Jesus’ baptism truly is a major “turning of the page” in Jesus’ life, since, after his baptism at the hands of John the Baptist his quiet, hidden life became one of public ministry, wherein he actively sought to make his saving mission and identity known and proclaimed.

Consider for a moment how endlessly the Lord, too, calls us to himself, and how greatly he wants us to respond.

Some days we might be like the shepherd in the fields, meeting God unexpectedly without warning. Other days we might be more like the wise men, following a star, looking for God and answering his invitation to be with him.

We might be facing a contentious election season this year, but we can never forget how much we have to look forward to.

U.S. Catholicism’s intellectual life is robust, dynamically orthodox, and culture-enriching — unlike Catholic intellectual life in those large swathes of western Europe where “Follow the Zeitgeist to Mordor” is the order of the day.

The Catholic Church does not recognize any Protestant denomination as having the Real Presence in the Eucharist.

As Pope Francis has reminded us, our whole ecosystem is challenged, almost to the point of no return.

As you consider the new year, perhaps God is inspiring you to spend less time looking at a screen and more time looking at the people and places around you.

Being attached to anything other than God himself will prevent me from living in the fullness and freedom of his grace.

As we prepare to begin a new year, I know that the days might not seem all that different on the other side of midnight on January 1. But they also await us with wonder, holding new opportunities and new discoveries.