Isaiah says the servant people of God will become a "light to the nations."

Saint Paul tells the Christians at Corinth that they are called to be holy. Are your parishioners hearing that call?

SOME PEOPLE LIKE to keep expectations low and goals modest as insurance against disappointment. Even in religion they prefer the buttoned-down and tucked-in approach, wary of God’s untidily passionate embrace.

John the Baptist's statement that "a man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me" demonstrates true humility.

It was one thing to go around telling everyone to repent, but to testify that he'd met the Messiah--most people thought John had finally gone off his rocker.

Many people do not handle transition very well. It's easy during that time to lose equilibrium.

Saint John the Baptist stands between the Old and New Testaments like a "pivot man," the one on a basketball team who gets the ball from one player and passes it quickly to another.

Scripture for today tells us of God's call to God's faithful ones. Let us pray for hearts and minds open to the call to follow the Lord.

As the slain lamb, Christ's death and resurrection have redeeming power.

I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, "You are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage . . . ." --Psalm 2:7-8