As we all learned in grade school in the USA, the Spaniards arrived in the new world in 1492. They attempted to establish settlements and colonies throughout the Caribbean Islands, Santo Domingo, and Venezuela. Their initial efforts included some attempts at...
In difficult times just before the Exile, Isaiah writes about conversion and of new times of consolation. His vision and message are based in profound hope. He is the prophet par excellence for this time of Advent – hope and confidence. In today’s reading, Isaiah...
We are living the last week of the liturgical year for the Church. This coming Sunday we start a new season with the beginning Advent. The reading during this last week always addresses the end times. The first reading is taken from Daniel and the Babylonia exile....
Just a very brief note of history to better understand today’s readings. In the second century before Christ, Israel was a small country sandwiched between Egypt and Syria. Alexander the Great had expanded Greek culture over a large section of the Mediterranean and...
This encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus is a key point to understand our life as Christians. Jericho is a good-sized city located about 40 miles east and north of Jerusalem. According to Google, if I were a US Marine, that would be an eight hour walk in the desert....
