Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” – Matthew 1:24 Both St. Joseph and St. Paul are examples par excellence of holy men who fully surrendered to God’s holy will. In our readings this Sunday, St. Joseph demonstrates his faith and trust in God’s will when he changes his plans to quietly divorce Mary (Matthew 1:19). God communicated His holy will for Joseph through an angel who appeared in a dream,…
“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.” – James 5:7 Let’s focus on patience this third week of Advent. The type of patience St. James is exhorting us to in the second reading this Sunday is patience as we wait for the second coming of Christ. This type of patience is about persevering with faith in this imperfect world. It’s the patience that allows us to suffer here on earth without…
“Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more.” – Psalm 72:7 For the second week of Advent, let’s focus on the virtue of justice toward God. There are two forms of justice: justice toward God and justice toward neighbor. The Catechism teaches: “Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called…
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” -Isaiah 2:4 Blessed Advent! Last week, on the feast of Christ the King, we talked about the Virtues of the Kingdom of Christ. This year during Advent, I want to take a look at one virtue that has a theme in our readings each Sunday. This…
My Advent song wells last to love, the greatest of virtues, most true. It never will fade, endures for all time. It’s patient, enduring, and kind. It’s the one thing most needful, the goal of all longing hearts. Love is greater than fear, St. John tells us this. Then let love grow strong and sure. Let it ring out! Sweet melodious bells. Join the harp, pipe and strings from before. The song and the wreath…
With strings of hope and harps of peacemy song continues on. My heart bursts forth with notes of joyon this Gaudete day. A day of joy, for Christ is close; a bright and happy tune. The pipe does play a merry liltso sweet and pure and true. Christ comes to us, the joy He brings; I need not strive nor plod. His yoke is light, and too, my heart. The rose candle burns bright still.
My Advent hymn remains; small though lit still more. Another candle lit in my heartjoins hope’s candle from before. The strings of hope swell deep, drawn sweetly on the bow. A song of peace, calm melody, glides gently, mellow, slow. Peace of heart, and peace of mind, even my body in safety and peace does rest. What brings this peace? Why justice, friend, and security in God’sloving embrace. Peace brought by sweet forgiveness, and a…
To You, oh Lord, I lift up a songfrom a place deep dark in my soul. It sings itself, this Advent song, quiet and humble and pure. My heart opens from within;it streams out in peace.From a silent place it sings its notesof longing and stillness and grief. Grief that the world is dark at times,and for the things I’ve lost this year.Stillness and silence I yearn to hold,frenzy and noise break piece by piece.…
“My soul rejoices in my God.” – Isaiah 61:10 Spotless Mary, conceived without sin, pray for me that I might have a heart like yours, one that seeks to magnify the Lord. Pray that I may have a joyful heart that rejoices in God and praises His name above all others, especially above my own name. May I always seek to glorify Him and not myself. Pray for me that my heart may be grateful…
“People…were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.” – Mark 1:5 Advent is a time of preparation and penance to help us prepare our hearts for Christmas. One of our parish priests said recently that lighting the candles on our Advent wreaths reminds us that “Christmas is near, not here.” It’s so easy to want to rush the Christmas festivities. But our Church,…