"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" ...

Last August, during a visit with friends from Ireland, I learned that a great meteor shower was going to happen one night. So late that evening, we put out chairs, sat down on the New Mexico mesa and ...

(RNS) — The Scripture readings during Advent are a mix of comfort and challenge. On the one hand, the readings from Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-56) offer us comfort. The author was speaking to Jewish ...

"In the days to come." These words set the tone as they invite us into Advent, 28 days of seeking to better perceive where and how God is active in our midst. Isaiah ushers us into Advent with his ...

The most prophetic thing that Thomas Merton ever did was to say to a drugstore clerk who asked him which brand of toothpaste he preferred, “I don’t care.” Intrigued by the clerk’s response, Merton ...

This traditional prayer for the First Sunday in Advent begins with abrupt and urgent entreaty. There is no delay for caressing words of prayerful invocation; rude as a wakening alarm, we call for God ...

Sunday, Dec. 3, is the First Sunday of Advent. Mass readings: Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37. Today’s first reading, from Isaiah, rather ...

Of all the Old Testament writers, probably not one has shaped the Christian imagination more than Isaiah. His three Servant Songs enriched the early churchs view of Jesus as the Suffering Servant of ...

Entering more deeply into the season of Advent, we are invited to consider who is this person Jesus whom we celebrate during this season. The Gospel at Mass today is the beginning of the Gospel of ...

An Advent reading for December 5. Amid the pain and violence of our world, we hold fast to this hope: One day Jesus will usher in true and ultimate peace. He also brings us spiritual peace in the here ...