Advent Reflection for December 22 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings: Mi 5:1-4a, Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19., Heb 10:5-10, Lk 1:39-45

Invitation to Prayer “The greatest things are accomplished in silence—not in the clamor and display of superficial eventfulness, but in the deep clarity of inner vision; in the almost imperceptible start of decision, in quiet overcoming and hidden sacrifice.” – Robert Cardinal Sarah

Reflection Eventfulness? This word should stop us in our tracks as we move constantly to and from interesting and exciting events this season. Instead, what does it mean to be truly at rest in the season of Advent and Christmastime? A few friends and I were discussing our mutual desire and strategies to gain more peace, prayer and silence for our families during these weeks. And how, despite this desire, more and more good things compete for our attention as the days get shorter. It means that we must be more selective than ever, and somehow more detached. Rather than seeing, tasting, hearing, and enjoying the season like a honeybee, never stopping, always moving; we can strive to be more like Mary. Choosing to bring the Lord’s presence to someone in a meaningful way that will change their lives. But also being satisfied in the time we choose to spend missing out on other things. Mary made it her mission and focus for a long period of time to be with her cousin and to serve her. Quality and quantity, to the exclusion of other good things. It is ok for us to do the same.

Prayer Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to heart he voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming.

Closing For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, thy almighty word leapt down from heaven from they royal throne. – Wisdom 18:14-15

Dcn. Nathan Beiersdorfer is CFO and football team chaplain at Archbishop Moeller High School, and ministers at St. Cecilia in Oakley (Eastside Family of Parishes).

Advent Reflection for December 23 – Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Readings: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14; Lk 1:57-66

Invitation to Prayer: Lord Jesus, help our joyful anticipation of your birth be the source of our witness to others.

Reflection: “’What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.’” (Luke 1:66).

When we hear this verse out of context, we might think Luke is referring to Jesus and his birth. However, these words are spoken about John the Baptist at his birth following the miracle of his father, Zechariah, suddenly being freed from his muteness. Why then do the readings today focus so much on John—the messenger, the herald—when we are so close to Jesus’ birth?

My kids are filled with anticipation for Christmas day and the joy of opening gifts and seeing their cousins. They are so excited they can hardly bear it, and it makes it difficult for them to focus at times. What is my job as a parent right now? I spend a lot of time trying to keep them on task, manage their expectations a bit, and, most importantly, remind them of the real reason for joy—the birth of our savior, Jesus.
The prophet Malachi tells us of all the work the Lord will do, but first he reminds us that the messenger is coming to “prepare the way before me” and to “turn the hearts” of all who hear his words. John is that messenger and his work of preparing the way was so that we might not be caught off guard and so that our hearts might be prepared for Jesus’ coming.

We too are called to be messengers of the Lord. We are called to soften the hearts of our family, friends, and strangers so that they might be able to encounter Jesus when he comes. Our job is to prepare the way, by the working of the Holy Spirit, in the world and people around us so that Jesus may enter. Let us say with the psalmist, “Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we draw close to the great celebration of your birth, may we never stop looking for the ways and places you are calling us to prepare others for your arrival which is the great gift of Christmas. Give us the eyes to see the opportunities to break down walls and soften hearts as well as the strength to act and speak as a messenger of you, our great King. Free us from the fear and “muteness” that might keep us from proclaiming your name.

Closing: Who is someone I need to witness to in this Christmas season? Who has God placed in my life that needs a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas? What is that witness and invitation going to look like?

Matt Reinkemeyer is the Director of Leadership Giving in the Stewardship Department for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and has been in parish and diocesan ministry since 2012. He, his wife, Jen, and their five kids belong to Mary, Queen of All Saints Family of Parishes in Delhi.

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In case you missed the reflection for a previous day, you can find it below!

 

Advent Reflection for December 1 – The First Sunday of Advent
Readings: Jer 33:14-16, Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14,1 Thes 3:12—4:2, Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Invitation to Prayer: “Show us, Lord, your love, and grant us your salvation.” (Psalm 85:8 – Alleluia verse before the Gospel, First Sunday of Advent)

Reflection: Advent is a season of expectation during which the Church cries out with peoples of all time, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The hope of Christians who eagerly await the coming of the Lord and the fulfillment of his Kingdom is an echo of the hope of the People of Israel who anticipated the coming of the Messiah with devout longing. They were eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of the promise God had made to the house of Israel and Judah, just as the Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed.

The spirit of Advent expectation is very different from passive longing. We don’t simply sit and wait for the Lord to arrive. Rather, as captured in the Collect of today’s Mass, we pray that God grant us “the resolve to run forth to meet” the Lord. We are called to be actively engaged over these weeks to prepare a place for the Lord, to be ready for his return.

As we hear in the Gospel, the Lord himself, in speaking to his disciples about the coming of the Kingdom at the end of time, exhorts his disciples, “Be vigilant at all times!” Our anticipation of the coming of the Lord is to be active: standing with heads raised high, alert and clear, never afraid, because our redemption is at hand.

One of the ways in which we can prepare ourselves for the Lord’s coming is to be watchful and alert for his presence and action among us. The more we accustom ourselves to being aware of God’s love acting in our lives and the more we strive to be attentive to following his will for us – especially in the charity we have for one another, as Saint Paul reminded the Thessalonians – the more we prepare our hearts for an eternity spent near to God. Such closeness to the Lord will also be for us the experience of the fullness of joy in his presence.

As Christians our hope is in the salvation which the Lord comes to offer us, and this hope keeps us focused on eternity even as we pass through the course of this life. At the end of Mass today we pray, “For even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures.” May our attitude be such until the coming of the Lord!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, at your first coming you assumed the lowliness of our human flesh and opened for us the way to salvation; when you come again in glory and majesty may we who watch for that day inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.

Closing: The season of Advent is the annual opportunity the Church offers us to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord at his first coming in Bethlehem and at his second coming at the end of time. Consider what you can do to take advantage of this season of reflection, purification, and promise.

Father Jason Williams serves as Chancellor of the Archdiocese as well as Master of Ceremonies to Archbishop Schnurr. He was ordained in 2016 and completed his licentiate in canon law through The Catholic University of America in 2022.

 

Advent Reflection  for December 2 – Monday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9; Mt 8:5-11

Invitation to Prayer: Lord, may I always walk along the path of perfection.

Reflection: In the 16^th century, St. John of the Cross, the great Spanish mystic, likened advancement in the spiritual life to an ascent up a mountain, an ascent up Mount Carmel. Throughout “The Ascent of Mount Carmel,” St. John details how one can only ascend this mountain through the road of negation by seeking the nada: nothing other than God. This is a striking contrast to modern works of spirituality or to the many self-help books that crowd the shelves of modern day bookstores. It’s easy to miss the insight of the nada if one does not read deeply into the lives of the saints and Sacred Scripture. Growth in holiness can easily be misunderstood as simply consisting of the acquisition and development of gifts and virtues.

As a young growing disciple, I used to think that every zealous Catholic should aspire to be like the great saints who accomplished great feats and excelled as human beings. Simply put, we should want to be great. While we should strive to imitate the virtues of the saints, this line of thinking is actually a bit flawed. St. Therese of Lisieux, for example, had an encounter with a young novice on one occasion. The novice said to Sister Therese, her novice mistress: “Ah! How many things have I to yet acquire,” in order to grow in holiness. Sister Therese responded, “say rather to lose. It is plain to me that you have taken the wrong road; you will never arrive at your journey’s end. It is a mountain that you wish to climb—the very mountain which God wishes you to descend; there at the foot, in the fertile valley of humility, he awaits you.”

The centurion in our Gospel reading today lived in this valley of humility. This man is one of the most remarkable figures in the New Testament. A centurion was a man chosen by his own men.  Because of this, he had to be a hard man, a man able to command the respect of salty veterans, but with enough wisdom and prudence to lead irascible men in peacetime and in battle. Yet, underneath that tough exterior he was also a man of tenderness. He was greatly concerned, uncharacteristically,  for his servant, his slave. A slave (pais – lit. boy) was simply a piece property but it’s obvious that he bears a certain affection and even fatherly concern for his pais.

This centurion is a man who combines exquisite qualities that seem to be almost antagonistic: toughness and tenderness, confidence and humility. It is for these last two qualities that he is praised by Jesus. It is for his humility that he has the glory of hearing his words repeated every time that someone goes to Holy Communion. He trusts in Christ’s power to save and knows that he is not worthy to have Jesus do this for him, but yet he trusts in his word. Confidence and humility are the two virtues that will open up the heart of baby Jesus to shower us with gifts during this time of Advent.

Prayer:  O Jesus, give me a heart that is meek and humble so that I may trust and never lose hope in you.

Samuel Vásquez serves as the Managing Director of Hispanic Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He attends St. Gertrude parish with his wife Adriana and his children.

Advent Reflection for December 3, The First Tuesday of Advent
Readings: Is 11:1-10, Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17, Lk 10:21-24

Invitation to Prayer: The Alleluia antiphon: “Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.”

Reflection:  As I sit here observing from my office window, how the sun illuminates the white passing clouds, enflames the remaining crimson and brown December leaves, glitters on the surface on Winton Woods Lake, I begin to reflect on today’s alleluia antiphon; “Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.”  I’m drawn into the majestic beauty of God’s creation.  With His power he enlightens our eyes to the beauty around us, not only in nature but in the people he has placed in our lives that bring us closer to Him.

This Advent season Jesus invites us to the open the eyes of our heart and soul.  That we may see the birth of a star, the birth of Jesus, the birth of grace, the birth of a new friendship, the birth of eternal life, the birth of His blessings pouring into all mankind.  His grace abides in our inheritance in Him, the grace to love, the grace to offer mercy and forgiveness, the grace to pray, the grace to share our lives with others, the grace to see Him in others, and the grace to accept and serve Him.

Advent is a time of abundant grace, beautiful grace that illuminates His coming.  Jesus invites us into His grace, into his heart and soul to something radiant, majestic, remarkably understandable and yet, profound in its simplicity and complexity.  To accept His grace in all its forms this Advent season requires us to be open, to be awake; to be constant in our gratitude for the many gifts and talents He has placed in our lives.

Prayer:  Father God, good and gracious Lord, thank you for enlightening the eyes of our heart and soul to your graces poured out upon us to observe your beauty all around us in nature and in those you have placed in our lives to bring us closer to You.

Resolution:  I will take the time to pray, reflect, and give thanks daily for the graces of all the gifts and talents the Lord as blessed me with and to share those gifts and talents with others in building up the Kingdom of God.

Deacon Henry Jacquez serves in the Queen of Apostles Family of Parishes.  He was ordained April 2013. He has been married to his wife, Betsy for 45 years, is father of Christina, Mark, and Eric and has seven grandsons. He enjoys fishing, kayaking, and sharing his faith with others.

Advent Reflection for December 4 – Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Matthew 15:29-37

Invitation to Prayer: Our God who art in heaven, you have blessed us in so many ways, across ages and lands, and we ask you to open our hearts to your guidance and lead us to use your blessings to serve.

Reflection: I have to admit – there are often days when I read the daily scriptures and am challenged to find the overarching theme or call. I might see a connection between two of the readings or might catch a glimmer of a unifying message, but I still struggle to pull it all together. Not today! From the first line of the first reading from Isaiah, it’s clear on what we’re focusing – GOD. IS. GOOD. God loves us, provides for us, protects us, comforts us, heals us, will do anything for us. From the beautiful picture painted by the prophet Isaiah, to the sublime vision of the 23^rd Psalm, to the familiar and heartwarming story of Jesus healing and feeding everyone, it is love on top of love on top of love. (I encourage you to bookmark this page so you can come back to these readings whenever you’re having a bad day. These readings are so nurturing and encouraging!)

But of course, I can’t leave well enough alone. What is the challenge here? How do these readings lead us to be more faithful, more Christ-like, closer to God? There are surely several possibilities, but I settled on this: in the midst of a world that is so torn apart by war, violence, natural disasters, and political division, we must not lose hope. Why? Because we know what is yet to come. We know what God has in store for us. We have a picture, a vision, a promise of what God’s love means for us (and by ‘us’ I mean ALL of God’s children and creation). And so the challenge is this: if we have the great blessing to know that God loves us and will always seek to love us in new and beautiful ways (we just have to let God in), we can move through the world with hope, standing in solidarity with those who are struggling, sharing love with others, and sharing the good news of God’s grace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I open my eyes and heart to the love you continuously pour out on us, guide me to find those who are not feeling the fullness of your love and allow it flow through me, bringing you and your love to every corner of the world.

Closing: Look at those who are in your closest circle and who you love the most. Could you open your circle a little more and show love, especially to people who might not be in anyone’s closest circle?

Andrew Musgrave has served as the Director of the Catholic Social Action office since 2019. He is a member of the Crescent Family of Parishes (Church of the Resurrection) and is married to Ana with whom he has two amazing daughters, Layla and Juliet.

 

Advent Reflection for December 5 – Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6; PS 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Invitation to Prayer: Dear Lord, you said the kingdom of God is not for those who merely say words but for those who actually act according to the will of our Father in heaven. Grant me the strength and wisdom to live by your teachings and embody your love in all that I do.

Reflection: “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

At its core, this gospel underscores the importance of genuine faith. It is not sufficient for anyone to merely declare their belief in Christ or to call upon Him as “Lord.” Instead, the passage suggests that true recognition of Jesus as Lord must be accompanied by a commitment to living according to God’s will. Words alone are meaningless. We must put our words into action, but even then, our actions must be in line with the will of God and not our own.

I imagine standing before Jesus at my judgement and being told that I cannot enter because I only pretended to be a Christian, selfishly did what I felt was right and failed to actually do the will of the Father. It causes me to become quite introspective and think about what motivates my behaviors and the decisions I make each day.

There are times when I can become very judgmental and question the motives of others while convincing myself that what motivates my decisions and behaviors are almost always altruistic.  Are others being nice to me because they want something? Did they give me this gift so I might reciprocate? Isn’t it okay to be selfish one in awhile? Doesn’t God want me to be happy?

Saint Ignatius of Loyola recommended over and over the practice of considering all our current decisions and actions from the point of view of the day of judgment. What would I wish I had done in that moment? How one answers that question is of essential importance to the way one lives their life today.

Matthew 7:21 serves as a powerful reminder that faith in Christ is not solely about verbal affirmation but is inherently tied to one’s actions. It challenges us to evaluate their spiritual lives, urging us to move beyond superficial declarations of faith to a lived experience that embodies the teachings of Jesus. By doing so, we not only affirm our relationship with God but also contribute to the realization of His Kingdom on earth.

Prayer:  Saving God, help me to see my life and all of my actions in the light of Your will and Your Truth. I desire to live in accord with Your perfect will. Give me the grace I need to amend my life so that the day of judgment is a day of the greatest glory.

Closing: Take some time to reflect today and ask yourself if your actions of late have been discerned based on the will of the Father or your own desires.

Al Kovacic is the Director of Campus Ministry at Elder High School. Al and his wife Melinda have 4 sons and reside in Villa Hills, KY as members of Saint Joseph Parish in Crescent Springs.   

 

Advent Reflection for December 6 – Friday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 29:17-24, PS 27:1, 4, 13-14, Matthew 9:27-31

Invitation to Prayer: Dearest Father, please fill my shoes with feet that desire to walk humbly in Your way and act in love on the concerns of my brothers and sisters.

Reflection: No matter the weather outside, the prophet Isaiah is passing along a forecast for God that one fine day is coming, especially for people who are deaf, blind, lowly and poor. In the Gospel of Matthew, two men who are blind are gaining their sight, thanks to Jesus’ intervention. And in some homes this morning, children found small gifts in their shoes if families are celebrating the generosity of St. Nicholas.

Sounds like a good day ahead. Except for one thing. In both passages someone had to first note the existence of people who are deaf, blind, lowly and/or poor and understand how those conditions impact their dignity, livelihoods and their family members. Someone has to do something about it. Jesus did. That’s what brings about the happy anticipation and the rejoicing ahead for that fine day.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to see what is going on around us, to pay attention to how people are faring. It doesn’t appear that Scripture is giving us a pass on our responsibility for people in harm’s way by simply acknowledging people are in bad straits. No, we have to do something. We are called to act on Jesus’ behalf – be his hands and feet on earth as St. Teresa of Avila urges us.

We have a lovely tradition of filling children’s shoes with sweets in honor of St. Nicholas, but we may have forgotten that the origin of that tradition lies in a social justice ill that called for some intervention.

As the story goes, St. Nicholas understood what was required of him when he learned that three girls were going to be forced into prostitution. (We call it sex trafficking today.) He is said to have dropped off three bags of gold to give them dowries. He applied his faith to change their lives.

For any of us who received some treat in our shoes, we would do well to remember that we walk in the footsteps of saints  and we are to show our love of God and neighbors by listening and doing something when we hear the cry of people who are poor, lowly, deaf and blind, because that’s what followers of Jesus do. They pull on their shoes and go respond as Jesus would.

Prayer: Jesus, give me the courage and vision to act when I hear the cry of the poor, to open my hands and move my feet in a direction that loves my neighbor.

 Closing: This day draw closer to your neighbor and act in a way that opens their eyes to see the love of Jesus working through you.

Pam Long is the chair of the Social Action Commission for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Director of Love in Action for the St. Stephen Family of Parishes in Hamilton, Ohio. She and her husband Bob celebrated 50 years of marriage in October. They gave birth to three children and are grateful for three grandchildren.

Advent Reflection for December 7 – Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26; PS 147:1-6; Matthew 9:35-10:1,5a,6b

Invitation to Prayer: O God, who made the Bishop Saint Ambrose a teacher of the Catholic faith, raise us up to be witnesses to Your love through our words, our behaviors, and our actions, that we may use wisely the gifts you give to each one of us.   We make our prayer in the name of Your Son Jesus.  Amen

Reflection: How fitting that our Scripture readings today fall on the day the Church remembers St. Ambrose, one of the Doctors of the Church and a man known for his steadfast commitment to teaching

In our first reading, God speaks through the prophet and tells us that He hears our cries and will bestow His grace. God will give us what we need.  Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel, fulfills Isaiah by giving the Apostles and the people of that time the words and the command that they needed.  And 2000 years later, He gives us today that same message and command. It is simply to “go”.  Go out as a worker for the King; go and with confidence care for all of God’s people.  Go and without worry, take the time to sit with one another and to use the words that God will give us to provide comfort, support, reassurance.

