Ready the Way

Ready the Way

How do we embrace the radical conversion Advent calls us to?  

We have to ready the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40) 

through openness and mindfulness, 

through a commitment to God's truth, and to God's Love.

Can we see the Lord's face in those around us today?

Ready the way, ready the way, ready the way of the Lord.

Ready the way, ready the way, ready the way of the Lord.

Make straight the road, raise the valleys, and mountains make low.

Turning from sin, let the broken be whole, and ready the way of the Lord.

As we wait for you, give us the strength to walk in your truth,

so we may love more like you and ready the way for you, Lord.

Let us see your face; in our hearts we prepare a place.

Come bring this world your mercy and grace, as we ready the way for you, Lord.

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December 9th 2012: Second Sunday of Advent Gospel Reflection

Lk 3:1-6

In today’s Gospel we read about John the Baptist who set aside everything in his life to go into the desert by the River Jordan to live simply and prepare people to be ready for the coming of God’s chosen one. John didn’t know how the story of salvation would play out, but he went into the desert, amid questions, and preached with conviction for God’s people to prepare the way of the Lord in their hearts through the forgiveness of sins.

Preparing a space for Jesus to be born in our lives requires setting aside some of the stuff (including some junk) that fills our lives to the brim. Letting go, clearing out and slowing down is not easy and requires concrete goal setting, community support, and lots of practice. In our Catholic tradition we are asked to not let the busyness of life rule our lives but are asked to come together as a community of believers to remember who were are each week; this is what the Lord’s Day and weekly Mass is all about, remembering that were not created for only busyness, sports, our jobs, etc. but we were created to love God and one another. In our Catholic Tradition we are also blessed to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a concrete/sacramental sign of God’s overwhelming love and forgiveness. Oftentimes we need to name out loud those things that get in the way between us and relationship with God and seek God’s grace and the support and advice of a pastor to assist us in preparing the way of the Lord to get to our hearts and lives.

Dear Jesus, I will ready the way for you in my life this week by letting go of...and by adding in…

Second Week of Advent Prayer (light two purple candles)

Jesus, John the Baptist told the people, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn’t have any. If you have food, share it with someone else.” As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of service into our lives. May your Word be always in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts. Amen.

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Put on the splendor of glory...

Put on the splendor of glory...

How radical are you feeling today?

One way of thinking about the time of Advent is to consider it a time of conversion – perhaps even radical conversion.  When John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, that was pretty radical stuff!  John, born to a family of priests, is ministering to people in the desert, people who need to cross over to another side, either literally or spiritually.  John can preach about people starting over, removing barriers, opening themselves to relationship with God, precisely because he himself has done just that:  he is allowing God to work in him, to bring the people to God.  And he is announcing a new way:  the way of the Lord.  Pretty radical!

The references to radical conversion in our first reading this Sunday, from Baruch, are more direct:  Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever.  The conversion takes on vestment imagery:  the prophet speaks of donning cloaks and mitres as a way of imagining clothing oneself in God.  To wear God, so to speak, is to embrace God’s love and all it represents, that is, all that connects us, all that brings us together in union.  And in so doing, we take on a new identity in God – another radical transformation.  And thus, as St. Paul tells the Philippians, our love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception.  Our openness to God allows God to complete His work in us until the day of Christ Jesus.  Radical stuff, for a radical season!

How radical are you feeling today?

This reflection is based on notes from Fr. Pat's Thursday Scripture class.
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Advent is about Desire

Advent is about Desire

What role does desire play in our spirituality?  In a recent article in America magazine, Fr. James Martin, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, suggests that desire helps us to hear God's voice in our lives.  And Advent, he says, is all about desire!  For his complete article, click here.

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O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel...

Where have you noticed God-With-You in your life today?

Although we often sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel from the beginning of Advent, O Emmanuel is in fact the last of the seven "O Antiphons," short texts featuring different names for the Messiah and echoing the prophecy of Isaiah chanted first in medieval monasteries during the Octave before Christmas.  The full text reads:  “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” 

Emmanuel means God with us.  Let this refrain -- O Emmanuel -- be on our lips throughout Advent.  As we wait in anticipation for the celebration of Jesus' birth, let us not forget that he dwells with us, and in us, always, so long as our hearts are open to his presence within.

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O Antiphons

1st Sunday of Advent

First Week of Advent Prayer

Jesus, as we wait for your coming, help us not to be afraid and to trust in you. As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of hope in to our lives. 

May your Word be always in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts. 

Amen. 

(Loyola Press)

December 2nd 2012, Sunday Gospel Reflection

Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Today we celebrate a new Church year as we begin the four-week season of Advent. We journey over these next four weeks with the Shepherds and Magi to Bethlehem awaiting the birth of Jesus with joyful anticipation! Yet, in 2012 we do not expect to find Jesus in Bethlehem, but rather, find Him re-born in our hearts, in our faith community, in the poor, the Scriptures, and in the Eucharist. This presence of Jesus is no less real than when He was born in Bethlehem. Jesus is still alive and has promised that He will always be with us.

In today’s Gospel Jesus challenges his disciples to be vigilant at all times, to stay awake, alert and live intentional lives. Every decision we make, whether great or small, forms us into the person that we are. Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, reinforces this same idea when he said, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

What is our destiny? Our destiny is communion with Jesus Christ. This Advent, a word that means “to come”, we are called to be shaken awake to the idea that Jesus is coming to be born in our hearts this Christmas if we choose to let him in, not on the edge of our activities and beliefs, but at the center of our lives.  Though Advent celebrates Jesus’ coming we are also reminded that we too are coming into being throughout our lives. The Season of Advent is an opportunity to remember that our destiny lies in relationship with Jesus and that we must practice that relationship in our thoughts and habits so that communion with Jesus becomes part of our character and destiny.

Reflection and Discussion

Dear Jesus, I will prepare a place for you in my heart during these four weeks of Advent by...

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