While the story of the angel Gabriel and Mary is well known, its familiarity can blind us to the fact that just as God worked through Mary’s life, God works in ours. The question is, will we use the blessings we have been given for the Lord’s glory? Will we say yes to Jesus Christ today?
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent (Dec. 20th)
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Luke’s Gospel sets the context for the birth of John the Baptist – the last and greatest prophet who will proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God – and shows us how God constantly works through our lives to bring about something new.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent (Dec. 19th)
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St. Joseph’s reception and response to the angel’s message offers us a fitting example of faith in action as we receive God’s word and respond in love to Jesus Christ!
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent (Dec. 18th)
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Study: Recall a time when you were confronted with a tough decision. What helped you to make and carry out your choice?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and guidance to make daily decisions that are filled with grace.
Serve: Is there someone in your life facing tough decisions right now? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Advent
A Christmas Carol
Part IV: Scrooge’s Choice
There comes a point in A Christmas Carol where we begin to understand Ebenezer Scrooge. We’ve seen his past, present, and future – how he’s interacted with people – and we come to crux of the matter: will he make a change? Will he embrace the warnings and lessons of the Ghosts and chart a new course for his life?
Every person has a story. Every person has had moments of joy and sadness, success and failure, blessing and burden. Yet in the course of our lives we have been given the gift of choosing how we will live; the Lord offers us the freedom to accept or reject a life of love. We, too, have been given opportunities to reflect and decide how we will live. What do we choose?
In the Gospel today Mary greets her kinswoman Elizabeth, who also recognizes something wonderful has happened. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped from joy – a sign that God was present in a powerful way. Elizabeth understood that God was working in Mary’s life, and she responded to this insight accordingly.
There comes a moment in our lives when we discover something new. Perhaps we have seen a mistake in the past or regret an action that we have done; at these times we encounter a reason to hope and start over. We have a reason to live with joy.
It is this sense of hope which can give us new life. Emerging from doubt or despair, we rediscover that God walks with and among us – helping us in moments of sadness and leading us to peace. Yet God requires that we actively accept this invitation. The promise of hope needs our action, and it relies on our willingness to follow.
Scrooge provides an example for us. With the help of the Spirits of Christmas, he saw a world filled with very different possibilities. He discovered that he need not be unhappy; he could change his life and embrace the joys which were all around him. His willingness to see, judge, and act become an inspiration for us – reminding us that life gives us opportunities to change our ways and follow God’s call.
As Elizabeth recognized God’s presence in Mary, we too are invited to discover the Lord in our midst. May our eyes be open to see God among us, and may we respond with hearts that are open to the abundant love which is our inheritance.
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Note: This post was first published on December 15, 2014.
The Scriptures today reveal Zephaniah, the Psalmist, St. Paul and John the Baptist as God’s messengers who communicate to the people. They remind us that we are all messengers for Jesus Christ, called to proclaim and receive a message of joy.
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Advent’
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The Lord speaks of a sober reality in the Gospel today: both he and John the Baptist will suffer. It’s a powerful reminder that Christ came for us…our sins, our weaknesses, our wounds…and he offers his life that we might be reunited with God.
Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Photo credit: Jesus of Nazareth, 1977.
The Lord reveals how the people complained about him and John the Baptist. Their “glass is half empty” thinking demonstrates the tremendous influence we have in shaping and determining our attitude…especially in difficult moments in our lives.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent (St. John of the Cross)
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The Lord speaks to the people about John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He is Elijah, who points out the Lamb of God, and from this foundation of faith we take our part in God’s great story of salvation history.
Mass Readings – Thursday of 2nd Advent (St. Lucy)
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Jesus reveals how God looks at us in our wounded and vulnerable state. Seeking what is lost and rejoicing when found, the Lord thus teaches us how to relate to one another.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
Study: Who are the messengers in my life? Who are the people who have alerted me to blessings and burdens in my life?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the openness to hear these messengers and take their words to heart.
Serve: Who in my life and I called to offer a message? What do I need to say…and what do they need to hear?
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Advent
A Christmas Carol
Part III: The Spirits of Christmas
The Spirits of Christmas play a crucial role in Scrooge’s conversion. Their task is to show images of Christmas throughout time, revealing how the holiday is filled with blessings. In the images they reveal Scrooge learns the error of his ways, as feelings of guilt, remorse, anger, and sadness wash over him as he watches the effects of his life choices.
It is important to note that the three Spirits of Christmas are messengers. They are the heralds who reveal to Scrooge the meaning of Christmas. Yet they are not the holiday itself. Their presence in the story points to the power of our choices – where our words and actions over time make tremendous effects upon our life. As Scrooge discovers how his life might have been, he begins to yearn for a better and happier one.
In the Gospel this week we discover another messenger. John the Baptist arrives, baptizing people and proclaiming God’s wonderful deeds. People flock around him, inspired by his words and longing for hope.
As the crowds come to John they ask him, “What should we do?” as they pursue their lives. To each John answers with justice and fairness. He speaks with power and might, filling the people with expectation.
Many begin to wonder if he is the Christ. John answers immediately: NO! There is one coming who is mightier. John is merely the messenger, pointing the way to Jesus.
Like the crowds, we may often find ourselves looking for those who bring hope. We may discover in life an unhappiness, a dissatisfaction with ourselves and the choices we have made. We look to many remedies, yet we know in our hearts that our longing will only be satisfied by God alone.
Perhaps their are people in our lives that have a message for us to hear; may we be open to their words and take them to heart – trusting that their insights can help us on the journey of life.
Perhaps their are people in our lives that we are called to offer a message; may we have the courage to speak up – offering and directing others to insights that can help them embrace the power and beauty of life.
During these last few days of Advent, may we recognize in our lives the messengers sent by God to announce the Good News of Christ. As we prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming, we have the opportunity to look within and discern the path we have taken through life. We can ask “What should we do?” as the challenges of life appear. May we trust that the Lord will make His will known to us, inviting us to follow with full and open hearts.
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
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Note: This post was first published on December 8, 2014.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 