Bishop Bill Wack, CSC podcast

The promises and prophecies of old are fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ: God is with us. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego 500 years ago with the same message: Do not be afraid, God is with you.  Our Lady desired that a church be built on the hill so that people could come from far and wide to know and to celebrate God's love, God's mercy, and God's presence among us.

Even though the rest of the world has moved on from Christmas, we remember that we are still within the Christmas season.  One of the great feasts of Christmas is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  This gives us an opportunity to learn from Mary, who draws all people closer to her Son.  Even though the Blessed Virgin speaks a couple of times in the Gospels, she is most known for...

What does Christmas mean?  Do we take the time to reflect on the miracle and mystery of the Incarnation?  Imagine: God "stepped into" creation so that humanity could share in God's divinity.  We will never be able to understand it completely, but it should move our hearts to be grateful and to worship and give thanks to God all of the time -- especially today.  The Incarnation...

In the Gospel today we hear Jesus say, "You cannot be my disciple unless you hate your father and mother, spouse and children..."  The word "hate" is disturbing, especially when used by Jesus.  Of course, while he is not telling us literally to hate someone (least of all our parents), he is intentially provocative.  He wants us to love God above all things, even above our parents, our children, an...

In the Gospel today, a follower of Jesus asks him, "Will only a few be saved?" Jesus answers not with a "yes" or "no", but with this admonition: "Strive to enter the narrow way".  He said that many will try to enter but they will not be able to.  Perhaps after hearing this we may ask(along with the disciples in Jesus' day), "Then who can be saved?"  Salvation is not our doing; it is the work of Go...

Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  We are invited to approach God directly with our intentions as Abraham did in the first reading today.  Jesus tells us to be bold in our prayer - and to be persistent.  We ought not be selfish, however, asking for the things that we want.  Rather, our prayer should be that of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsem...

Today's Scripture readings all challenge us to do away with greed and to put on Jesus Christ.  In the Gospel we have the story of the rich landowner who only thinks of himself.  In the end, he enjoys a bountiful harvest for himself, but he risks losing his very soul.  Jesus tells us that it will be the same for us, if we do not store up our treasure in heaven. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and ev...

The cross - or better, the crucifix - draws us to the heart of Jesus Christ.  We cannot help but look in awe and adoration at the one who is crucified for our sake.  Jesus himself said, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself" (Jn 12:32).  We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

As we begin our most sacred liturgy of the Triduum, we focus especially on the gift of the Eucharist, as well as the mandate to serve our brothers and sisters.  In this - and every - liturgy, we are not simply re-enacting events from long ago; we participate in mystery in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this liturgy we ask God to bless the Holy Oils that will be used throughout the liturgical year.  With these oils -- especially the Sacred Chrism -- God's children will be anointed to "bring glad tidings to the lowly" in the name of Jesus Christ.  Anointing is not a symbolic action; it actually brings about what it celebrates.  What an awesome gift from the Father!

"Blessed are you..."; "Cursed is the one...". The readings and the Psalm today confront us with a choice.  Will we be among those who are blessed, putting our hope in the Lord, or will we focus instead on ourselves alone and be cursed?  The prophet Jeremiah paints a picture of what it looks like to trust in the Lord:  The one who has faith is like a tree planted near water. Even in times of drough...

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord fits well within the Christmas season.  This mystery in helps us to see how we are incorporated into the Body of Christ.  Through our baptism - and participation in the Church - we are united with the Lord, who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Today's Gospel treats two important questions: First, since John the Baptist baptized Jesus, is he more imp...

Today the Gospel reading presents us with the mystery of the Visitation.  Mary and Elizabeth, pregnant with the Son of God and John the Baptist, delight in the wonders that God is doing.  They are models for us today, for our God is still with us.  May we rejoice in exultation and proclaim the Good News everywhere:  Our God is in our midst!

Today we begin the holy season of Advent.  Advent means "Coming", and in this holy season we get ready to celebrate the First Coming of Christ (i.e., the Incarnation, at Christmas), and we anticipate the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.  In addition to that, however, we cannot forget that Jesus Christ is with us TODAY, and at every moment of our lives, through the Scriptures, the Church...

Today's solemnity has us extolling Jesus Christ as King of the Universe.  It's an exalted title, to be sure!  It does more than tell us who God is; it also speaks to our dignity.  If the Lord is King, then you and I are sons and daughters of the King.  We are God's beloved children now!  Let us strive always to live up to this high calling.

In the Gospel for today, Jesus encounters a man who is blind.  Jesus asks him directly, "What do you want me to do for you?"  Imagine - a blank check from God!  The man asks 'to see', and that is granted him.  In reality, we have been asked that same question by God.  At our baptism, the minister asked us (or our parents or godparents), "What do you ask for?"  They replied, "Baptism".  Although we...

In the first reading today, God tells Solomon: "Ask for whatever you wish and I will give it to you."  What did he ask for?  The gift of wisdom.  God was pleased with that request - and pleased that he did not ask for gold or silver or power.  We ought to ask for the same gift from God.  Wisdom does not refer to being smart; it is a gift given to us to help us to know and do God's will in all thin...

God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone."  Humanity was made for communion - with God and with one another.  We truly are "bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh".  The answer to the division that we are experiencing, as well as our feelings of alienation and loneliness, is in finding and cultivating community.  In order to have peace we must remember why we were created and what God...

Jesus offers a corrective to his disciples (and to us) regarding his true purpose and nature.  Whereas his contemporaries were hoping for a Messiah who would dominate their enemies and establish a kingdom of power here on earth, Jesus teaches that he came to lay down his life for the salvation of the world.  Perhaps we, too, have this false understanding of who the Lord is?  Many times we pray tha...

Today's readings teach us about the Law of God.  Whereas we today may look at the law as being something negative, holding us back, God's Law gives us true freedom, freedom to know and serve our God.  This is the "goal" of the Law - to lead us to God.  The second reading from the Letter of St. James teaches: "Religion that is pure and undefiled is this: care for widows and orphans, and keeping one...

Just as Jesus raised the little girl to life in today's Gospel reading, he calls each of us to new life at every moment of our lives.  From the first reading, the Book of Wisdom: "God did not create death, nor does He delight in the destruction of the living".  Even though we experience sin, sickness, and death in this world, God wants us to LIVE, and through His Son He extends to us all an invita...

In the Gospel today, the disciples - in the boat with Jesus - are terrified in the face of a violent storm.  Jesus says to them, "Why are you terrified?  Where is your faith?"  He could say the same thing to all of us today (and in every age), because we tend to become frightened when difficulties come our way.  God is with us, however, and so we shall not fear.  Like the disciples, we are in this...

What was it that thrust the Apostles out of the upper room where they were hiding in fear?  How did they get from abandoning Jesus when he was arrested to proclaiming his Gospel boldly and fearlessly?  It was, of course, the Holy Spirit that moved them outward.  Through baptism and confirmation, we have received the same Spirit, and ours is the same mission.

The cross of Christ, which we venerate especially today, is how God refashioned creation into the image and likeness of His Son - who was perfectly obedient and humble.  Ever since sin came into the world, God has been at work and His plan has unfolded over time.  The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the altar of the cross brought forgiveness to all, as well as the promise of eternal life.

Holy Thursday Mass begins the great liturgy, the Sacred Triduum, which continues on Good Friday and concludes with the Easter Vigil.  In today's liturgy we contemplate three mysteries:  1) The institution of the Eucharist; 2) The institution of the priesthood (both the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood); and 3) The command of Our Lord to love one another. We do all of this "in memor...