Christ is risen from the dead! I know, I know…it sounds like I'm two weeks early in saying that, but today's Scriptures with the raising of Lazarus from the dead give us an insight into the power that Christ has over death and fixes our hearts on Easter and the resurrection Christ brings.

The Lord looks into the heart. He doesn't judge by appearances. As we continue our "Scrutiny" Sundays, we give the Lord permission to access our heart to help us overcome our sins and areas of moral weakness. Sin blinds us, but the Lord's mercy enables us to be children of light, called to walk in the light and not in the darkness of error. Like the man born blind healed by Jesus, we may encounter people who don't understand our journey from darkness into light, but the Lord sees our struggles and perseverance in a way no other person can. Continue to walk in the light of God's truth this Lenten season!

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent are known as the Scrutiny weekends. This is a time of deep examination, especially for catechumens and candidates preparing to enter the full life of the Catholic Church. We all need time to scrutinize our ways and make sure we are on the path God wants us to be on. As we begin the 3rd week of Lent, be grateful for the gifts of grace God gives us and find ways to deepen your connection to Christ and His Church.

"God became man so that man might become God." St. Athanasius and the Church Fathers taught this theological concept in the early years of the Church, and we still teach it today. Yet thousands of years of Church history haven't softened the impact this teaching makes on our lives and its difficulty to accept.

Our readings today deal with judgment. Our culture tends to have a very negative view of "judgment" with the assumption that we should just mind our own business and not make any sort of determination about the words or actions of another person, be it good or evil. Without judgment, there would be no law or order, no right or wrong, no good or evil.

We can draw some beautiful connections between King David and Jesus Christ. Both are anointed to lead God's Kingdom, both work to liberate God's people from their enemies, both act with mercy among their kindred who seek their life, and both are faithful to the Father and trust Him completely in their leadership to “do good to those who hate you” and “bless those who curse you."

In today’s gospel, we heard the Beatitudes. Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” This does not mean that poverty itself is good, but that those who recognize their dependence on God are truly blessed.

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Feast is also known as "Candlemas" because of Simeon's profession we hear in the Gospel, "My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."

Jesus' command "lower your nets" in today's Gospel comes at the worst time for Simon Peter and his fishing crew. They've just spent the whole night catching nothing. They are tired and have given up. They're ready to wrap things up and try again tomorrow. But Jesus has another plan.

This week we celebrate the gift of our Catholic Schools! Catholic Schools Week is our time to celebrate our faith and our Lord, our teachers and students, our school parents and parish family, and the blessing of a Catholic education as a whole.

Running out of wine. It doesn't matter what century we live in, it's just something we never want to happen. It was the same at the Wedding Feast of Cana. Wine symbolizes abundance, celebration, labor and sacrifice, human creativity, and divine providence.

With the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord this weekend, our Christmas Season comes to a close and we enter back into Ordinary Time.

Epiphany moments happen when the lightbulb goes off in our minds. We're struck with inspiration to pursue a path or make a decision that will advance us to our goals.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We honor the Holy Family as the model of the human family. Their faithfulness to God and to one another, purity of heart, joy, endurance in suffering, and compassion for the poor are virtues that we can emulate in our families.

Blessings to you this Fourth Sunday of Advent! In our Gospel, Mary travels in haste to visit Elizabeth. We might also be feeling that sense of "haste" as we make our final preparations in our homes and in our hearts for Christ this Christmas.

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as "Gaudete" ("Rejoice!") Sunday. The readings this weekend are exuberant with joy, and for good reason: Christmas, the Solemnity of the Birth of our Savior, is almost here!

We take time to prepare when we greet someone. For example, on Thanksgiving, we cook turkey and wait for families. Also, Christmas day as well. I’m sure you decorate your house and prepare meals for your family. We are now in the season of Advent to prepare for the coming of the Lord.

December is here, the time when many people prepare for their favorite day, Christmas. During this time, many people decorate their Christmas trees, listen to carols, buy gifts, and prepare for the end of the year. Of course, we also do these things to prepare for the end of the year, but as Catholics, we begin a new liturgical year in the Church as we start the first week of Advent.

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday! As King of the universe, all creation is ordered under the peaceful reign of Jesus Christ. Jesus reigns with truth and love. As Jesus says to Pontius Pilate in today's Gospel, "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice."