For our spiritual health we need to embrace the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is something real- we can see it, we can touch it and we can hold it in our hands. In the parable today they closed their eyes, hands and hearts to the Kingdom of God. This is sad.

“All I want for Christmas ...... is the Wisdom of God.” The readings today tell us this could be granted.

“Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” This tells us that our pain is God’s pain. The good news is God’s strength is our strength.

These days we are asked to stay home and think small (in terms of the number of people we associate with). We must do this for the safety of all. Spiritually, it is opposite. Advent reminds us that we must journey with Jesus and think big.

As we prepare for a Christmas like we have never experienced before, it will help to imitate John the Baptist- testify to the light and be the person God calls you to be. Not the Messiah, not the prophet but a voice in the wilderness.

Christmas is more than the gifts under the tree, Christmas is about spiritual gifts from God. For example gifts that assist us on our spiritual journey- believing that God knows us and understands us.

What happens in Bethlehem must never stay in Bethlehem. Epiphany tells us that the Christmas message is needed throughout the world.

When our faith journey feels more like a roller coaster and less like a pleasant Sunday drive we need to return to the readings today and hear that we are precious to God.

The readings this Sunday give us direction to a life of continual conversion (the call of every disciple). A life of conversion begins with 1) a change of heart, it involves 2) the way we see one another and the world and it is complete with 3) a change in action.

God with a human touch. This is the desire of the people in the first reading today. This is the God who is Jesus, the God who helps the man in the gospel and all of us to bring peace to our deepest anxieties.

Mercy is a beautiful gift, a close friend of mercy is repentance.

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Perhaps they thought Jesus was the life of the party, engaging speaker, great parables, even changing water into wine - so they wanted to see him. Jesus corrects them. He is not so much the life of the party, but the party who brings new life.

Happy Easter! If love makes the world go round then it is the patience that we in Easter Sunday gospel that allows our faith to come alive. Mary Magdalene waits at the tomb and is patient. Later she waits for Jesus to say her name, then it all makes sense.

Jesus says “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus calls us into unity, the wolf scatters. In our relationships may we be people who “give-in” rather than “give-up” and be people who are “thankful” rather than “vengeful.”

We all need a Barnabas in our lives- someone to take us by the hand to introduce us to community. In community we learn to abide in Christ so are less afraid to face what needs to be pruned.

Jesus does not simply acknowledge the storms in our lives, he addresses our storms. “Peace, be still” he says to us. “Peace” is his promise to us. “Be still” is his advice to us.

The gospel this Sunday is so timely for us on our road to reconciliation. We learn that Jesus “took her by the hand and said, “little girl get up.” This is what reconciliation is. Reconciliation is taking by the hand and touching the heart. May we do the same.

As we celebrate today what Jesus does for Mary (her Assumption), we are inspired with her prayer of praise “my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” Imitate her prayer of praise. Prayer of praise is powerful.

The readings today address suffering. Like Jesus, we may be powerless in avoiding suffering but we are not powerless in finding strength in God.

The God who chooses to become human also chooses to reveal Divine humility in being fully present to us in the Eucharist.