"The Lord has proclaimed to the ends of the earth: 'Say to Daughter Zion, "See, your Saviour comes!"'"  These words from Isaiah thunder with promise and, today, that promise is fulfilled! God has proclaimed salvation not just to one nation, but to the ends of the earth. We, you and I,  are the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord! Christmas is not about how much money is spent on gifts, but rather, on how much effort and time we give to make Christ a vital part of our lives.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel. (Mt 1, 23 ) Today’s O antiphon proclaims  “O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” In praying this antiphon together, we can imagine the world holding its breath. Light is promised to those in the shadows, hope to those who feel lost. And right at the heart of this promise stands Jose

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mt 11,11) With bright promise, Isaiah speaks of deserts blooming with new life and the weak being strengthened. In this, along with the steady patience urged by James, we find a fitting setting for the radiant admiration Jesus expresses for John the Baptist. Jesus calls John the greatest born of women — a bold, loving tri

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" ( Mt 3, 2 ) As we move further into Advent, Isaiah’s words take on a fresh glow. It’s as if he’s standing among us, gently pointing ahead and saying, “Look—hope is coming.”  He dreams of the Messiah who will rise from the root of Jesse, the long-awaited descendant of David, the one God promised. This hope, of course, is fulfilled in Jesus, whom Matthew reminds us is truly the Son of David. Isaiah imagines the Messiah as someone