When we say the words of the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of God, during Mass, we are directly quoting John the Baptist. The scene is set on the banks of the Jordan River. John has been gathering disciples by powerfully calling for repentance in light of the coming kingdom of God. One day, as he sees Jesus, he cries out, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!"

“Lamb of God” is Jesus’ identity! “Who takes the sin of the world” is his mission! And when the “Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world,” we witness a fundamental spiritual changing moment: we witness the power of Jesus’ creative love.

On this first Sunday of Ordinary Time, we recall the Baptism of the Lord. But, in addition to remembering this historical event, we also are asked to call to mind our own baptism. Why? Because our baptism isn't just an event from the past, but a present reality that impacts every aspect of our lives.

Today, God’s divine touch, remodels us to become his divine faces on earth, so that we can assume with honor our identity as his beloved. Take Note: “Look in the mirror each day… [and] as spiritual practice, claim and reclaim your primal identity as beloved daughter or son of a personal Creator.”

The story of the magi, the three wise men, who traveled from the East to pay homage to Jesus as the King of the Jews, is part of our Christmas tradition. The magi, after a detour to see King Herod, brought their most valuable possessions to lay at the feet of the newborn King.

The first two readings today focus on the relationships with our family. We are told that honoring and respecting our father is of the highest importance and, if we are faithful to this call, we will be blessed by God. When we read the Gospel, the theme changes from focusing on our earthly family to being faithful to God, our Heavenly Father. If we ought to respect our earthly father and spend so much time and energy making our earthly home virtuous and holy, how much more ought we work to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father? How often do we take the time to talk with God, or honor him by serving him or making sacrifices for him? Let us remember the words of Sirach and St. Paul this week, not just in relation to how we treat our earthly fathers, but, most importantly, in how we relate to God the Father.

This week’s Gospel tells us how the “birth of Jesus Christ came about.” More specifically, it tells us how an angel appeared to Joseph, explaining to him that Mary’s son would save the people from their sins. While Joseph might not have understood it at the time, we know that Jesus is the fulfillment of the great prophecy of Isaiah 7:14ff, that the Messiah would come from the line of David and be born of a Virgin. In our readings this week, we first read that prophecy and then see its fulfillment in the Gospel.

During this Fourth Sunday of Advent, like Joseph, let’s welcome Mary and Jesus in our homes and in our hearts: Let’s make our homes the guardians of God’s love 24/7. Let’s make our hearts the birthplace of the Emmanuel (God within us!)

Who hasn’t felt discouraged at some point in life? We all know how it feels when things don't go the way we want or expect. John the Baptist was feeling that way in today’s Gospel. He is languishing in prison, wondering if all that he said and did had any meaning. Jesus didn’t look like the common image of the Messiah. He wasn’t a great political leader who would overthrow the Roman oppressors and restore Israel to glory. John’s faith is shaken and so he tells his followers to seek out Jesus and ask him, “Are you the one?”

Are we there yet? Virtually… as we walk through the stairways of the THIRD SUNDAY of ADVENT: a Sunday of joy (“GAUDATE” Sunday)!

It may seem odd that, just as the secular world begins to celebrate peace and joy during the holiday season, we are asked in this week’s Gospel to consider our sinfulness. The words of John the Baptist echo across the centuries: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Isn’t John’s talk about sin, God’s wrath, and the need for repentance a bit of a downer as we prepare for Christmas?

As we become busy in “preparing the way of the Lord” and “making straight his paths” let us always remind ourselves with this mantra: “Eyes on the road to REPENTANCE, the kingdom of heaven is coming to town.”

Happy New Year! If this strikes you as a bit premature, it isn’t really because this Sunday marks the start of the new Church year. In the Catholic Church, the first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the cycle of readings, holy days, and holidays for roughly the next 365 days. It’s also the time of year not only when we are called to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, but also when we are asked to examine our lives and take stock, spiritually speaking.

The first-century Jews had very specific expectations concerning their coming messiah, the anointed king, about whom the prophets spoke. He would come in glory, vanquish the oppressors, and correct all the wrongs in the world. So we can imagine what they were thinking when a sign proclaiming “King of the Jews” is placed above the head of Jesus hanging on the cross. They laughed and sneered. This was not the king they expected. And yet, only a few years later, the Apostle Paul, who had rejected Jesus and his followers, would write that “every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord” (Phil 2:10-11).

CHRIST THE KING! The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is the crown of the liturgical year. This celebration reminds us of what we pray for: “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”

Wars, famines, persecution, plagues, earthquakes, and signs falling from the skies are the warnings Jesus gives his listeners. How and when these times will come, only God knows. It is enough for Jesus to exhort his disciples — and all believers — to remember: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus proclaims that the Lord is “not God of the dead, but of the living” (Luke 20:38). This may seem obvious to us now, but Jesus’s words affirmed what we as Catholics believe about the Communion of the Saints. To be physically dead is not the same as being dead and annihilated. To be in God is to be alive forevermore.

Zacchaeus, the short, wealthy chief tax collector, was one of the most despised men in his community. Often corrupt and greedy, the tax collectors in Israel worked for the oppressive Roman regime, not only collecting taxes, but also adding their own fees to the total. Yet, Zacchaeus encountered Jesus and became a changed man. He was spiritually changed, and immediately righted the wrong he’d done to his fellow citizens. This is the power an encounter with Christ can have on all of us.

Fellow pilgrims, if Jesus said that salvation will happen to us today, please do remember this quotation from a spiritual writer, he said, “People go through three conversions: the conversion of their head, their heart, and their pocketbook. Unfortunately, not all at the same time.”

Our modern culture frowns upon weakness and vulnerability. The world tells us that to get ahead we must be strong, competent, and self-sufficient. This view is in stark contrast to our readings today, which calls us to embrace our weakness, recognize our inherent poverty, and allow God to transform us.