation of the coming of the Messiah - he who will baptize us in the Holy Spirit and fire, the fire of judgment. The Messiah will bring true justice and judgment to the earth.

December is here - the end of another calendar year. As I reflect back on this past year, I am in touch with these three main sentiments: thanks, concern, and hope. This particular blog might be a little more personal than usual, as I share what is on my heart. However, I suspect that some of you - perhaps many of you - might also identify with me.

We have arrived at the First Sunday of Advent, the start of a new liturgical year. Advent is all about the Lord's coming - as a babe in Bethlehem, at the end of time, and here and now, by the grace and working of his Spirit. Today, the focus is more on the Second Coming of the Son of Man and our preparations for that. We are urged to "stay awake" and "walk in the light."

During the events surrounding the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth of England, we all got a sense of the pageantry and tradition connected with a monarchy. Today, we honor and celebrate Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, infinitely exalted above all earthly rulers and potentates. We can never honor and praise him enough!

It's that time again in the liturgical year when we hear about the end of things - the end of the Temple, the end of Jerusalem, and the end of the world. At the same time, we look forward to the coming of the Lord and his kingdom. As the Responsorial, Psalm 98, says: "The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice."

Is there a Scriptural mandate about discernment of spirits? Yes, as a matter of fact, there is.  We are commanded to "test the spirits to see whether they are of God..." (1 John 4:1). In several places, Scripture reminds us that deception is rampant and we are not to believe every spirit. What does that really mean, anyway? How are we supposed to "test the spirits?" What is "discernment of spirits?"

​That is the question that all generations have asked about this life on earth. Today, the word of God assures us of the promise of eternal life with the Lord for those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead.

"The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the plain beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes"  So says Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1. The Psalmist would say: "The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:5). Today we hear about God's mercy and see mercy in action in the gospel.

We all want God to hear our prayers. Today we get a lesson in how that happens. The "secret ingredient" is humility.