The Word Among Us

Advent 2020 Issue

Publisher's Letter

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

What a year it has been! I would have never imagined a year ago that we would face a worldwide pandemic that would change our lives so dramatically. But still, even as our daily lives have been upended, one thing has not changed: the love of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. More »

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Rend the Heavens, Lord!

What is it about Christmas that fills us with such a sense of anticipation? We see it in the eyes of our children and grandchildren. We see it in our own eager planning for holiday meals and gatherings. And we see it in the decorations in our homes and in shopping malls. More »

A God Who Answers Prayers

We began Advent last week by joining Isaiah in crying out to God for help. “Rend the heavens and come down!” we prayed (Isaiah 63:19). We saw the sin in the world as well as the sin that can hide in our hearts, and we begged God to come and rescue us. More »

Rejoice and Praise

No one likes to wait—especially if you’re waiting for something good to happen. It feels as if the longer you wait, the slower time goes. You see this every year around the middle of December. Children are waiting to see what’s under the tree. Adults are looking forward to family gatherings and maybe a little time off from work. It’s all going to be happening soon—and yet not soon enough. More »

I Will Make a Home for You

You can feel it, can’t you? The excitement and anticipation have been growing since early December. As Christmas Day approaches, the “doers” in our midst shift into high gear. You know who they are—the ones who manage to get everything done on time, and done well. You may even be one of them! More »

Special Feature

Bringing the Christmas Story to Life

At Christmas Mass last year, I held my two-month-old grandson, who was decked out in a festive sweater that matched the one being worn by his two-year-old brother. He was sleeping peacefully, the way newborns do, despite the joyful sounds emanating from the pipe organ and choir and filling the whole cathedral. More »

The Freedom to Be Myself

“I don’t want your advice!” I yelled as I hung up the phone, shaking with anger. What had started as a simple conversation about whether I should buy a new house had turned into a fit of anger toward my dad. My dad and I normally got along fine, and I usually listened to his advice. My outburst was so unexpected that it left me confused. More »

Finding Hope in Caring Relationships

Sarah seemed to have it all together. She came from a close-knit family with a strong work ethic. She put in the time and effort to become a straight-A student and star soccer player in high school. And her hard work paid off when she earned a full scholarship to play soccer in college. The future looked bright, and Sarah felt like she had endless possibilities ahead of her. More »