Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/08/26
Today’s Gospel continues the Sermon on the Mount, following immediately after the Beatitudes. In this passage, the Lord uses two powerful images to describe His followers: salt and light. He tells His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth... the light of the world." There is something profound ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/01/26
The Beatitudes describe a variety of human conditions: poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger for justice, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and persecution. Despite their different outward forms, these states share a common essence—they all emerge from a place of profound hardship and affliction.
While human reactions to hardship ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 1/24/26
Capernaum, an ancient city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, served as a vital first-century hub for administration, military, and trade. Situated along the major caravan route between Mesopotamia and Egypt, its cosmopolitan atmosphere fostered a culture of open-mindedness among the Galilean people. In contrast, the ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 1/20/26
Today’s Gospel unfolds in the moments following the Baptism of the Lord. St. John recounts the powerful testimony of John the Baptist, who witnessed the Holy Spirit descend upon the Lord. This was the definitive sign John had been awaiting—the divine confirmation that revealed the identity of the Messiah.
... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 1/01/26
When Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to Juan Diego, she introduced herself with a profound declaration: "Juanito, the humblest of my children, know and understand that I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God through whom all things live." As the first apparition formally sanctioned by ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/27/25
The Christmas liturgical season is like the Church opening a family album of the Lord’s early years. This Sunday, the Church invites us to look closer at this family album, focusing on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is a profound mystery that when the Lord ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/25/25
The prophet Isaiah once shared a profound vision: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:1-2). This highlights two movements central to the Christian journey: walking and seeing. As believers, we walk ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/22/25
On this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, the Gospel reflects on the moments leading directly to the Lord's birth. Today’s Gospel focuses on St. Joseph, who was profoundly unsettled by the mystery of Mary’s pregnancy after first learning of it.
Because Joseph was a "righteous" man, as St. ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/15/25
Announcing the arrival of one greater than himself, St. John the Baptist declared, “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Months later, St. John found himself arrested ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/09/25
The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a much older history than the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It originated in Jerusalem in the 6th century. This celebration was linked to the dedication of a church built on the traditional site of the Virgin Mary's ... Read More »