John is baptizing when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptizer; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is the spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the spirit and [...]
The prophet Isaiah’s words today were originally addressed to a people who had spent many years away from their homeland, the victims of war, living as captives, exiled to their conquerors’ land. He offers them hope that their time of warfare is over, the time for their homecoming is drawing near, that God is going [...]
In the Gospel today, Mary and Joseph have been with the 12 year old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a custom for all Jewish males to visit the Temple three times a year, to commemorate three major festivals: Passover, Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles. By recording this journey, St. Luke shows [...]
