Kennedy Catholic Advent Reflections

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Our personal reflections for this holy season of Advent are our gift to you. Each of the scripture readings have been chosen by the Catholic Church for daily Mass throughout the Advent season.

We pray that these simple reflections help you to keep your focus as we make ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.

The Advent season presents opportunity for a regular time of silence and peace to let the business and trials of life come into perspective; a time of waiting, of preparing, and of expectation.

We hope you find space this season to reflect on the wonder of God and to experience God’s loving goodness, mercy and grace.

Warmest wishes for a blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

As we begin another Advent we are reminded that our lives should be about one thing: The Kingdom of God. It can be difficult to keep striving to follow the Risen Christ, to live a holy life, and to do God’s will. Advent gives us another opportunity to ask God for help and provides us with motivation to continue to work for the Kingdom of God. The first Sunday provides us with God’s motivational speech. Jeremiah foreshadows the “just shoot of David” that will come in the person of Jesus.

The reading from Thessalonians encourages us to remain steadfast in love and living a life of holiness. The Gospel from Luke 21 encourages us not to be burdened with the anxieties of daily life which can make our hearts drowsy.

We are called instead to have hearts that are fully awake ready at all times to love and serve the Lord in our families, work, school, activities, and community! Hearts that desire the Kingdom of God now and in a hopeful future. Hearts filled with strength, courage and wisdom.

This Advent I encourage you to meditate on one question: is my life about the Kingdom of God? If not or if there are places you can grow, Advent is your time of renewal!

“Good example is the best form of preaching.”

Today’s reading in Romans, 10:9-18, celebrates preaching and states that “faith comes from what is heard….” In my experience, who delivers the message has a great deal more to do with how it is received and practiced.

Put another way, as St. Francis said, “Preach the Gospel at all times.

If necessary use words.”

It's easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, but celebrating Advent serves as a wonderful and meaningful reminder of what this season is truly all about.

Today's readings instill in me a great sense of hope for our future. In Isaiah 11:1-10 we are told of an everlasting kingdom, one of perfect peace where all of its inhabitants can live together in harmony. A kingdom where "there shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea". What an awesome and amazing picture is painted with those words!

Until that day comes, I feel we all have a responsibility to find ways to create and maintain peace in our everyday lives. Learn to love and respect one another despite our differences. Do your best to forgive and ask for forgiveness from others. Live your life in joy and celebrate the many gifts that God has given us!

Shadows of Things to Come

One of the many abounding misconceptions of Heaven is that beings and experiences there, are not as real as ours are on Earth. For example, we imagine angels as ghost-like beings who lack corporeality when compared with the rest of the created order; and we speak of a God who is everywhere and yet who is unable to be observed directly anywhere with any of the five senses.

The renowned Christian philosopher and theologian C.S. Lewis suggests we have this all wrong. Namely, we are merely fragile shadows of the real things that will come in the afterlife, much like how a crude watercolor of a mountain is one artist’s attempt to capture the much more real majesty and grandeur of creation.

Matthew reminds us of this fact in his Gospel, in which he describes how Christ is moved with pity for the hungry crowds who have nothing to eat.

Christ invites the crowds to offer him their lack – a measly seven loaves and some fish – and from their poverty He miraculously produces enough food for all to eat and be satisfied. Christ transforms human scarcity into divine abundance; ethereal human dreams into solid reality. If He performed such miracles while on Earth, we can only imagine the fuller, actualized realities He has effected in Heaven. But until we experience those realities and find the things on Earth as but shadows, let us meditate and feast on the Christ who was born in a feeding trough in Bethlehem so many years ago to offer us an abundance of real life.

The Advent Calendar “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call Him while He is near.”

Isaiah 55:6 The first people to count the days between December 1 st and Christmas Day were the German Lutherans. Some folks lit an Advent candle each day. Others hung religious pictures, and still others drew a chalk line on the door to record each day in anticipation of Christ’s birth.

The first known Advent calendars were created in Hamburg, Germany, in the nineteenth century. These early calendars were handmade, not printed.

Printed calendars first appeared in 1903, in Austria. A year later, a German newspaper printed a version for its readers.

The invention of the calendar we use today is credited to Gerhard Lang, from Maulbronn, Germany. As a child, Gerhard’s mother made for him an Advent calendar with 24 little meringues which were placed each day on a piece of cardboard. In 1908, Mr. Lang’s company printed 24 little pictures which could be affixed to a cardboard calendar, each representing a day in December. In 1920, Mr. Lang came up with the idea of hiding the 24 little pictures behind paper doors. Mr. Lang failed to patent his paper door. Copycats profited. Religious Advent calendars containing Bible verses were produced by another German company.

During World War II, Advent calendars were not manufactured due to the rationing of cardboard. After the war, it became common to print numbers on the little paper doors and to open one each day in December, revealing a picture or a candy. In 1953, Newsweek magazine published a picture of President Eisenhower’s grandchildren reaching for an Advent calendar. This picture introduced the tradition of Advent calendars to the United States.

And so the Christmas season has begun. Lights are up, trees are decorated.

The stores are packed with Christmas displays. We have been busily making plans to spend time with family and friends. The smells of delicious treats permeate every space- work and home. But this can also be a time of deep despair. For many, the Christmas season is a time that is only too evident of everything that is missing from their life. For many, Christmas is profound loneliness and emptiness, a reminder of loved ones lost, of overwhelming challenges faced, of dreams unrealized. For these in our faith family, the solitude and challenges of day to day life underscore the beauty of the season.

But Advent is a season of expectant delight. We are preparing to remember the First Coming of the Son of God and looking forward to the Second Coming of Jesus. Today’s readings remind us that in the waiting, there is hope! The deaf will be able to hear, and the blind will be able to see. Those living in darkness will have their eyes opened. Poor and humble people will find the happiness that the Lord gives to all. We can trust in the Lord. If we have faith, we need not despair. With faith, it will be done. Our timeline and God’s timeline for us do not always match. Our plans and God’s plans may not always be in sync. Hope is a longing for that which we do not have, and faith gives us surety that God will provide. We must realize that in the promised hope, God will lead us to the right path- our lives will fill with light and His will be done.

So in the celebration of the season, remember the hope. Live in the faith and the forest will become an orchard. And even in despair, our darkness will be lifted.

Merry Christmas and may the blessings of the season be upon us all!

Responsorial Psalm (IS 30:18d) “Blessed are all who wait for the Lord” Patience is the theme in today’s readings. “He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, and the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant.” We are promised “bread you need” and “water for which you thirst.” Sometimes we feel that these promises do not come to fruition fully or things are not happening exactly when and how we want them to happen, or envy envelopes our being.

The past few years have been difficult for my family. We experienced long term unemployment, progressive illness with our elderly parents and a horrifying event that happened in our home. I think anyone would question the Lord as to the why of just one of these events but dealing with all three has been an ultimate challenge. We have had to remind ourselves that God’s promises are in God’s time not ours. We are indeed being guided on our journey but we need to be aware of the always present Lord.

We often do stop and thank God for the good things in our lives but we forget that everything that happens to us is a grace for which we should be thanking Him. That is the challenge our loving Lord presents to us within these readings, God is good….all of the time. Thank Him for your challenges as well as your blessings because your challenges could indeed be your blessings.

Recently, I accompanied fourteen sophomore girls on their Solidarity Retreat to serve the homeless of Tent City 3. It was cold, rainy, and dark on that Sunday night. We didn't quite have enough burritos for the 100 residents, but learned while we were there that several young children were living in the camp with their parents. As we toured around, we could hear the youngest member cry, a four month old baby.

While the students spoke to longtime resident Lance and the Honey Bucket master Eric, today's second reading from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians crossed my mind. St. Paul wrote encouragement to converts he met on his journeys to inspire them to continue living out their faith even when the going got tough.

Many times people ask me how I can work with teenagers everyday; I'm always baffled by this, as they inspire me in ways that would put many of us adults to shame. St. Paul's words hold great importance for those of us who think we have arrived and the rest of us who are on the journey eager to accompany young people. The compassion, generosity, smiles, and dignity our Kennedy Catholic students showed that Sunday evening to their fellow humans while on retreat demands we all respond and encourage each other.

