21+ hour, 13+ min ago (1107+ words) Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington The first weeks of Advent focus more on the Lord's second coming in glory than on His first coming at Bethlehem. The gospel clearly states that we must always be prepared, for at an hour we do not expect, the Son of Man will come. "Ready" is the key word, but how should we be ready?" The second reading from today's Mass (Romans 13:11-14) gives us a basic recipe for readiness. We can distinguish five fundamental instructions in Paul's recipe. Wake up " The text says, " you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (700+ words) Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington Jesus Christ is King of Thieves, though He never stole. He is savior of sinners, though He never sinned. Today's Gospel chosen presents Jesus as reigning from the cross. Nothing could be more paradoxical. Let's look at it from four perspectives: Vision "Today's Gospel presents a vision or image of the Church.We like to think of more pleasant images: the Church is the Bride of Christ or the Body of Christ. Today's image is more humbling to be sure: the Church is Christ, crucified between two thieves. Yes, this is the Church too. In a way, we are all thieves.We are all sinners and have used the gifts and things that belong to God in a way contrary to His will. To misuse things that belong to others is a form of…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (904+ words) Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington This is the fourth in a series of articles on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. We turn our attention now to the judgment that awaits us all. Scripture speaks in the Book of Hebrews speaks rather plainly to this day for us all: It is appointed for us to die once, and after that to face judgment (Heb 9:27). For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil (2 Cor 5:10). Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father (Jn 5:22-23). The Gospel of Luke emphasizes the reverence we should have for…...

2+ week, 23+ hour ago (1178+ words) Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington In today's Gospel, the Lord Jesus gives us a kind of road map of life and calls us to be sober about the passing and perilous nature of this world. That is what this text meant historically. But we also need to understand what it means for us today. So let's look at the text from that perspective. Today's Gospel can be seen in three major sections. Note, however, that for them as well as for us, although one world ends, another begins.The Old Testament, Old Covenant, and ritual order of the Temple was ending, but the New Testament age of the Church was beginning. It was already breaking forth even as the old was coming to an end. And so we should not lament the end of this world or even our…...