The holiday season can be painful for those who are alone or suffering from the passing away of family or dear friends.  Jesus is reminding us of that today and puts in front of us, again, the questions we should not be afraid to face:  what goes God want from us? What is our mission; what is our call?  God will use us in extraordinary ways, just as He did the great St. Ambrose, when we take Jesus’s teachings to heart.

As we wait for the baby Jesus to come again, we must again go and be His loving and tender hands, His arms of comfort-giving embraces, His feet to walk with all who are in need.  Holiness of life is discovered in prayer and made visible in action.   Perhaps my friends, today and each day during this season of Advent, we can go and be the laborer that God and this world so desperately needs.

Prayer:  Almighty God, I commit myself to Your mission.  I choose to let Your will guide my steps. Send me, Lord, to those in need. Help me to know how I can help them.

Closing: Cherish these days and make the best use of these few short weeks of Advent. Let the recalling of the miracle of Jesus’ birth and the gift of life that the Father gives us be our inspiration to go and change the world, one person and one interaction at a time.

Deacon Ed Bayliss is assigned to the St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Guardian Angels and Saint John Fisher.  He works as business manager at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains and serves as deacon and OCIA leader at the cathedral basilica.  Deacon Ed and his wife Kim have 5 children and 7 grandchildren.

 

Advent Reflection for Sunday, December 8 – The Second Sunday of Advent
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6, Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11, Luke 3:1-6

Invitation to Prayer: Come, God of peace. prepare our troubled and burdened hearts to receive you more this day.

Reflection: Advent often flies by for me. Four weeks doesn’t seem like a lot of time to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Mary carried Jesus in the womb for nine months, literally allowing herself to be transformed from the inside out for the coming of Christ. Yet we condense that time to an intentional and intense four weeks of preparation. Last week we reflected on Hope that only comes from God, this week, we focus on the Peace that only comes from God. 

I love this first sentence we hear from God today to prepare us for His peace, “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever.” Our world is so broken right now. We live in constant stress and fear that life can often seem miserable. But that is not the story God wants to tell us. God’s story is not one of misery and woe, rather it is one of victory and peace.

As a child, one of my chores was pulling the weeds in the flowerbed in front of our home, and I hated it! It was the worst thing in the world for my adolescent self because it took forever and was so boring. Yet, in the weeding of the flowerbed, the path to our home looked inviting to my friends and family. People felt welcomed and invited to a beautiful and peaceful space. Today, my life can be quite chaotic. I keep a full schedule and hold high expectations to perform to the best of my ability. Because of that, I can get bogged down in the stresses of life and feel anxious and worried about many things. Today, I’m reminded in these readings to slow down and prepare the flowerbed of my heart for the coming of Christ. I must intentionally make time to pull the weeds from my heart that make me anxious and worried so that the flowers of peace may rest there instead.

Today, as we sit with these readings, my hope and prayer for you is the same as St. Paul’s for the Philippians, “That your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, help us to slow down and weed our hearts of all the things that rob the peace you have bestowed on us.

Closing: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Alex Bodenschatz served as a NET Missionary from 2018-2020 and now works with NET as the Easter Regional Recruiter.

Advent Reflection for December 9 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

Invitation to Prayer: Lord Jesus, may our lives be like that of your Holy Mother, sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and open to the grace you offer us every moment of our lives.

Reflection: “Hail Mary, full of grace!” (Luke 1:28)

Today we celebrate the great Marian Feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  That is, today we are commemorating the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady whereby Mary was preserved by God from the stain of Original Sin!  The Immaculate Conception is full of doctrinal, spiritual, and symbolic significance, but at its root, the Immaculate Conception was a gift from God.  A gift to Sts. Joachim and Anne, Mary’s parents, who were childless until they were blessed with Our Lady; a gift to Mary herself who clearly could not have done anything to merit such a gift prior to her own conception; and finally, a gift to us, that we might become the sons and daughters of so noble a mother!

Some may have the mistaken idea that being good and holy came easily to Mary because she was conceived without original sin.  And while I would agree that the graces she received were such that goodness and holiness came naturally to her, that is not the same thing as coming easily.  Goodness and holiness are the fruit of trials and tribulations and Our Lady had more than her share.  Among her many titles are the Mater Dolorosa (the Sorrowful Mother) and Our Lady of Sorrows after all.  Furthermore, the same graces that were freely given to Mary throughout her life are also freely given to us.  God doesn’t dispense high-grade class “A” graces to saints and martyrs and lower-grade class “B” graces to the rest of us.  He gives the same grace to all!  Therefore, holiness and goodness can come naturally to us as well.  Really, it is only our unwillingness to say yes to the joys and suffering that goodness and holiness brings that stands in the way!

So, let us rejoice in the truth of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady that the Church teaches and Holy Tradition hands on to us.  Let us rejoice in Our Lady’s fiat, in her yes, by which Our Lord was born of a Virgin, by which Mary became not only the Mother of God, but also the Mother of the Church, and our Mother!  As a result, not only is Jesus Our Lord and Savior but He is also our brother, and we are privileged to call God our Father.  Let us especially rejoice that, like Mary, all the graces we need to live a holy life have been freely given to us.

Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us!

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for your Mother, your first and greatest disciple.  May her example inspire me to live a life pleasing to you.  Through your Sacraments, grant me the grace to courageously choose the path of perseverance and holiness and so become the saint you want me to be.

Closing: Take a moment this week and prayerfully consider where you need to say yes to God during Advent.  In what area of your life is the Holy Spirit urging you to accept the grace He is offering you?

Deacon Rusty Baldwin is assigned to the St. Gaspar Family of Parishes.  He has been married to his beloved wife Heather for 40 years.  They have 8 living children and 4 with God in heaven.  Deacon Baldwin is retired but keeps quite busy serving in various roles in his Family of Parishes.

