The Liturgy Podcast from Spirit & Song

"The way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us." The Holy Family inspires our families to be holy.

"Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth." Good news! The birth of Jesus Christ brings much needed light into our world.

"When [the shepherds] returned home to tell everyone what they saw, all were astonished." Like the shepherds, let us return home from this morning liturgy and share the joy of Christmas with our families and friends.

"I proclaim to you good news of great joy: Today a Savior is born for us." We adore the infant who became our salvation. He is the Prince of Peace.

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" The Gospel of Matthew's carefully crafted genealogy of the Messiah is upended by divine intervention. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary.

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Mary's tender and trusting faith inspires us as we journey from Advent to Christmas.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!" In our Christian joy, we help prepare for the coming of Christ into the world.

"Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Through Mary, we are inspired to join her in saying "Yes" to God.

"The Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart." This Advent, let us look for ways to brighten our hearts with the light of Christ.

"Show us, Lord, your love, and grant us your salvation." Advent is our season of hope and quiet joy as we await the coming of Christ.

Jesus said to the Samaritan leper after his healing: "Stand up and go! Your faith has saved you." Our best way to say Thank You is to proclaim God's goodness.

"My kingdom does not belong to this world." Jesus is our King, but his reign is not over some expanse of territory on this earth. Instead, Jesus reigns in our hearts.

"The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction." In the darkness of our modern world, we cling to the hope and promise of Jesus Christ.

"This poor widow, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." As members of the Body of Christ, we are both the ones who are thirsty, and the ones who offer drink.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself." A central teaching of Jesus, this is how the Kingdom of God becomes real in our world today.

"They cried out: Salvation comes from our God!" The saints are our role models as they lead us to Christ.

"Let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice!" Bartimaeus teaches us to seek Jesus confidently and follow him on his way of the Cross.

"Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant... For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve." Jesus teaches us the meaning of true greatness: through our service and care for other people.

"Fill us with your love, O Lord." Jesus challenges us to renounce the values of the world. That is how we will find the Kingdom of God.

"What God has joined together, no human being must separate." In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us his teaching on marriage and divorce.

"There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is with us." As disciples in service to others, Jesus calls us to a life of holiness.

"If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." The apostle James joins Jesus in teaching that there is no place for selfish ambition in the life of a disciple.

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." There is no resurrection glory without first suffering the pains of the cross.

"Like the deer that years for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God." Jesus invites us to take to heart his words to the deaf person in today's Gospel: "Be open!"

"The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord." In today's readings, Jesus and Saint James teach us that religion is not "obligation" but, rather, a compassionate heart.