May all of us remember these words and find encouragement to give this Advent season to those who are in need, "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."

“Be strong, fear not!”

So many times in our lives, when faced with difficult challenges or situations, we can imagine the cartoon angel and devil on our shoulders giving us unsolicited advice about the decision we are about to make. But more than the downer devil or adorable angel, wouldn’t you rather have an ever-present voice telling you to “Be strong” and “fear not”? There is so much power and promise in such solid advice. No, it doesn’t give you an answer to your moral dilemma, but it does give you courage to stand on your own feet and make a choice. It gives you permission to have hope, stand tall and face your obstacles head on.

We are often challenged beyond what we believe is our capacity. Believe…. it’s my favorite word. It’s my version of “Be strong, fear not!” It takes my insecurities and turns them into possibilities. What do you believe in? Do you believe in yourself? Your relationship with God? Friendship? All of the above?

Whatever it is, my prayer for you is that you feel strong enough, sure enough, and so faith-filled that you don’t hesitate to climb on the roof, cut a hole in it, and lower your crippled friend down on a stretcher to ask for Jesus’ healing hand. Believe.

One message that appears throughout scripture is “do not be afraid.” God calls us to trust, to be fearless, and to be bold in our faith. In today’s gospel, Mary is reassured by Gabriel, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Her response is the ultimate statement of trust and faith, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” The grace of Mary’s response and her acceptance of God’s plan is an inspiration to all of us.

During Advent we can become immersed in activities and stresses that can take our focus away from the meaning and blessings of the season.

When we slow down and take the time to listen to God, to trust in his plan and to celebrate the gift of the coming of Christ, it is then that we are filled with the joy and anticipation of Advent and of all there is to come.

Trust—be bold—do not be afraid.

This Gospel passage is deeply meaningful for many of us who face busy lives --particularly during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. In this reading Jesus invites “all who are weary and burdened” to come to Him. Jesus also promises to give us rest to restore and renew us.

Advent is a good time to ask ourselves: What in your lives troubles us? What wears us down or exhausts us? What are some things we need rest from?

What keeps us up at night with worry?

We all grow weary at times. The added ‘stress’ we may face during what should be a peaceful time with family and loved ones does not help our anxiety.

How do we handle the weariness? We know we can take our burdens and anxiety to Jesus and ask for the grace and rest that we need. But, like me, do you often find yourself simply ignoring it—maybe claiming we’re too busy to even deal with it? If, however, we come to Jesus, He will grace us with the strength we need to keep going and also to keep hoping.

Take one moment today to reflect on your concerns and anxieties. Place those in Jesus’ heart and simply trust. Jesus will grace you! Simply spending time with Him also will give you rest and lighten your burden. He is waiting!

I’m sure we have all had ‘one of those days’. Or maybe even ‘one of those weeks’.

Where nothing seems to go as planned…you spill your coffee on your khaki pants, traffic or family members make you late for school or work, you leave the ever important project/resource/work supply on the counter as you rush out the door, and the list could go on and on. And even worse than the previous list, maybe your frustration about work gets released on your loved ones, you are incredibly short with a friend because of stress, or you miss the opportunity to act in a caring and loving manner for the person in front of you because you’re too distracted by the ‘to do’ list. I know I’m guilty of all of those. And when you begin to reflect on those actions they weigh on you so much more than the coffee stained pants. And then we begin to see ourselves similar to our first reading for today: “ O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel.”

But thankfully, our humanity doesn’t have to get stuck there. We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. In addition to our reading reminding us of our humanity, it also reminds us of the redemption we find in our relationship with our Lord. “Fear not, I will help you... I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” We can truly thank God for the gift of forgiveness, for redemption, to be able to remove the weight of our failings.

What a beautiful gift we have been given to be able to know and acknowledge that we will fail, but it’s ok, it’s not what defines us.

Our first reading today doesn’t just stop with the help from the Lord and the redemption. We also hear that God will help us bear fruit despite the fact that we may feel like a desert. So often our failures and struggles bear fruit in our lives later on. Maybe we are able to help someone else going through a similar struggle, or we are able to grow from the failure to become a better person, or the opportunity for forgiveness transforms both parties involved.

No matter the situation, we can always find help and redemption in God and through those moments of failure we become better people.

“I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go." (Isaiah 48:17-19) These words serve as friendly advice to all who hear them: listen and you will be rewarded.

Listen.

This reading reminds me of the importance of the task of listening to God when in prayer – something that is very hard to do. It calls to mind the priorities of faith and relationship with God. God does not benefit from our adhesion to His words; the benefit comes solely to us. It is our choice, and it is not always easy.

Temptations are constantly at work and present in our lives to bar us from following God’s plan. Advent is an opportunity to take special time to reflect on our relationship with God. Listen.

It is so easy to get lost in the commercialism of the holiday season and it can be hard to keep the true meaning of Christmas in the forefront; it cannot be found in a department store or underneath a Christmas tree, but rather it is found within our hearts. A deep and committed relationship with God is the ultimate Christmas gift. It is not always easy to focus on the importance of God’s wisdom and love and it takes practice. God’s wisdom and love are present everywhere, it is simply a matter of receiving and embracing it.

Listen.

Advent is the time when we can step back and listen to the important things in life and in our faith. It is a time to listen to and marvel at the gifts in your life.

Isaiah’s words should serve as a beacon of hope to all as we journey into the Christmas season. If we open our ears, we open our hearts directly to God.

The feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

When we reflect on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe we learn two important lessons, one of faith and one of understanding. Missionaries who first came to Mexico with the conquistadors had little success in the beginning. After nearly a generation, only a few hundred Native Mexicans had converted to the Christian faith. Whether they simply did not understand what the missionaries had to offer or whether they resented these people who made them slaves, Christianity was not popular among the native people.

Then in 1531 miracles began to happen. Jesus' own mother appeared to humble Juan Diego. The signs -- of the roses, of the uncle miraculously cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on Juan's mantle -- convinced the people there was something to be considered in Christianity. Within a short time, six million Native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians, the same time as the Protestant Reformation that damaged the unity of the Church.

The first lesson is that God has chosen Mary to lead us to Jesus. No matter what critics may say of the devotion of Mexicans (and their descendants) to Our Lady of Guadalupe, they owe their Christianity to her influence. If it were not for her, they would not know her son, and so they are eternally grateful. The second lesson we take from Mary herself. Mary appeared to Juan Diego not as a European Madonna but as a beautiful Aztec princess speaking to him in his own Aztec language. If we want to help someone appreciate the gospel we bring, we must appreciate the culture and the mentality in which they live their lives. By understanding them, we can help them to understand and know Christ.

Since Advent continues to prepare us for the second coming, we too must prepare our hearts, like Mary, to say “Yes” to his divine will in our lives daily...

Be reminded that the greeting of the Angel was “Do not be afraid”…

“O Mary, Conceived without Sin, Pray for us who have recourse to you!”

The subject of today’s Gospel reading is John, who shows us the importance of kindness, of sharing, and living Christ’s love in practice. We don’t run out of kindness to share any more than God’s love for us can run dry. This doesn’t mean that we should allow ourselves to be depleted; after all we cannot truly love others if we don’t first love ourselves. But it does mean that even when all seems lost, when we may have nothing material or monetary, when we might feel abandoned and alone, it is then that we can reach into our well of kindness and experience a miracle – God’s love renewing us.

Today’s readings remind us of God’s infinite love for us; and of our renewal in His love. It’s easy, especially during a busy holiday season, to let stresses that seem so important in the moment change our mood. We might worry about money or the health of a loved one; or simply how to complete all the tasks on our to-do list. How often have I become overwhelmed by the daily stress of living, only to be reminded of the security I have in God’s love, often in simple ways.

Consider: In this midst of a stressful day have you been gifted with the brilliant smile of a friend or the hug of a small child? Maybe you are stuck in the carpool lane and your favorite Christmas carol comes on the radio, instantly calming you.

These are gifts from God, reminding us that His touch is everywhere. Treat each of these events – whatever they may be – as small miracles of God’s love, as little reunions with him throughout the day or the week or the year. Let them serve to fill your soul with gladness and renew you in his love.

Sometimes it is when I feel the most depleted that I need most to give to others, showing the kindness and love I know without a doubt is given to me by God. Doing so refills my soul, reminds me that kindness and love are free to give, yet the rewards are greater than we might ever know – they multiply and spread when given freely as manifestations of God’s love for us. Each act of love or of kindness, to others and to ourselves, is a way to be glad and exult Him with all our hearts!

"The utterance of one whose eye is true, the utterance of one who hears what God says..."

Have you ever wondered what the Pope's job duties are? Have you ever thought about the job description of the Holy Father? Well, I have! On the very top of that list, I think his number one job is to be a good listener. He must listen to the bishops, he must listen to his advisors, and he must listen to the people.

Ultimately, the Pope must listen to the Holy Spirit. I think the Pope would have to be the one who listens to the Holy Spirit the very best of all of us. As he hears God's whisper, he can then lead the church to do God's will.

In today's first reading from the book of Numbers, we meet another listener, the Prophet Balaam. It is said that this prophet has a "true eye" and "hears what God says" and ultimately proclaims that message to a people hungry for hope.

Because Balaam sees with the eyes of God, he has the ability to give good news to the Israelites.

Your role, and mine, are not that different from Pope Francis and the prophet Balaam. We too are called to tune our ears to hear God's voice in the midst of our busy lives. I know it is hard. I know it is a process. I know that it is worth it. I'm not the Pope, and I'm not a prophet of old, but I am called by my baptism to be God's disciple. God has given us this season of Advent to help us learn to listen, and see, and notice! Are there people in my life that I can listen to better?

Are there others who I am not seeing or noticing? How can I "see" and "hear" better in my life today?

As we reflect on today's readings, let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us eyes that are true, eyes that can recognize God's presence around us. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us hear the small whisper of God's voice through the people we love, serve, and teach. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to bear the message of hope to a world awaiting a savior. Let us hear what God says.

Father Dick Gallagher, a newly ordained priest, was sent to St. Bernadette’s as an assistant. But since there was no youth ministry at that time, he was assigned to be our first CYO director. His first assignment was to start an active CYO program which included grades eight through twelve. We did some very cool stuff; hiking, listening to music and hanging out, and even the occasional serving at the pancake breakfast. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he was bringing us into relationship poised for a big invitation.

It was about this time of year in 1968, we were going to decorate the halls at Fircrest residential home for the severely and profoundly disabled. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but when I first walked into the barracks, I was shocked by the physical deformities, the grunts and groans as communication and the smell. I turned around and went back to the car and there I stayed. A few minutes passed, when Father Dick came out and literally took my hand and urged me to listen. Do you hear the cries of the poor, Mike?” That was the invitation! I returned, listening to the urgings of the spirit of God, and then, on that evening, my heart was touched forever. I went on to become a teacher of students that schools discarded and ultimately an administrator who always keeps an eye on the marginalized and forgotten. God was extending an invitation back in 1968. I was thankful for that second chance at saying yes.

The responsorial The Lord Hears the cry of the poor, from Psalm 34 is especially applicable. How often does God call us to holiness in the context of helping others?

Who among us does that fit, especially this season? What characteristics are listed that resemble those around us; the just who are treated unfairly, the brokenhearted, the crushed in spirit, the forgotten, the marginalized, and the hopeless in sin?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us second chances in our response to grow in holiness.

Initially, I didn’t hear the cries of those broken children, but with the Spirit’s prompting (and Fr. Gallagher), became that second son, the imperfect one, for which the Kingdom of God is still an option!

Advent is a time for preparation, a time for getting our ears checked, and a time to accept an invitation to grow in uncomfortable holiness. What second chances are you taking this Advent season?

Consider for a moment the Lord of all creation feeling compelled to reach out to us, through grace, in order to paint a mental image of who He is, what He has done and what He offers His people. God has no obligation to define Himself to us, to provide us with His “resume’”, to declare His glory…Yet, because He loves us and we so frequently get caught up in ourselves, our own lives and the (seeming) significance of our daily pursuits, He leans down and whispers, relatively gently in light of our fall in relation to His glory… “I am God.”

What does that really mean in our daily lives? Why would God feel compelled to do this? Maybe because we forget why He created us and what we are designed for. The reality is, we find God’s call for our lives elusive. In fact, we often use ignorance as a crutch or even an excuse for contributing little to nothing to his kingdom. Our own agenda for our lives frequently conflicts with God’s call. After all, if we don’t know what His call for our lives really is, how can we possibly be held accountable for our lack of contribution and alignment.

The truth is, God’s call does not differ from person to person. There is no intricate and complex formula, only known to an elite few. God’s call for each and every one of us is simple – “To bring glory to God and lead others to Christ.” That’s it…all the things we do and pursue along the way are simply opportunities to live out that call. That’s where the rubber meets the road and things get real…living a life that brings glory to God and leads others to Christ, in all we do.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17) it is easy to be overwhelmed with all the names. There are many names and most of them are difficult to pronounce.

I find myself asking, “Why is this the Word of God? Why is this important?”

I think one of the reasons we have this reading is because it establishes that Jesus is a real person, who lived in a real place, in a real time with a real family. If you were living in first century Palestine, you could have bumped into Jesus. Bumping into Jesus is the story of the apostles. The apostles were living their lives, whether as fisherman or tax collector when they encountered Christ.

When we read the Gospels we see how this encounter with Jesus changes lives.

Peter, for example, goes from fisherman, to disciple, to becoming the first Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI describes Christianity with this encounter when he says, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”

Encountering Christ gives new meaning, new direction to our lives. As we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas, the coming of Emmanuel, God with us, let us prepare to encounter Jesus: in our lives, in the Sacraments and in our families. And after encountering Christ this Christmas, let us be unafraid to then bring Christ to others, for, “when God comes, he always calls us out of our house. We are visited so we can visit others; we are encountered so as to encounter others; we receive love in order to give love.” (Pope Francis)

That footsteps in the sand story about a reflective person looking back on the ups and downs of life, says to God, “But here in my hardest of times, I only see one set of footprints. Were you not walking with me?” God’s response, of course, is, “Those times I carried you.”

Is not God with us all the time? But here in this story of Advent, of waiting and preparing, we have the symbol of the birth of a little baby savior, the King of Love on Earth. And Joseph named him Emmanuel, God With Us. As if God wasn’t with us before — nor in the two millennia since. But too often I forget, don’t I? Busy with children, work, projects, life. Thank God for Sundays to remind me of my priorities. Thank God for little times throughout the day to pray alone or at dinner with my family, to smile with a colleague, to ask support of a friend, to give back a loaned book with a great big smile knowing that we are closer now for having shared it.

And thank the people who, for two thousand years, have kept this tradition and evolved this tradition of Advent, for this great time in the wheel of the year which reminds us of our Good News, that God is indeed with us in more than just a comforting thought, but in a labor and a birth, a scandalous teen pregnancy and a going-through-with-a-marriage, lots of diapers and crying in the middle of the night, visits with family and friends, gifts for the new baby, and a life full of humanity and full of Love.

God is with us.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, it is not always a good decision to share what God has spoken to us. Pray after the message has been given and then pray some more. Just keep it between oneself and God and know it will all work out for good.

Sometimes our faith is tested in ways we may not understand, but God’s love is steadfast and often humble. Belief in the power of prayer and the need for patience pays the greatest dividends.

We need not question God’s word or devotion; we simply need to remain patient, perhaps even silent for He works for us in support of all of us.

God is good and will bestow His gifts on us when He is ready.

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

The day’s reading focuses on Mary and Elizabeth, confirming the Angel Gabriel’s words, overwhelmed by unexpected and pending motherhood. Years ago a priest said to me “to be blessed is to be content and happy that God has touched your life - trust in God’s promise.” This is true of Mary and Elizabeth.

They were blessed because they believed and trusted in God’s promise to them.

They were blessed, not because of societal rank or some artificial status, but because they trusted in God’s promise.

That should be easy, but it can be one of the more difficult things to do.

Simply to trust. We are raised to be natural critics of the unexplainable and we look for concrete answers to the questions. I can honestly say; simple trust does not always fit with my methodical and critical approach to my daily life and no matter how hard I look, sometimes the answer isn’t clear.

This Advent Season, may we simply trust in God’s word and know it will be revealed.

The Visitation is one of my favorite Gospel moments. Here we see two women who perfectly embody what it means to be a minister and share God's love.

First we have Mary, who in this passage literally lives up to her Greek title Theotokos or God-Bearer. A pregnant Mary travels with haste, bearing Christ inside of her, to bring God's love to her cousin Elizabeth. Now, when I was pregnant I didn't go anywhere with haste. For me, pregnancy was time to slow down and prepare for life's coming changes. But Mary sets aside her personal time and space to bring the gift of Christ to others.

Mary teaches that when Christ's love is growing inside of us, we must make haste to share that love.

However, that responsibility to carry Christ to others can be difficult because we are asked to share God's love. Sharing implies both the act of giving and the act of receiving. Enter Elizabeth, who also sets aside her personal agenda to fully receive Mary and Christ with all of her being. While it is crucial to give, your love, your time, your energy, your talents, it is also crucial to receive the gifts of others. Elizabeth lives this out perfectly by wholly receiving Mary and the gift of Christ's love with words of blessing, praise, and thanksgiving.

Today I ask you to reflect on how you have been preparing yourself to fully share God's love. Like Mary, how have you brought God's love to others?

And like Elizabeth how have you received the love of God others have brought to you?

In the responsorial psalm readers are given insight into what will happen if one follows the Lord. “The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.�

It's not a difficult prescription that one listens to the Lord and one will be taken care of.

It is the Gospel that gives me the most hope though, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked upon his lowly servant." How amazing is it that the Lord will look upon me his lowly servant and rejoice in me? Upon reading this Gospel I am reminded of something that my mother used to tell me when I was a little girl. She used to say that all things are possible in God. What a relief it is to know that all things are possible and that the Lord looks at me, his lowly servant, and rejoices in me, no matter what I do. There is so much hope in this. Remember through the remaining days of Advent that all things are possible in the Lord and that he looks with favor on us; his lowly servants.

A ray of hope in an otherwise overwhelming world.

Advent is a joyful time of preparation and anticipation.

Earlier, while patiently awaiting the birth of her son with Zechariah, Elizabeth asked, “How does this happen to me?” I, too, reflect upon the joyful yet anxious feelings I experienced while awaiting the adoption of my first son. Like Elizabeth, I asked our Lord why I was worthy to receive such a special gift and how I would serve this special child. What would become of this miraculous baby – this message of Hope?

After the birth of Elizabeth’s son, neighbors and relatives asked, “What, then, will this child be?” As members of our Kennedy Catholic community, we must ask one another the same question regarding each of our students.

While they continue on to higher education, master their trades and grow their passions – may they continue to serve God and to open their hearts to serving their communities as well as one another. Who are they meant to be and how can we guide them along their journey?

God heard my prayers and granted peace for my son. My family continued to grow, and I am beyond grateful – especially at this joyful time of year. I must remember each of my gifts and remember to serve God, to serve my community and to give praise for each of our students as they too send their messages of hope.

What is it like to lose the power of speech? I was left speechless when I was told without explanation, that something that was promised to me, could no longer be delivered. I felt bound with fetters that were unbreakable. I felt darkness envelope around me. I felt that my trust was violated. I felt robbed!

Zechariah must have felt bound and robbed too, when his speech was taken away by the angel because of his unbelief at the announcement of a son.

Nothing much was said about him until he regained his speech. Yet, in his quiet moments, he must have held on to faith and a glimmer of hope that one day, yes, one day, God would have compassion on him and deliver him of his bondage. I too, have held on to that glimmer of hope when I have felt bound and robbed.…and that day came. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed, “Blessed be the Lord God…!” What follows is a prophesy, a prayer, a blessing, which to this day the church uses as a morning prayer called the “Benedictus”. Indeed, a proclamation of God’s greatest blessing, Jesus himself, who is the dawn that breaks upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Jesus, open our hearts as we prepare for your coming, and guide our feet into the way of peace

God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.

He is a sign of your love.

Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent, As we wait and prepare for his coming.

We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior.

Amen.

“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God's own love and concern.” ― Blessed Mother Teresa