Advent Reflection for December 10– Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 40: 1 – 11; PS 96: 1 – 2, 2 and 10ac, 11 – 12, 13;  Matthew 18: 12 – 14

Invitation to Prayer: “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”

Reflection: I have always been awed by the book of Isaiah, written centuries before the birth of Christ.  As a teen, I recognized the connection between Isaiah and the Gospels, but I was left speechless when I realized how extensive the time lapse was between Isaiah’s prophecies and the birth of Jesus.  In today’s readings, we encounter reference to the Good Shepherd in the text of both Isaiah and Matthew, once again emphasizing the fulfillment of the Word in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah proclaims, “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.”  Being a shepherd in ancient times was a noble and humble profession.  A “good shepherd” took the time to tend to the sheep rather than watching them from afar.  There was a sense of relationship with the flock, and the wellbeing of every lamb was paramount.  A “good shepherd” would never forsake a single sheep.  This sense of intimacy and care parallels the role that Christ plays in our lives.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is there with us through our celebrations, challenges, and wounds.  When we turn to Him, he tends to us with loving compassion.  When we run from Him (as Matthew states), “will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?”  Christ is constantly reaching out to each and every one of us, and it is through our own free will that we choose to receive his sanctifying grace.

As humans with limited capacity for love, we often forsake one another and sometimes ourselves.  Perhaps we simply lose patience with a family member, or maybe we write someone off as a lost cause, but in Christ, there are no lost causes.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, seeks out every lost sheep.  During this Advent season, as we take time to quiet ourselves and connect with Christ, let us take pause to strive for the perfect love of the Good Shepherd- an unconditional love that does not forsake God’s creation.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd, who tenderly cares for each of us, never forsaking a single soul.  We are in awe of Your boundless love, which reaches out to us in all our joys and struggles.  Help us to recognize Your presence in our lives, and to open our hearts to receive Your grace.  As we journey through this Advent season, teach us to love as You love—unconditionally and without end. May we seek out the lost and show the compassion You offer to all. Thank You for always tending to us with care and mercy. Amen.

Closing: Who in my life have I forsaken?  Have I ever forsaken myself?  What can I do this Advent Season to open my heart to the abundant love of Christ?

Noelle Collis-DeVito is the English Curriculum Research Assistant for the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at the University of Dayton.  She just completed her Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry with a Certificate in Disability and Ministry and is excited to put her skills to use in her work creating curriculum for adult faith formation and adaptive resources for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  She serves on the Council on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and is on the Board for the Respect Life Fund for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  She also serves as the advisor for Flyers for Life at the University of Dayton.

Advent Reflection for December 11 – Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Readings: Is 40:25-31, 23-26; Mt 11:28-30

Invitation to Prayer: Let us open our hearts to the Lord, to offer Him praise, and glorify God for His love and kindness.

Reflection: What is in a name?

When someone says your name or calls you by name, you get a hit of endorphins, because it is honoring to be called by name. How much more so does it honor us that God, the King of the Universe, knows us by name, calls us by name, and has a unique plan for our lives?

One of the deepest desires of the human heart is to be known. In being made for relationships, we have a desire to know others and to be known. God knows us by name and created us as a unique and unrepeatable being. In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to come to Him. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

In the busyness of today’s world. Do we stop and rest in the Lord? When we are tired and burdened, do we take the time to bring those concerns to God or do we work on solutions ourselves? I have been reveling in the fact that God loves me so much that He will offer consolation when I’m upset about a broken nail and when I’m deeply grieving the loss of a loved one. He wants our small and large burdens because He knows us and the pain we feel with both.

Is there anything you’ve been holding back from the Lord? Do you feel as if your burdens aren’t worthy of His time? My challenge today for you is to tell Him anyway. All the small things and all of the big things. He already knows everything. What would it hurt to bring the Lord all of your needs and all of your burdens?

Prayer:  Jesus, thank you for calling us by name. Help us to know you, love you and serve you more. Fill our hearts with joy and peace that can only come from you.

Andrea Patch is the Eastern Regional Director for NET Ministries. If you are interested in learning more about NET, please visit our website: www.netusa.org

Advent Reflection for December 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Readings: ZEC 2: 14-17, Psalm: JUDITH 13:18BCDE, 19; LK 1:26-38

Invitation to Prayer: “¡Buenos días, Paloma Blanca, hoy te vengo a saludar, saludando a tu belleza en tu reino celestial!” (Good morning, White Dove, today I come to greet you, greeting your beauty in your celestial kingdom!) – Juan Bautista Rael

Reflection: The gospel stories for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe are well known ones. The first gospel selection is known as the Annunciation, where an angel reveals itself to Mary and declares that she will bear the Son of God. The second selection is the Visitation, where Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. No matter which one is read, both passages are perfect for this feast day as Mary models her faith and trust in God.

St. Juan Diego, well into his 50s when Mary first appeared to him, is one of the first indigenous converts to Christianity in Mexico. Mary appeared to Juan, asking him to tell the local bishop for a shrine for her be built on Tepeyac Hill. And as Mary was an example to all of us with her trust and acceptance of God’s plan, Juan Diego accepted the request and went to the bishop multiple times until the bishop was finally convinced of Mary’s apparition through the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary imprinted on Juan’s tilma.

This apparition of Mary is a special one to many people, especially in Latin America. Mary came to an indigenous convert, speaking his language, wearing their traditional garb, and insisting that he should be the messenger, not the Spanish who converted him. Just as God chose her, Mary chose Juan Diego to bring the people of Mexico closer to the Lord. She went directly to the people she wished to draw nearer to instead of demanding the of bishop himself.

You can see through the story of St. Juan Diego, God loves all of us. He uses Mary to reach out to those of us who feel we are not important, those who are strangers in a strange place, those who are old (or young!), and show us that all of us are messengers of God. In the house of God, background doesn’t matter, all it takes is for us to listen carefully and trust in the words he tells us.

Prayer: O Virgin of Guadalupe, you who appeared to Juan Diego, we ask for you to open our hearts to the Words of our Lord God the Father. Do not allow us to be blinded by judgements we hold of ourselves and others, but instead grant us great confidence to seek and speak the messages that bring us closer to the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Amen

Closing: Where does God speak to you in your life? What is the message you are receiving now? What are the barriers to listening to God and how can God help you overcome them?

Jillian Foster works for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in the Catholic Social Action as Regional Director for Dayton and the Northern Region. A returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner from Haiti, she enjoys learning about the culture and traditions of the people around her, both domestic and international.

 

Advent Reflection for December 13 – Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Readings: Is 48:17-19, Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Mt 11:16-19

Reflection: Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Most of us have had the experience of knowing a person we will never please – the co-worker who is always dissatisfied, the family member who constantly finds fault, the friend who mocks our commitment to Sunday Mass and acts of compassion or charity toward those most in need. Jesus experienced this, too. The detractors of John the Baptist faulted him for his ascetic ways. Jesus ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners, prompting the dismay of some of the very people who criticized John for setting himself apart. Jesus’ lavish offers of mercy, forgiveness and love to those who were known as sinners were simply too much for them to accept. Just before today’s gospel passage, John, who was in prison and would soon be brutally killed, sent two of his followers to ask if Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus’ response is telling: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Today we hear, “wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

How are we to proceed, then, knowing that even John the Baptist and Jesus experienced those who questioned their commitment to God and God’s ways? Rather than stumbling on the rock of trying to please others or the hard place of put ting our own desires above God’s, follow Jesus’ call to grow in wisdom. Today’s first reading assures us that God will teach us what is for our good, leading us on the way we should go. Rooted in the wisdom of God, we will know the path to follow, the one that leads to right relationship with God and others.

As we reflect during Advent on our human frailty, mindful that we are created in love, for love, for all eternity, we are reminded that God desires to be close to us. We may draw strength from the realization that others who have walked this journey have been emboldened by the presence of the Lord with and within them. Today, we celebrate one such holy one, St. Lucy, who was martyred for her commitment to Christ. Lucy, whose name means light, bears witness to the light of Christ which casts out all darkness.

Prayer: Good and gracious God, we trust that you walk with us as we open our hearts and minds to your holy wisdom. Lead us to seek the light of your face and to journey toward you in this Advent season. Enlighten us to put our faith into action, sharing your light as Christ’s people. Amen.

Closing: Reflect on your commitment to Christ in this season of Advent. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you to grow in wisdom and to strengthen your resolve to live in right relationship with God and others. Look for opportunities to act on this commitment through works of compassion and charity.

Leisa Anslinger is a Parish Vitality Specialist for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She has served in parish and school ministry and is an author and speaker. Leisa and her husband Steve reside in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Advent Reflection for December 14 – Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church 
Readings: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13

Invitation to Prayer: Lord God, calm our minds and tame our desires. Allow us to be ever present with you this season.

Reflection:  In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus and his inner circle of disciples, Peter, James, and John, travel down a mountain. The disciples who had just witnessed the transfiguration asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”. Jesus tells them, “But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Jesus here is referring to John the Baptist and how he was unrecognized by the religious leaders and killed for his faith.

A theme throughout the bible and all of Christian history is that the ones who prepare the way for Jesus are unrecognized, met with significant opposition, and often imprisoned or martyred for their faith. Today, as we celebrate St. John of the Cross, we reflect on the life of a faithful saint who, at one point, was imprisoned for his defense of the faith. Despite his imprisonment, St. John of The Cross found solace.

“In the inner stillness where meditation leads, the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds.” – St. John of The Cross

During this Advent season, I challenge you to quiet your soul and return to the Lord. St. John of the Cross reminds us: “Silence is God’s first language.” take this season to build in the quietness and prayer that’ll allow you to hear God.

Amid this loud and vibrant season, Let us not fall into the pit of endless comfort and desire but rather take a posture of prayer and fasting as we prepare the way for our Lord!

Prayer:  Lord God, please quiet our hearts and allow us to hear your call in our lives. We offer all glory and honor to you. Equip us to prepare the way for your Son in this season.

Jake Emser is the director of strategy and communications at the Center for the New Evangelization. He lives in Dayton, Ohio with his wife Elizabeth and son Charlie.

Advent Reflection for December 15 – Sunday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Phil 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18

Invitation to Prayer: There is no better use of our mind and will, of our imagination, memory, and affections, and even our bodies, than prayer.

Reflection: In this week’s gospel, we encounter John the Baptist who is preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. John’s bold preaching resonates with the Advent themes of preparation and anticipation. The crowds come to him seeking guidance, asking, “What should we do?” John urges those who have much to give to those who have little, and those in positions of power to use their authority justly. These are not abstract suggestions, but concrete, everyday actions that reflect a turning away from selfishness and a turning toward justice, compassion, and love.

John’s message also underlines the radical nature of the salvation that Christ brings. When the people ask if he is the Messiah, John humbly acknowledges that he is not, but points to the one who is coming after him. He speaks of the Messiah’s powerful presence, describing how Jesus will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”. This prophetic image invites us to reflect on the transformative power of Christ who equips us with the grace to live as faithful disciples.

In the context of Advent, this passage invites us to ask ourselves: How are we preparing the way for Christ in our lives? Are we ready to open our hearts to the transformation He offers, or are we holding on to patterns of sin, selfishness, and complacency?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the people you have put into our lives that have helped make yourself known to us. Let us be willing messengers in proclaiming Your coming to those around us.

Closing: John the Baptist’s message is as relevant today as it was in his time. He calls us to live with integrity, to care for those in need, and to make room in our lives for the transformative presence of Christ. As we journey through Advent, let us reflect on the ways in which we can make our hearts ready for the Lord and embrace the joy and peace that His coming brings.

Sean Ferguson is a Development Officer with the Stewardship Department for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He and his wife Liz have been married for 3 years and live in Independence, KY. They met through campus ministry at the University of Dayton.

Advent Reflection for December 16- Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a,PS 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9, Mt 21:23-27

Call to prayer: “Prayer unites us; it makes us brothers and sisters … and reminds us of a beautiful truth which we sometimes forget”- Pope Francis

Reflection: In today’s Gospel, Matthew shares his detailed account of one of the challenges that Jesus and His disciples continually faced from the community in which they lived, worked and prayed.  It is often thought that Matthew’s account of such stories is detailed and accurate due to the fact that he would have likely been an eyewitness, standing along side Jesus as these interactions unfolded.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was teaching one day and was approached by the high priests and elders of the area who were challenging Him as to where he had received the authority to teach the Law.  “By what authority are you doing these things”?

It is likely that these elders would have been amazed by the knowledge and confidence that an uneducated son of a carpenter would have been expressing.  In those days, one would have been born into the priestly class and trained all of their life to teach and interpret the Law.  But it is also likely that this amazement would have quickly turned into fear, jealousy and confusion, and Jesus would certainly be seen as a threat to their way of life.

In His reply to these elders, Jesus does not give them the easy answer that they are looking for.  He, as He so often does, continues to teach and challenge with His reply.  He cites the preaching of John the Baptist-challenging the elders in their belief of heavenly authority.  He knows that the question is likely a trap, and that these elders would most certainly find flaw with whatever answer that He would give.

The passage concludes with the Jesus refusing to engage in their plot to discredit Him. “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things”.

For me, there are many messages in this response, but I keep coming back to one that is very simple—It is not God’s responsibility to tell us how or why to submit to His will.  The search for the Truth lies within ALL OF US, to be sought out, practiced and shared with others that we may encounter in our lives.  Jesus is firmly saying that he is here, with all of the heavenly authority that we can think of, but it is up to us to accept His invitation.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, You are awesome and glorious beyond comparison There is none other besides You. Thank You for providing security for me and my family through righteous authority”.

Closing: As we continue to prepare for the coming of the Savior this Advent season, let us ask ourselves how we might focus less on the “how” and more on the “why” God has chosen to reveal himself to us through His son Jesus.

Andy Zerhusen Assistant Director of Faith Development for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Schools. Andy and his wife Amy are celebrating their 20^th wedding anniversary this year. They reside in Villa Hills, KY, and are members of St. Agnes parish.  They enjoy traveling, especially exploring America’s National Parks.

 

Advent Reflection for December 17 – Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17; Matthew 1:1-17

Invitation to Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, and help us to grow in trust.

Reflection: “Excited” was not the prominent feeling I had when I saw I was asked to write a reflection for the Genealogy reading from the Gospel of Matthew. The list of names, some recognizable and some unfamiliar (even post-”Bible in a Year” podcast), intimidated this lowly writer. Who am I to draw out some poignant thoughts from this list, portions of which I know next-to-nothing about? Thank God I’m not a priest and don’t have to preach on it!

But then, gently, the Holy Spirit reminded me of what the Lord has been teaching me lately: that God’s timing is best. Which of course is true and I’ve used this truth to comfort and encourage friends and family alike as they’ve waited, watched, and hoped. But when applied to my own life, I don’t always live like I think God’s timing is best. I find myself telling Him my ideas and plans (which of course He wants me to share) but not opening myself up to wanting what He wants on His timeline.

I imagine the generations of Israelites who awaited a savior felt similarly, even while reading Psalms like today’s that promise “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.”

“Wouldn’t NOW be a great time, Lord? Don’t-cha-think?” Do you ever catch yourself saying that? I do. I catch myself saying this all the time.

But thankfully, I’m reminded (usually gently, sometimes forcefully if I need it) that the All-Knowing God of the Universe, the God outside of time itself, knows something about timing. He’s the Author of it, after all. To quote the song “Seasons” by Hillsong, “You could have saved us in a second, instead, You sent a Child…”

So here’s my thought – poignant or not – about this Gospel: God’s plan starts long before we have ideas of what we think it should be, it continues long after we are gone, and He makes no mistakes. Our call is to be faithful as we wait for Him to reveal His good plan to us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord, help my heart to want the things you want when you want them to happen. Jesus, I trust in you.

Closing: What timeline can you surrender to God? How are you waiting faithfully.

Molly Gallagher is a Scheduling Administrator for NET Ministries’ Eastern Regional Office and parishioner at St. Cecilia of the Eastside Catholics in Cincinnati.

Advent Reflection for December 18, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Jeremiah 23: 5-8 , PS 72: 1-2, 12-13, 18-19  Matthew 1: 18-25

Invitation to Prayer: Let us remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.

Reflection: What does hope mean to you?

If I have learned anything as a person of faith, I have learned of the power and necessity of hope in our world, in our schools, in our relationships, and most importantly within our very own heart. Hope is a powerful and essential virtue for us as human beings, especially for us as people of faith.

The prophet Jeremiah shares God’s promise of a new King from the ancestral lineage of David. A King who, through faith, will draw us into a deeper relationship with our wise and loving God.  A King who is a new dynamic hope, a hope both in the here and now, and, at the same time, for eternity.  A King in Jesus the Christ who radically calls and accompanies us to a real and transformative love.  In short, Jesus Christ incarnates a new Kingdom, a Kingdom of the soul.  It’s safe to say that even the prophetic words of Jeremiah, the words “I will raise up a righteous branch for David…he shall do what is right and just” are both fulfilled and far exceeded in the very birth and life of Jesus Christ.

As we continue to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we look towards the Holy Family, a family who was so poor that they could not afford a place at the inn, they were so poor that the bed for the newborn King was a simple food trough for the livestock to feed.  I invite you to stop, re-read the scriptures, and ponder…What type of Kingdom is Jesus Christ bringing forth… to be born in one of the most vulnerable of human conditions…?

St. John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers,  wrote the following: “Then the Magi entered the stable and found a little Child wrapped in poor swaddling clothes in the company of his mother, Mary.  At this sight, how could the Magi not fear to have been deceived; are these the marks of a King?  Where is his palace, his throne, his court?  The stable . . . is his palace, the crib serves as his throne, and his court is the company of the Most Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph.  This stable does not appear to them deserving of disdain; these poor swaddling clothes are not shocking in their eyes . . . .Recognize Jesus beneath the poor rags of the children you have to instruct.”  Just as De La Salle instructed his early teachers to see Jesus in their students, the Gospel implores us, to see with eyes of faith, hope and love that…God is with us and in us.

Perhaps we should ask ourselves how I am becoming  a conduit of God’s hope in our world today?

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Chris Winiarski serves as the Director of Campus Ministry, Mission and Formation at La Salle High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives with his wife Angela, and their three children -Luke, Kate and Sam.

Advent Reflection  for December 19 – Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25

Invitation to Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to place my trust in you, because of your wonderous deeds.

Reflection: “For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mothers womb you are my strength” (Ps 71:5-6ab).

Today’s psalm sums up the feel of hope for the two couples in the reading from Judges and from Luke’s Gospel. They placed their trust in the Lord, hoping that H=he would bring about the joy of a baby – a son – in their lives. In their faith God works a miracle in their barren old age: a child is born. One that will do the will of the Lord and prepare the way of the Messiah.

We too are called to be like the wife of Manoah and Elisabeth. Life can throw many challenges to us and we may not feel the presence of God because of them. These women remain steadfast in their faith, bearing their burdens knowing that a savior is promised. When we are suffering and in need of faith it is good to remember their example, especially during this time of great expectation. God has worked in history and is working in our lives.

We should also look at the example set by the miraculous sons these women were blessed with. Samson in the Old Testament is sent to help the Jewish people against the Philistines. John the Baptist is sent to the Jewish people to help prepare them of the coming the savior, Jesus. God sends us out to serve our people as well. How are we helping those around us? How are we preparing them to meet Jesus?

The final example for us from these readings is that we must cling to our faith and trust in the promises of God. Zechariah has a moment of weakness when he hears the great things God has in store for him and Elizabeth. We too can doubt when we stand on the precipice of God’s plan for us. He picks himself and bears the burden of silence until faith, and voice, is fully restored. In the final days of Advent, let us not loose trust in the plans of God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as my Advent journey continues, help me to trust in you. Help to bear my burdens well and not loose sight that you have prepared for us a Savior who will heal me. Let me not falter, but place my trust in your plans. Amen.

Closing: How am I helping those around me encounter the Lord? What might I do to prepare people to meet Jesus?

Matt Hess is the Director of Ministry at the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics.

Advent Reflection for December 20 – Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings:  Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38

Invitation to Prayer: O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!  Alleluia!

Reflection:  I must admit that I struggle with crossword puzzles.  I usually take a while to grasp the author’s clues.  I find it frustrating.  I slog through, trying one thing or another, until I finally find the one word which unlocks the rest of the puzzle for me.  If only I could find that key word at the beginning, the rest would come easily.

Sometimes we feel that same sense of struggle in our own lives, don’t we?  Things which should be easy seem hard.  We slog through and keep going.  Some gates seem locked to us.  Wearily, we may try going the long way around or even attempt to climb over.  What if we found someone with the one key which will unlock it for us?  The good news is that God has that key, and He has already promised it to us.  All we need to do is say, “yes!”

The key, of course, is Jesus!  Isaiah called Him Emmanuel—God with us!  The long-awaited savior.  The Key of David who frees the prisoners, who heals the sick, who cures the blind and lame.  In today’s Gospel, Emmanuel is revealed. The archangel Gabriel tells Mary that she will conceive and bear a son, and she is to name him Jesus.  Jesus—which in Hebrew means “God saves!”  And Mary responds with, “May it be done to me according to your word.”  What a great model Mary is for us.  We don’t have to keep trying to do it all ourselves.  We can say yes, and let God give us the key.

This Advent is the perfect time to look to Jesus, the Key of David.  Allow him to unlock whatever is holding you back so that you can respond like Mary did.  Take whatever is your obstacle and put it in the hands of Jesus—God saves!  You don’t have to take the long way around or try to climb over.  Let it be done to you according to His Word.  Pray today’s psalm, “Let the Lord enter, He is the king of glory!”  Ask Him to come and free you, to bring you into His light.  Invite Him in, and he will come—Emmanuel—God with us!  Say yes to the Word of God, and He will unlock for you the gates of His eternal Kingdom.

Questions for reflection: What needs to be unlocked for me this Advent?

Prayer: God give me the courage to let it be done to me according to your Word.

Deacon Jesse Fanning serves the Mary, Mother of God family of parishes (NE-5) in Kettering, and assists the Archdiocese with the formation of aspirants to the permanent deaconate.

Advent Reflection for December 21 – Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Sg 2:8-14, Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21, Lk 1:39-45

Invitation to Prayer: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” 

Reflection:  It’s taken me some time to really believe that the Lord speaks to me on a regular basis.  

Now, I don’t necessarily mean the visions and trumpets kind of speaking. Sure, that’s kind of happened, but not in the way I expected it.  

When I was in the midst of my junior high/high school/college vocational crises, my prayer was often, verbatim, “Lord, you know that I want to do what you want, so please just whack me over the head with a two-by-four and show me my path, and I promise I’ll go down it like a thunderbolt.” 

Granted, I knew intellectually that God wanted me to come to a free and full, “fiat,” rather than forcing a begrudging, “fine,” but that sure didn’t stop me from praying for the two-by-four. 

I never did get whacked over the head, but twice in my adult life – once in Adoration on the Marian Pilgrimage in 2021, and once in Adoration at SEEK in 2023 – I have had a profound encounter with Jesus Christ, and far from berating me into obedience, He wrapped me in the arms of His father and mother, and made absolutely clear their presence, care, and love for me.  

Those encounters came at critical points in my life (the full stories will have to come another time), but if I were to define my relationship with God by those two moments alone, and if I waited around for that same experience all the time, I think I’d feel somewhat confused and abandoned by God’s seeming silence otherwise. 

No, I think I understand God’s way of speaking to us a little better now that I’m married. For my wife and me, our love isn’t always expressed in large, sweeping gestures – it’s not the marriage vows and the wedding day again and again. More often, it’s the quiet conversations of each day, the resting with one another, the hidden sacrifices made just to see the other person smile, the laughter and delight, the messing up and reconciliation. It’s not just grand words and promises, but actions and signs fulfilling them. 

In the same way, it’s the humbler actions and signs by which the Lord tends to speak to us: there’s something He’s trying to say to us whenever we turn to Him in prayer throughout our day, in the daily Mass readings, through the Psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours. He’s giving Himself to us in the sacraments, inspiring us with little nudges, and surprising us with unexpected joys throughout our day. 

And what He is always seeking to express to us is this marvelous love we hear about in today’s first reading from the Song of Songs. It is a love that delights in the Beloved, is filled with hope for the future, and heeds not a journey of any length or difficulty to come close to His loved one. It’s the same love by which Jesus Christ is sent to us as a vulnerable little child, to rescue us from sin and death, and to raise us up to new life with our Father. 

Do we listen to Him speaking of His love for us? And when we hear Him speaking to us, do we believe that He will fulfill His promises of love for us? As we continue through these last few days of Advent, may we open our hearts to receive the Lord and His love, even in the most hidden and humble ways by which He speaks. And may we believe that what is spoken to us by the Lord will be fulfilled. 

Prayer: Loving Father, help me to hear Your voice, to believe in Your promise, and to respond to Your love. 

Paco Patag delights in helping others discover, receive, and respond to their vocation, and is grateful to be able to do so as the Associate Director of Young Adult Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He and his wife, Beth, eagerly await the birth of their daughter this Christmas Season. They are parishioners at the Queen of Apostles Parish Family.