I struggle with the “Comparison Game.”

Even professionally, I often fall into the trap of thinking others might’ve done a better job. I know the two good men who held the title of Director of Faith Formation before me. They are amazing dudes! I mean—sure—I booked Patrick Madrid for our Parish Advent Mission, but Leighton Drake probably would’ve snagged Jonathan Roumie (Jesus in THE CHOSEN) and Carlos Gonzales would have probably gotten Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

...and they both have much better hair.

So many non-Catholic Christians are pretty concerned about our “obsession with Mary.” And who could blame them?

We have a statue of her in our church. She has her own shelf in our parish library (next to the parish office). The rosary is frequently said across our campus. And—of course—our particular parish is named after the (Holy) Woman!

Why so much attention on her when we could be focusing entirely on the Lord?!

Here is an insider secret: there are times when I have to write these columns weeks in advance. This is one of those times. As I write this, Christmas of 2021 hasn’t even occurred yet. As you read this, Christmas is a memory and you are more than a week into the new year.

For all I know (as you read this), the Omicron variant has been replaced by the Phi Beta Kappa variant, the murder hornets we were promised have finally arrived, Bishop Olmsted has retired, parachute pants have made a comeback, and I’ve passed away. (If this is the case—I want a memorial plaque next to a storage closet or the men’s restroom.)

Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.

Three magi all brought gifts for Jesus. None of their gifts were the same.

A simple fact that the vast majority of us have known since childhood, yet virtually none of us have pondered.

1 Corinthians 12 explains who gave us our gifts in the first place. Some of us are given wisdom. Some receive knowledge. Others have been given faith. There are those who have the gift of healing. And still others receive miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, the gift of tongues, or interpretation of tongues.