Fr. Samuel Keyes

From Isaiah: [My word] shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. This is a great set of readings for those who like growing things. Even the most successful human gardener has issues from time to time — seeds that don’t sprout like they should, unpredictable weather, pests. Having moved all over the country, I’ve often had to forget a lot of what I’ve learned when I come to a new place. Scripture loves...

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) This seems like a good message for summer vacations, though the heat of late makes it hard to do much of anything, including rest. Anyway it’s a wonderful passage, one that we rightly emphasize as a core description of the Christian life. We...

A very happy feast of title! This year I have enjoyed chewing on the Tradition’s thinking on this feast. It is a very old feast, dating at least back to the 4th century, and celebrated in both East and West. If you’re wondering why it happens on this date, recall simply that scripture informs us that, when Mary visits Elizabeth, shortly after the Annunciation, it was the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. So St. John’s nativity is approximately six months before our Lord’s nativity at...