Despite their seemingly secular modern-day iteration — featuring wine, chocolate or other products — Advent calendars ...

The first weeks of Advent focus more on the Lord’s second coming in glory than on his first coming at Bethlehem. The Gospel ...

The time is ripe; this is the moment to make straight the paths, to remind ourselves that Christ is alive and the Spirit is ...

The fourth Sunday before Christmas is called Advent Sunday. It falls at the start of December, or sometimes as in 2025, at ...

The goal of Advent is to grow in holiness, to grow closer to the Holy family and become a holy family ourselves. Christ is ...

The desired product of powerful prophecy is repentance unto salvation for all who believe. Preparing prophets do not seek ...

Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” ...

From the gaiety of Christmas decors and carols it is important to pause and be reminded of the spiritual character of the ...

Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in ...

In his homily for the first Sunday of Advent, the pope referred to the first reading (Isaiah 2:1-5) as “one of the most ...

On this Second Sunday, we light the second candle on the Advent wreath, reflecting on the theme of peace and focusing on the “Prince of Peace” (Jesus) bringing deep, lasting harmony Shalom, beyond ...

Deacon Greg Kandra provides a reflection on the readings and Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 7, 2025.