Now that we are getting ready for Christmas, a lot of us are bringing our Christmas decorations out of storage. We might have the experience that it’s dark and dusty. When we need to find something, we turn on the light. With the illumination, the aspect of everything is transformed. Suddenly, we can see what was hidden. Advent seems a little bit like that. Light reveals sin. We have this liturgical time to get ready for the coming of our... Read more
The waning sunlight at four o’clock means that it is almost Christmas. What do you like most about Christmas? Is it the candies, the presents under the tree, or getting together with family? For me, what I enjoy most is the expectation. Before Christmas, we have four weeks of Advent. Well, perhaps more precisely we can speak of four Sundays of Advent, because sometimes that last week can be pretty short. Each Sunday introduces a theme that can help us... Read more
Listening to confessions is a profoundly humbling experience. It feels as though I am seated in the front row at a remarkable display of God’s boundless grace and mercy. Men, women, boys, and girls approach and kneel, baring their souls and confessing actions that weigh heavy with shame. It’s not uncommon for the penitent to carry a burden of guilt, doubting that God could extend forgiveness. Too many people think they possess unforgivable sins. In my role as confessor, I’ve... Read more
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