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 »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/07/25
The spiritual landscape of three distinct places—the Judean Desert, Ars (France), and San Giovanni Rotondo (Italy)—was each radically redefined by the presence of a single man of God. These locations were not popular pilgrimage sites until the arrival of: John the Baptist, whose presence shifted the focus of pilgrimages ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/01/25
My first visit to Pompeii in October revealed a city truly frozen in time. The incredibly thick layer of volcanic ash that fell so rapidly acted as a protective blanket, preserving everything beneath it. This image of a sudden, unexpected end powerfully resonates with the Lord's words in today's ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/01/25
The story of David, the second and greatest king of Israel, perfectly foreshadows the reign of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Though still a teenager and while Saul was king, God anointed David as the future shepherd of his people.
After Saul's death, David’s path to the throne was a ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 11/17/25
The Temple in Jerusalem was a structure of immense splendor, a marvel that drew admiration for its solidity and decoration. In today's Gospel, as the Lord observed people praising its splendor, He offered a sobering truth: a day would come when this impressive, beautiful structure would be destroyed.
This ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 11/10/25
Here's a little physics. When sound waves strike a concave surface (a spoon for example), they are reflected inwards, concentrating the sound energy at a single focal point. A person can whisper and be heard by another person standing at this single focal point.
When I first visited the ... Read More »