• Advent Reflection - Third Sunday of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Third Sunday of Advent
    December 11, 2022
    by friar Carlos Salas, OP
    The Scripture readings today call us to practice joyful patience as we await the coming of the Lord. But how can we do this amidst the difficulties in life? Even the prophecy of Isaiah reaches our ears with an occupied mind of everything that worries us and concerns us today. Isaiah talks about a future and a present: they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee along with: “Here is your God, he comes with vindication…he comes to save you”.
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  • Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent
    December 11, 2022
    by Br. Carlos Salas, O.P.
    The Scripture readings today call us to joyful patience as we await the coming of the Lord.

    Las lecturas de las Escrituras de hoy nos llaman a una paciencia alegre mientras esperamos la venida del Señor.
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  • Advent Reflection - Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
    December 10, 2022
    by Fr. Marcos A. Ramos, OP
    Why are Jesus and the prophets conflictive and suffer persecution? It is not because they look out for conflict; rather the justice and truth they preach are the source of conflict. Jesus is instructing his disciples not to fall into the trap of thinking that he is a nationalist and political Messiah. Jesus also must suffer persecution, even death, for the salvation and redemption of all. Jesus instructs the disciples not to be scandalized and accept commitment, pain, and martyrdom, following the example of John the Baptist, and his own example on the cross.
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  • Advent Reflection - Friday of the Second Week of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Friday of the Second Week of Advent
    December 9, 2022
    by friar Juan Gabriel Siegle, OP
    Whose expectations do we try to live up to? Society often wants us to dance to the tune played by the loudest crowd, and resists when we sing our own song instead. The options presented to us are to be labeled as possessed or as gluttons and drunkards – which do we choose? We don’t need to constantly fast like John the Baptist, but we also shouldn’t continually feast. We need to be firmly rooted in the commandments of God, like a tree planted near running water. If we are, then God will pour his prosperity over us like a river, and we will remain strong and steadfast in his love. Christ tells the crowds that Wisdom is vindicated by her works – that Wisdom can grow within us and lead us in the way we should go, if only we allow ourselves to delight in the law of the Lord.
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  • Advent Reflection - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    Advent Reflection - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    December 8, 2022
    by Sr. Francine Schwarzenberger, OP
    Today’s feast is a puzzling one for many people, a hard truth that merits pondering, an invitation for reflection.
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  • Advent Reflection - Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
    Advent Reflection - Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
    December 7, 2022
    by Fr. Jorge Rátiva, OP
    There is no doubt that Saint Ambrose (339 – 397) was a working bee. Being elected bishop at the early stages of his Christian Journey, he had to study theology, prepare sermons, write about the Scriptures, deal with the tensions of the Church, opposed heretics, and compose hymns for the liturgy. Along with this, Ambrose supported and nourished the conversion of many, among them St. Augustine whom he baptized. He also faced the interference of secular power with the Church at the time, and the list goes on. Where did he find rest?
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  • Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
    Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
    December 6, 2022
    by Sr. Megan McElroy, O.P.
    How many of us would say we would do anything for God if asked? “’Comfort, give comfort to my people,’ says your God” the prophet Isaiah declares in today’s first reading. Give comfort to MY people our God says to us. Who are God’s people? They are people we are not always inclined to include. They are certainly the Jews for they were the first chosen. They are our Muslim sisters and brothers for they, too, are children of Abraham. They are Christians of all persuasions. They are Hindus, Buddhists, and believers in all traditions. They are also non-believers. They are those who are poor, ostracized, demeaned, and excluded. They are those who do not look like us, live like us, love like us, believe like us. They are our family members, friends, and neighbors. They are us. God’s people are all people – for all are made in the image and likeness of God.
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  • Advent Reflection - Monday of the Second Week of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Monday of the Second Week of Advent
    December 5, 2022
    by Fr. Cristóbal Torres, O.P.
    The Gospels recount multiple instances of Jesus’s healing miracles. Episodes like the heal-ing of the paralytic in today’s Gospel reveal the Lord’s compassion when faced with human suf-fering. What may be less obvious is the profound relationship between the healing Jesus offers and God’s gracious gift of salvation. One of the most ancient titles for Christ is that of "Divine Physician, healer of souls and bodies.” The root of our English word salvation is salus, a Latin word meaning “health.” The alleviation or even eradication of suffering is therefore only the tip of the iceberg of the healing Jesus offers. To receive God’s gift of salvation is to be comprehen-sively and radically healed, to the very root of our human nature. The Church’s wisdom com-municates this profound truth by referring to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing as the Sacraments of Healing, revealing the radical nature of God’s desire to restore our human na-ture and then transcend its natural limits, by drawing it into communion with Himself.
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  • Advent Reflection - Second Sunday of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Second Sunday of Advent
    December 4, 2022
    by Sr. Ceal Warner, O.P
    Isaiah’s reading is bursting with strong imagery of promise, peace and freedom. He draws upon nature to describe this evolving messiah who is to come as a small shoot that grows until his roots reach long and wide into eternity. On that day blossoms will fill the earth, and us. This messiah will come with all the divine qualities of the Godhead. This one will be countercultural and be a faithful, strong and just advocate for those unjustly treated.
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  • Advent Reflection - Memorial of St. Francis Xavier
    Advent Reflection - Memorial of St. Francis Xavier
    December 3, 2022
    by Fr. Jeffery Ott
    Usually when I tell folk that I graduated from Xavier University they make a couple of assumptions. The first one is that I am talking about Xavier University in Cincinnati. The second one is that my alma mater, my Xavier, is a Jesuit institution. They are wrong on both accounts. I am a proud 1988 alumnus of Xavier University of Louisiana located in New Orleans. And Xavier was founded by Saint Katharine Drexel, S.B.S. in 1925. Yes, Mother Katharine named Xavier for Saint Francis Xavier, the prodigious Jesuit missionary, whose feast we celebrate today.
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  • Advent Reflection - Friday of the First Week of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Friday of the First Week of Advent
    December 2, 2022
    by Fr. Armando P. Ibáñez, O.P.
    The two blind men, whose sight Jesus restored, did not follow his instructions: “See that no one knows about this.” But, as the Gospel says, “they went out and spread word of him through the land.” Did these two men commit a sin by not following Jesus’ instructions or betray him by spreading the word about their cure?
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  • Advent Reflection - Thursday of the First Week of Advent
    Advent Reflection - Thursday of the First Week of Advent
    December 1, 2022
    by Sr. Theresa Fox, O.P.
    We have begun the Advent Season – a time to begin anew. It is appropriate to begin this new liturgical year with resolutions rather than January 1. We begin the year by reflecting on the coming of Jesus – first as being born then as the liturgical year progresses, we grow with him into adulthood – living and dying and living.
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