advent reflections 2014 - pdf...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction The Lord gives us the season of Advent to stir up hope in our hearts: hope in God’s love, hope in His never never-‐failing mercy, hope in His strength to overcome all things, hope in the promise of eternal life, which begins even now while we are on earth. Without hope we are quick to give up, quick to surrender to despair, but with hope we can endure the most difficult of situations and struggles. The Lord wants to give you the gift of hope. Advent falls at the time of the year for us when the days are getting darker and shorter, when nature itself seems to say that there is no hope. And it is into this darkness that the love of God begins to shine and is made visible in Jesus, telling us there is hope. This book of daily Advent reflections, based on the daily Scripture readings for Mass, is meant to help reflect that Light of Love, which is Jesus, and encourage you to walk toward Him in hope. There are three goals for these daily reflections:
1) To tell the Good News of God’s love for us in a simple way, remembering that we can never hear the Good News of salvation too often.
2) To encourage readers to respond to the Good News by putting their faith in Jesus and actively surrendering their lives to Him, in order to receive His love.
3) To encourage readers to share that Good News with others, through their words and actions, so that the world around us might come to know and experience that same gift of God’s love that we ourselves have received.
We pray that this season of Advent may fill you with hope as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus our Savior, welcoming the light of His love, joy and mercy into the darkness of our lives. -‐ The Staff of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Sunday, November 30, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 2:1-‐5 + Ps 122:1-‐2, 3-‐4a, 4b-‐5, 6-‐7, 8-‐9 + Rom 13:11-‐14, Matt 24:37-‐44
“You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever.” -‐ Isaiah 2:1
Cry Out to the Lord “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!” Advent opens with this beautiful cry to the Lord in our first reading from the prophet Isaiah. It’s such a bold prayer and request – who could have ever imagined that the Lord would respond! But this is exactly what Advent prepares us to celebrate: that God loved us so much He sent his beloved Son to come to us, in the flesh. The cry of Isaiah is the deep cry and longing of our own hearts: we want God to be near us, we want Him to come down to us, in real and visible and tangible ways. So this Advent, cry out to the Lord. Follow the example of Isaiah and be bold in the way you pray. Let the Lord know what you need. And don’t be afraid of admitting how much you need Him, especially in your struggles with sin. Advent is not a season to be timid. Why do we pray with such confidence? Because (as Isaiah says): “You, Lord, are our Father.” Thus, Advent begins with the confident cry of a child to the Father. You are the child, and your Father in heaven loves you and is longing to rend the heavens and come down to you.
Family Prayer: Spend a few of minutes in prayer with Luke 12:22-‐32 in your Bible, reflecting on what Jesus teaches us about the Father’s great love for us.
Put It Into Practice: Start a worry list. Write down what you’re worried about: the bills, your health, your job, your children or grandchildren, the future. Turn your worry list into a prayer list. Ask the Lord to work in those situations you’ve written down, praying specifically for your needs and the grace to depend on Him.
Monday, December 1, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 4:2-‐6 + Ps 122:1-‐2, 3-‐4b, 4cd-‐5, 6-‐7, 8-‐9 + Matt 8:5-‐11
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” – Matthew 8:8
The Healing of the Lord Each Mass, we stand with the Centurion in today’s Gospel and speak with him the humble faith-‐filled words, “I am not worthy... only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” If we’re honest, we can see places in our hearts that only say one part of the prayer and ignore the other. We can be tempted to focus only on the first part, “I am not worthy.” This can be for many reasons: fear of spiritual pride, poor self image because of past unloving relationships, lack of trust in the healing that Jesus desires for our hearts, minds, and souls, etc. We can be tempted to only focus on the second part, “...and my soul shall be healed.” This can be for many reasons as well: fear of being too rigid, spiritual pride that refuses to admit the extent of sin, fear of looking at those places in our hearts, lives, and behaviors that we regularly ignore because we think that Jesus can’t handle the mess, etc. This is where the Centurion’s faith needs to inspire us: he said – and meant with his heart – the entire prayer. He was humble in admitting his unworthiness. He was trusting in the healing power of the Lord. It was this faith that brought the praise of Christ, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” It is only in a living relationship with Jesus – as the Centurion had – that we can pray this whole prayer without fear and receive the fullness of healing that Jesus alone has the power to give. As we begin Advent, let us acknowledge our need for a Savior and let Him show us the healing power of salvation.
Family Prayer: Lord, teach us to be humble and confident in your mercy. May our relationship with you and our dedication to prayer deepen this Advent season.
Put It Into Practice: Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Ask Jesus for the courage to both confess your sins and receive the healing of the Lord offered in this Sacrament.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 11:1-‐10 + Ps 72:1-‐2, 7-‐8, 12-‐13, 17 + Luke 10:21-‐24
“For although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the childlike” -‐ Luke 10:21
The Coming of a New Kingdom
The readings today are focused on the New Kingdom that is promised by the Lord through Isaiah. This Kingdom is a beautiful one of peace and harmony, and it is ruled by the New David. Just as the height of the Israelite kingdom came with David, so too will the Everlasting Kingdom come with a descendant of David-‐ or as we know him, Jesus. The Psalm builds off of the beautiful New Kingdom and New Eden imagery seen in Isaiah, and recalls that this New Kingdom will be an Everlasting Kingdom, ruled by a king whose name is blessed forever. Sound like anyone you know? The Gospel is the highlight of the readings today. Jesus praises His Father for the gift of His life and ministry, but mainly for the hearts of the people He loves. The wise, educated Jews would know and be expecting the Son of David to come and rule their New Kingdom, but Jesus was never a king to them. Why is that? Jesus explains that in order to fully understand, and eventually inherit this New Kingdom, we don’t have to be wise and learned, but rather childlike: curious, pure, full of wonder and awe at His Mystery. We don’t have to be theological geniuses in order to love God! We simply have to get lost in His love and His mystery as a child gets lost in the simplicity of their world. Family Prayer: Lord, help us to look forward to your Kingdom with holy anticipation, and with a childlike spirit of wonder and awe at the mystery of your great love. Amen. Put It Into Practice: Do something fun and childlike today. Get caught up in the ease and wonder of being a child again, reminded of Jesus’ invitation to be like a child.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 25:6-‐10a + Ps 23:1-‐3a, 3b-‐4, 5, 6 + Matt 15:29-‐37
“Great crowds came to him…I do not want to send them away hungry.” – Matthew 15:30,32
Are You Hungry?
In today’s Gospel, crowds of people with great needs came to Jesus, filled with trust and confidence that He would heal them. He set them free of all that was troubling them because they believed in Him. The multiplication of the loaves and fish is a reminder to us that God knows our needs and gives in abundance. The reference to the “seven” leftover baskets is a symbol of completion and wholeness. When God gives, He gives until we are satisfied. He gives us more than we need and deserve. We are the crowd today: poor, needy, hungry. Are our hearts open to approaching Jesus with hope and faith that He will satisfy us? Don’t be afraid to admit the deeper hunger in your heart: hunger for love, for forgiveness, for meaning and purpose in your life. Today we can leave our fears behind when we put our trust in Jesus and ask Him to give us all that we need. Family Prayer: Lord, You never tire of nourishing us. Help us to be still and to share with you our true needs. Fill us with your grace as we come to you, so that we may have the courage to share your love and mercy with others. Amen. Put It Into Practice: Look for an opportunity today to share God’s love and to comfort someone in need (i.e. elderly neighbor, relative, friend).
Thursday, December 4, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 26:1-‐6 + Ps 118:1+8-‐9, 19-‐21, 25-‐27a + Matt 7:21, 24-‐27
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 7:21
The Best Gift Ever! Right about now is when I start to panic and ask, “Did I get the perfect gift for each family member?” Then, as I slow down to read this scripture reading, I breathe in the thought of the most beautiful gift which awaits us all: the gift of our Eternal Home -‐ Heaven! With that, my focus moves from things of this world that truly don’t matter, to ways of living that prepare us for our Eternal Home. Jesus confirms that God waits for us in Heaven and all we need to do to obtain this Eternal Life is seek to do His Will. How simple, yet how complex. The Lord’s Will is the way to true joy and our choices are the means by which we obey His Will. How do we know the Lord’s Will? One of the clearest ways is through the Bible, His Word! Scripture is our compass and a means to encounter the Lord: “For everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7:24) With my house on rock, I trust fully in the Lord and fear not when the storm rises for I can confidently say… Prayer -‐ “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good for His mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Psalm 118:1 Put It Into Practice: On Christmas we give many gifts to each other. But what do we give Jesus? Although He needs no gift, He is worthy of so much, for His life and death gave us Eternal Life. There are twenty days until Christmas. Consider the best gift He could receive from us: consider a commitment of your life to Him, His will and the promise of Eternal Life. Don’t wait, but offer this gift of your life to the Lord today.
Friday, December 5, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 29:17-‐24 + Ps 27:1, 4, 13-‐14 + Matt 9:27-‐31
“Do you believe that I can do this?” -‐ Matthew 9:27-‐31
Stop and Smell the Roses There’s an old saying “Stop and smell the roses.” This saying reminds us to take a break from our rushing around and sit still long enough to enjoy the “sweetness” of life. In the Gospel today, the blind men, it seems, have paused to listen to the words of Jesus and hear about His miracles. As they experienced Jesus’ love, their faith grew. Since their disability was viewed as a sign of their sinfulness, they could have just given up and considered themselves unworthy of Jesus’ love. But, instead, they approached Him with confidence, knowing that “the Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145). Jesus opened their eyes, both spiritually and physically. In the midst of this busy season, we need to take some time to hear God’s Word, and reflect on how He is trying to direct our lives and strengthen our faith. Jesus is waiting for us to come to Him for healing; to remove the blindness that keeps us from seeing Him working in our lives and bringing us peace. His mercy is a free gift to us. Jesus is just waiting for us to come to Him, with confident hope, and ask for it. Family Prayer: Good and gracious God, help us to come to you with confidence and trust in your saving love and mercy. Wipe away any unbelief that we might see you clearly in our day-‐to-‐day activities, and live your Kingdom here on earth. Amen. Put It Into Practice: As a family, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Celebrate your freedom and peace together, with a special dessert or activity after dinner.
Saturday, December 6, 2014 + 1st Week of Advent
Isa 30:19-‐21, 23-‐26 + Ps 147:1-‐2, 3-‐4, 5-‐6 + Matt 9:35—10:1, 5a, 6-‐8
“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” -‐ Matthew 10:8
Giving without counting the cost! Matthew shares with us how Jesus reaches out to all who are in need. In doing so, He is overcome by the multitudes who seek His healing and His compassion. Jesus shares with His disciples that they must pray for more people to help in His ministry of salvation. As Jesus sends His disciples off to help heal their spiritual, emotional and physical needs, He also summons us to do the same. During this Advent Season of preparing and waiting for the coming of Christ, may we ask the Lord to give us the strength we need through the Eucharist and daily prayer to answer to God’s call. Without cost we have received, without cost we are to give. We do not have to travel very far. Those who need us are right here! Family Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see you and my heart to respond to you. Help me become an instrument of your presence today. Put It Into Practice: Reach out to a neighbor, a colleague, or a stranger with a smile or a kind word this day.
Sunday, December 7, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Isaiah 40:1-‐5,9-‐11 + Psalm 85 + 2 Peter 3:8-‐14 + Mark 1:1-‐8
“A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” – Mark 1:3
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room Here is the very heart of Advent: prepare the way of the Lord! We walk with Mary and Joseph in preparing for His birth. We walk with the wise men preparing to see the promised King. We anticipate with the angels the great announcement of His coming. But here, inspired by the fervent words of St. John the Baptist, we walk with the Holy Spirit in preparing our hearts to receive Jesus in a deeper, more powerful way. This is the time to acknowledge that there are places in our hearts, behavior, relationships, and conviction that do not welcome Jesus. This is the time to admit that, in many ways, we are quite convinced that Jesus doesn’t need to be consulted for certain parts of our lives. This is also the time to admit that, even if we are seeking after Him, we don’t quite listen to Him as we should: in our hearts there is noise that prevents us from hearing Him. There is noise that is the ongoing stuff that we hold in our hearts – the rants, grudges, worries, etc., that we justify having, even though we must admit that they occupy our hearts and minds in such a way that do not allow for the Lord. “Let every heart prepare Him room.” This joyful carol tells us what Advent is about, even in the busyness of the season: we must be simple and quiet. We must allow room for the Lord to speak. We must fully welcome Him. Family Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in you and trust in you. Open our minds and hearts to receive you more fully. Holy Spirit, clear our lives of sin and distraction, that we may love you and one another in a free and life-‐giving way. Put It Into Practice: Make the decision to increase the amount of time you spend in quiet prayer, and ask Jesus to show you the peace that comes from that sacrifice.
Monday, December 8, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Genesis 3:9-‐15, 20 + PSs98:1, 2-‐3-‐4 + Eph 1:3-‐6, 11-‐12, Lk 1:26-‐38
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” -‐ Luke 1:38
Slow Down and Hear the Lord
How often are we called to say ‘Yes’ to a challenging situation in our life and at the time we wonder how we will get through it. Yet, when we take the time to look back, we realize we were not alone during this trying time. So often, trust is the first step through a challenging situation. One might say that it was easier for Mary to trust because an Angel of God was protecting her and spoke directly to her saying both, “Do not be afraid” and “The Lord is with you.” These words are not only for Mary, but also for all of us. God speaks these words directly to us in Scripture and during our prayers at Mass -‐ real reminders that the Lord is with each of us personally! We take inspiration from Mary’s Yes, and are encouraged by her trust. With a few weeks left until Christmas, our personal time is now consumed with gift shopping, parties, writing cards, and baking cookies. What if we are so busy with the noise that we do not hear Gabriel speaking to us, asking us to say ‘Yes’ to a loving relationship with our Eternal Father? What can we do in these last weeks so that our ears are open to God? As a family, can you think of one “noise” to remove and one way to listen for God? Family Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray this Advent season that our hearts be warm to your love, and our ears be open to your call so that we, inspired by Mary, will say ‘Yes’ to your personal love.
Advent Action: With your parish family, slow down and join us this weekend on Sunday, December 14th for the blessing and lighting of our Parish Christmas Tree.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Isa 40:1-‐11 + Ps 96:1-‐2, 3+10ac, 11-‐12, 13 + Matt 18:12-‐14
“And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-‐nine that did not stray.” – Matthew 18:13
Take Comfort in these Words
When you hear today’s Gospel reading, it might be easy to think, “Well this really isn’t fair.” Here I am doing what is right and the one who is doing what is wrong gets all the attention. But rather than being offended by this, we really should take comfort in these words. First of all, none of us always does the right thing. We all make mistakes so it should be comforting to know that God will always search for us, no matter what. If I think as a parent, I can relate to this more easily. Being a parent of three, I of course am immensely proud of all three of my children. But there are times that I am especially proud of one because of what he had to overcome to get something done. It is not that I love one more than the others, I still love all three of them but at the moment I have a special sense of pride for one. God loves us all and He wants all of us to know His love, so when we stray, He will go out of His way to bring us back and celebrate our return. Family Prayer: Loving and merciful Father, we take comfort in knowing how much you love us and we thank you for your mercy. Help us, especially during this Advent season, to show that same love and mercy to those around us so that they may know your love. Put It Into Practice: Reach out to someone who has strayed from your life; find a way to show them your love and mercy.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Isa 40:25-‐31 + Ps 103:1-‐2, 3-‐4, 8+10 + Matt 11:28-‐30
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” -‐ Matthew 11:28
‘Come’ & ‘Yoke’ Scripture is the Living Word of God spoken not just to the crowd some two thousand years ago, but also to us right now in 2014. As I read the living Gospel of Matthew I rest on two words: ‘Come’ and ‘Yoke’. God is personally inviting each one of us to be with Him in the words, “Come to me.” He longs for us to unite the source of our love, our hearts with Him. But there is more: that personal invitation is not where He stops, for He offers something even more glorious to us: His yoke. When we, who are not farmers, ask, “What is a yoke?” we learn it is a custom-‐made harness that would fasten two animals together to work in the field so they may share in the workload. ‘Come’ and ‘Yoke’– two simple words used to confirm we are personally invited to be united with the Lord as we labor, and when we do that He will ease our load. When the weight of life bears down, I remember ‘Come’ and ‘Yoke’ are verbs in this verse and require me to take action. I remember that when I cling to Him, I do not cry any tear alone, nor live any moment alone, for not only did my Savior kiss my soul and give me Eternal life, but He walks with me every step of the way and His Love will conquer all. May His words ‘Come’ and ‘Yoke’ provide you peace. Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, I unite my heart to yours. How can I hold worry when I know you walk with me? Let your never-‐ending love always burn in my heart. Let your constant presence be a strong shelter against all loneliness, for with you my yoke is easy and my burden light. Put It Into Practice: Today, look for a way to help make the day a little easier for someone in your family, or at work. Then take a moment to see the face of Jesus in that moment.
Thursday, December 11, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Isa 41:13-‐20 + Ps 145:1+9, 10-‐11, 12-‐13ab + Matt 11:11-‐15
“Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.” -‐ Psalm 145:13
God’s Love Has No Expiration Date We are constantly thinking back to the good old days, but nostalgia has a way of making excuses for today’s challenges. The love and grace of the Lord endures the passing of time and the constant change that often seems to overwhelm us: “Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.” We’ve all heard, “My generation was different,” or “Our children are growing up in a different world than we did.” Is this something new, or can we admit that our parents and our parents’ parents probably said those same words? Nostalgia can, at times, keep us locked in the past. This Advent, will you have the courage to move forward? The readings today remind us that the Lord keeps the promises He makes to His people. Advent is all about the keeping of a promise…THE promise of Christ. Isn’t it amazing that people over thousands of years of history have grappled with trust, with finding hope in life’s darkest hours, or with surrendering to God’s will? God’s love doesn’t expire, but how long will we wait before deciding to trust the Lord and move forward with Him, to committing to a deeper relationship with Christ and sharing that love with others?
Family Prayer: Lord, help me to know the next step you want me to take in my relationship with you. And give me the grace to take it.
Put It Into Practice: Think of a friend or family member that is special to you. Renew that relationship today by a quick phone call, email or text just to say hi and let them know you were thinking of them.
Friday, December 12, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Revelation 11:19,12:1-‐6 + Judith 13:18 + Luke 1:39-‐47
“Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth…” – Judith 13:18
Playing a Part in God’s Work of Salvation Our response today is actually taken from the book of Judith, where the king praises Judith for being God’s instrument in destroying the enemy of Israel, as she killed the general of the armies of Nebuchadnezzar. But those words were not meant just for Judith; they were indeed prophetic words that would be spoken again to another woman, one who would cooperate with God’s grace and divine will to help conquer the worst enemy of Israel, Satan himself. In our Gospel reading, as the newly pregnant Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, she is greeted with similar praise to that of Judith. Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would give birth to the One who would forever free Israel, and all of us, from the greatest evil. She is truly most blessed among all women. Judith cooperated with God’s grace to help save her people, killing Nebuchadnezzar’s general with a sword. Mary cooperated with God’s grace to help save the entire human race, giving birth to Jesus who conquered sin and death forever. God loves to allow us to be part of His plan, to play an active role in the story of salvation. Like Mary, may we always be filled with joy and humility at the opportunity: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Family Prayer: Lord, you call each of us to play a unique part in your plan of salvation. Let us be joyful and humble as we allow you to work through us for the good of others. Amen. Put It Into Practice: Ask Mary to pray for you so that you can be open to seeing how God wants to use you to share His saving love with the world.
Saturday, December 13, 2014 + 2nd Week of Advent
Sir 48:1-‐4, 9-‐11 + Ps 80:2ac+3b, 15-‐16, 18-‐19 + Matt 17:9a, 10-‐13
“Let us see your face and we shall be saved.” -‐ Psalm 80:4
Light of the World
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Lucy, a third-‐century martyr who died in the Roman persecution of Christians in Syracuse, Sicily. The name Lucy has the same root as the Latin word for light. Over the centuries, many miracles of healing involving eyesight have been attributed to her intercession and prayers. How appropriate that we should celebrate this feast day during the season of Advent. In a cold, dreary time of year, Advent becomes our season of hope, our season of Light. The Church uses the Advent wreath to mark the four weeks of Advent. The light of the candles reminds us that Christ is the Light of the World, who enters into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. During this time of prayer and preparation, may the Lord gently breathe on the spiritual spark and embers that dwell within our hearts till they are ready to burst into flame. With that flame alive in our hearts the Lord calls each of us, like St. Lucy, to be light for the world. Family Prayer: Jesus, in the darkness of these Advent nights, let me be guided by the light of your word. Enter fully into my heart so that I can radiate your light to a world that is in waiting. Put It Into Practice: As you light your Advent wreath at home, or take part in the lighting of the wreath at Mass this Sunday, commit to sharing the light of God’s love, mercy, patience or kindness with others in one concrete act.
Sunday, December 14, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Isa 35:1-‐6a, 10 + Ps 146:6c-‐7, 8-‐9a, 9b-‐10 + Jas 5:7-‐10, Matt 11:2-‐11
“’Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks.” -‐ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-‐24
How to Find Joy I searched the Internet and my bookshelf looking for the perfect “10 Step Guide to Joy.” I read numerous articles until I stepped back from it all with the realization that, at best, all this advice would only provide only superficial happiness, not the deep-‐rooted relationship for which my soul cried. My search continued until I recalled, if I really want to find joy, then I must turn to my user manual for life: the Bible. God’s Word is my guide point for parenting, marriage and friendships. So why wouldn’t I turn to it as my guide to Joy? And there it was: Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 16-‐24. God wants us to be joyful, for His word is “Rejoice in the Lord.” I rest on this encouragement lest I wallow in my sadness. When I act on His words “Pray without ceasing”, I am able to unite my fear, anger, or sorrow to the Cross. For when I pour it all out, then my vessel is ready to be filled with His unending love. When I am charged with giving thanks in all circumstances, I am able to put aside all the distractions that may pull me from my Lord and I can purely see His presence amidst it all. Then and there I rest in the comfort of His loving arms, knowing I am blessed. There lies my Joy. Family Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray this Advent season that our hearts be warm to Your love. May our eyes be open to see the great things you have done for us. May our soul rejoice in you as we pray, “Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which Your presence will bestow.” Put It Into Practice: On this Gaudete Sunday, light the pink candle of your Advent wreath and pause in joyful gratitude.
Monday, December 15, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Num 24:2-‐7, 15-‐17a + Ps 25:4-‐5ab, 6+7bc, 8-‐9 + Matt 21:23-‐27
“A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel” -‐ Numbers 24:17
The Beauty of Conversion The readings for today can be those that you simply listen to but then throw out from your knowledge because they seem a little weird. We shut our brains down when we hear “Numbers” or “Leviticus” too often because we’re afraid of the Old Testament. However, the first reading today is beautiful if you understand the context of it. Balaam was not a good man before he appears in this reading. He was summoned by the king of Moab, who feared the Israelites and wanted them to be cursed, something Balaam was very good at. However, Balaam sees an angel on his way to the king, experiences conversion, and is now working as an oracle, or a prophet of the Lord. Now, when we see him in the reading, instead of cursing Israel as king wanted, he is instead blessing them and even proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. Talk about a conversion, right? It just goes to show that God can use us for amazing things no matter where we are in life. May His grace change our hearts today, like Balaam, that our words and deeds might become a blessing to others.
Family Prayer: Almighty Father, you are so good to us. You always call us to serve you and love you, no matter what our lives look like and no matter what we’ve done. Thank you for your mercy and for using us to do your great works, and for constantly calling us to conversion. Help us to become more like you, as we wait in anticipation for the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Put It Into Practice: Reach out to someone you know, a friend or family member, who you think may need Jesus. Encourage them, even in just a small way, down the path of conversion. Be open and talk to them, answer their questions, invite them to Mass, and pray for them. Conversion is meant for us all, so don’t keep it to yourself.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Zep 3:1-‐2, 9-‐13 + PS 34:2-‐3, 6-‐7, 17-‐18, 19 AND 23 + Mt 21:28-‐32
“When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.” Psalm 34:7
He Changed His Mind In the parable Jesus tells in today’s Gospel reading, we hear of a son who initially refused his father’s request to go into the vineyard to work, but afterwards, “he changed his mind and went.” The parable obviously has a spiritual meaning: God is our Father, and we are the rebellious children who often say no to what He asks of us. But, as the parable reveals, we have an incredible power within us: the power to undo our choice and change our mind. This may seem like a simple thing, but the ability to change our mind is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Imagine what life would be like if we only ever had one chance to get it right. Imagine what life would be like if every choice we ever made was permanently locked in, without the opportunity to reflect back, change our minds and make another decision.
In Jesus, we receive mercy and the grace to start over again, to change our minds and the direction of our life. No matter how far we may have wandered from God, it’s never too late to return. This is the gift Jesus brought us by His life, death and Resurrection. As we draw close to Christmas, what needs to change in my life?
Family Prayer: “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:5
Put It Into Practice: Look at your life, your relationship with God and with family, with co-‐workers and neighbors: where do you feel the Lord calling you to change your mind about a bad decision or poor choice you made? It’s not too late – do it today.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Gen 49:2, 8-‐10 + Ps 72:1-‐2, 3-‐4ab, 7-‐8, 17 + Matt 1:1-‐17
“The scepter shall never depart from Judah…” -‐ Genesis 49:10
The Promised King Ancestry research is a booming business these days. Millions of Americans subscribe to websites that help to locate documents and information, and reality TV shows take celebrities on a wild ride through their own heritage. People love to know more about their ancestors; it’s fun and it’s fascinating. But more than that, to know where we’ve come from helps us to better know who we are. Our identity is, in part, shaped by those who came before us. Today’s Gospel reading might seem a little dry, but Matthew is trying to tell us something extremely important as he lists Jesus’ own genealogy: Jesus is the answer to all of the promises of the Old Testament. He is the savior that was promised, the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who’s son Judah was promised the “scepter” forever. He is the King in the line of David. He is the Messiah that the Jews have been waiting thousands of years to see, and God has been working throughout all of history to prepare for His coming. And so Matthew wastes no time in helping his Jewish audience to connect the dots of the past, the promises and prophecies and foreshadowing, all of which point to one Person: Jesus, the Christ. Family Prayer: Lord, you always keep your promises, even when it might seem like it’s taking a long time. Help us to be patient as we wait in hope for your answers to our prayers. Amen. Put It Into Practice: It can be hard to wait for the things we want most! But we can see from today’s readings that patience, waiting in hope, always pays off. Patience takes practice. Practice it today.
Thursday, December 18, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Jer 23:5-‐8 + Ps 72:1-‐2, 12-‐13, 18-‐19 + Matt 1:18-‐25
“She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins.” -‐ Matthew 1:21
At The Name of Jesus, Every Knee Shall Bow Our name is a powerful part of our identity. Our parents decide, often before we are even born, the name we will own for all eternity. In this Gospel passage, we see that the name of Jesus is beautifully ordained by God, and that name carries power for all time. The name Jesus is translated from the Hebrew for “God saves,” and there, within His very identity, is the love of God shared with us all. The Lord’s covenantal promise of salvation is emblazoned in the very name by which all would come to know Him. Jesus is known by many names in the Scriptures, and each speaks about Him in a different way. He is called teacher, Messiah, Son of Man, and Emmanuel. How is your name a part of your identity? When people speak your name, what emotions or images do you think it evokes for them? There will only ever be one of you, and the Lord has blessed you with a name and identity all your own. During this Advent season, honor that identity in a new way by recognizing and sharing the gifts God has given you. Family Prayer: Lord, thank you for the unique identity you have given me. Let me leave behind sin, which keeps me from being all you have made me to be, that I may come fully to life in you.
Put It Into Practice: Call to mind three ways God has blessed your life. Share one of those blessings with someone else today.
Friday, December 19, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Judg 13:2-‐7, 24-‐25a + Ps 71:3-‐4a, 5-‐6ab, 16-‐17 + Luke 1:5-‐25
“Do not be afraid… your prayer has been heard.” – Luke 1:13
Living on (a) Prayer It might be tempting to think that the Lord is so busy saving the whole world, looking at the big picture, that He might not have time to deal with the details of our daily lives and the longings of our individual hearts. But today’s readings assure us that we must never give in to that temptation. Our first reading and Gospel reading seem to tell the same story, and yet they are separated by hundreds of years: a couple who has been barren, suddenly receiving a visit from an angel and a promise of a child. The Lord, Master of the “big picture” loves to use the days of the Old Testament as a way of pointing ahead to the New. In each of these stories, this precious and longed-‐for child becomes a hero in the big story of salvation history. These children grow up to be part of the way He got the world ready for the coming Messiah. But these children, born to longing parents, are also an answer to prayers from individual hearts. The Lord could have chosen any number of ways to get the world ready for Jesus to come. But He chose to do it by hearing and responding to the prayers of real people, and working through the children born of the prayer that was heard. He is Lord of all, big picture and small. And He really does care about the longing of our hearts. Family Prayer: Lord, help us to see the many ways that you have answered our prayers and lovingly provided for the longing of our hearts. Amen. Put It Into Practice: Make a list of all the ways, big and small, that the Lord has shown you that He hears and answers your prayers. It might just surprise you.
Saturday, December 20, 2014 + 3rd Week of Advent
Isa 7:10-‐14 + Ps 24:1-‐2, 3-‐4ab, 5-‐6 + Luke 1:26-‐38
“The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14
The Majesty and Closeness of God
Today’s Gospel needs to bring us to pause, step back, and simply be in awe and wonder at the event that is proclaimed. Here we are, days before Christmas with so much happening. There are practical preparations for the feast -‐ sometimes joyful, and sometimes stressful. Alongside that we have deeper emotional joys and heartaches: reunion with friends and relatives, missing loved ones who have gone before us, and all the blessing and difficulty that can come with planning to be with family. Above all of this, the Holy Spirit in the Gospel invites, rather, pleads with us -‐ to pause. To consider. To reflect. To be in awe. The Majestic God who is all-‐powerful desires to be so close to us that He became one of us. The powerful angel kneels before the woman and greets her with the new name given by the Lord: full of grace. The Virgin conceives. God becomes man. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. This is the God who is with us! This is the God who desires to be close to us. This is the God who invites us into a personal relationship with Himself. This God is worthy of our time, our trust, and our hearts. He is worthy of our prayer and worship. He is worthy of our decision to follow Him. Family Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you became like us in all things but sin. Draw close to us and draw us close to you. May Mary teach us how to love you more. Hail Mary…
Put It Into Practice: Pray the first decade of the Rosary -‐ the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation. Ask Mary to intercede for a special outpouring of grace for the next week.
Sunday, December 21, 2014 + 4th Week of Advent
Cant 2:8-‐14 or Zeph 3:14-‐18a + Ps 33:2-‐3, 11-‐12, 20-‐21 + Luke 1:39-‐45
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” – Luke 1:31
The Perfect Gift
It is just a few days before Christmas and as we hurriedly try to finish up our last minute shopping and decorating, we get to hear the story that started it all. Mary said yes and we received the best gift of all. If only I had the guts to say yes to God as Mary did. Here she was, not knowing what we know now, and she was able to put all her trust in God. We know the story and the reasons and the ending but still have trouble putting all of our trust in God. This year I found a Christmas card that just had one gift box with a pretty bow and it showed you what was inside and it is a picture of the Nativity and I thought, ‘The perfect gift.’ I instantly bought them because it was the exact message that I wanted to give all those I know. We have already received the perfect gift; we don’t need to search for anything better. During these last few days of Advent, let us take time to share the perfect gift that we have received with all of those we encounter, especially those who don’t realize it yet. God is love and love is meant to be shared. Family Prayer: Tonight, as you light the fourth candle on your Advent wreath, thank God for the perfect gift He gave us. Put It Into Practice: Show others the ‘perfect gift’: show love to those you shop with, to those you live with, to all those you encounter and pray that your kindness will spread.
Monday, December 22, 2014 + 4th Week of Advent
1 Sam 1:24-‐28 + 1 Sam 2:1, 4-‐5, 6-‐7, 8abcd + Luke 1:46-‐56
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” -‐ Luke 1:46-‐47
Her Secret Is Revealed
After the angel tells Mary God’s plan for her life, she pondered what the angel had said. She soon discovered that God had this plan all along for her, as He, too, has a plan for all of us. When Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, she joyfully sings her song of praise and thanksgiving for all God has done for her, and for the whole history of salvation. Mary teaches us that when we are humble and fully depend on God, we allow Him to work through us to guide and direct our thoughts and actions. God has a plan for all of us. When we discover, and live out His plan, we find our true and lasting joy! When we object and turn away from God’s will for us, we find frustration and lack of fulfillment in our lives. Mary provides for us her secret to a strong faith and peace in this life…talk to God and He will show us His way. Family Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to your plan for us. Help us to remain close to you and, humbly, reflect on Your Word. May we always be guided by your Spirit in all that we do and say. Amen. Put It Into Practice: As a family, discuss a decision you need to make. Pray together and ask the Lord for His guidance.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 + 4th Week of Advent
Mal 3:1-‐4, 23-‐24 + Ps 25:4-‐5ab, 8-‐9, 10+14 + Luke 1:57-‐66
“They were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” -‐ Luke 1:59-‐60
But We’ve Never Done It This Way! The holidays are filled with different family traditions: particular meals, particular relatives we visit on particular days, certain orders for the way we do things. Often we may not even be sure why we do things the way we do them, it’s just tradition. Traditions can be wonderful, but sometimes they can become so fixed that they stifle anything new as we cry out and complain: “But we’ve never done it this way!”
Today’s Gospel takes us to the birth of John the Baptist and the radically new thing that God is doing to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus our Savior. A break with the past must take place in order to prepare for the coming of the Lord. When the time comes for the child to be named, his mother Elizabeth declares: “He will be called John.” But the crowd of relatives and friends around them answer her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” That’s the equivalent of saying: “But we’ve never done it this way!” They turn to Zechariah, the baby’s father, expecting that he will stick with family tradition but he confirms: “John is his name.” God is doing something new and a break with the past is needed.
In your life, there are wonderful things that the Lord wants to do. But some of these things require that you break with the past, your normal way of doing things, the old habits and traditions you’ve picked up. Don’t be afraid to break with the past and make a little more room for God.
Family Prayer: Lord, show me those things that keep you at bay and stifle Your work in my life. Give the grace to let them go today. Put It Into Practice: Spend some time examining your life to identify those “traditions” that the Lord may want you to let go of so that He can do something new.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 + 4th Week of Advent
2 Sam 7:1-‐5, 8b-‐12, 14a, 16 + Ps 89:2-‐3, 4-‐5, 27+29 + Luke 1:67-‐79
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free.” -‐ Luke 1:67
He Has Come to His People
The first day of Advent opened with our cry to the Lord: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!” Now, on this last day of Advent, through Zechariah (the father of John the Baptist) we are told: “He has come to his people”. What beautiful bookends mark the first and last days of Advent: We cry out to the Lord in our need, asking Him to come and save us, and then the wonderful truth is declared: “He has come to his people.” Notice the past tense in that last line: He has come to his people. That doesn’t just mean that He came to us once, two thousand years ago. It means He came to me in my need today: this morning when I got up, at work when I was struggling, in the midst of traffic, when I was out in the chaos of last minute shopping. He has already come to me in a thousand different ways today. And He will come to me tomorrow on Christmas Day. And on December 26 He will continue to come, because He loves me and knows that I can’t make it through life without Him. What if the beauty of Christmas was more than just one day? What if the truth of Christmas was something that marked our whole relationship with God, something that was true every single day of our life: He has come to his people. Family Prayer/Put It Into Practice: From Pope Francis’ The Joy of the Gospel: “Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace.”
Thursday, December 25, 2014 + Christmas Day
Isaiah 9:1-‐6 + Psalm 96 + Titus 2:11-‐14, Luke 2:1-‐14
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” -‐ Isaiah 9:1
Open Arms
My favorite part of Christmas at my grandfather’s: an antique nativity scene under the Christmas tree, the lights perfectly shining on baby Jesus and casting shadows on the gifts on either side of the little stable. My grandfather and I were close before Alzheimer’s took him from us a little at a time. He died on December 13th, in the midst of Advent. After he died, I focused on the loss, and it was easy to get enveloped by gloom. On Christmas, our family got together and went to Midnight Mass. I heard the readings: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” I wept and listened, closed my eyes, and imagined: It is dark. Mary just gave birth in the unwelcoming stable. Mary and Joseph lovingly lay the newborn baby in the bed they prepared. Joseph has taken dry hay and made a trough into a little bed for this sweet child to sleep. It is uncomfortable and dark, but there is still light. There is still joy. After we came back from Mass, I looked at the Christmas tree and saw the nativity scene—perfectly lit, baby Jesus smiling, arms outstretched in the midst of the darkness surrounding us. Just as Mary and Joseph welcomed Jesus into the world: in humility, in the dark, uncomfortable smelliness of a stable and a manger, we are invited to do the same. We are just as imperfect as that humble stable on a dark night, but we, too, can shelter this child; our own nativity scene, perfectly lit within us. Today we celebrate Jesus, a newborn child, arms outstretched to the world amid the darkness.
Family Prayer: Dear Christ Child, you stretch out your arms to me. Let me do the same to you. You are welcome in my heart & life. Be the light in my darkness. Let me turn to you in my need. Put It Into Practice: Today, stretch out your arms to someone who might need comfort and support in their darkness.