2021 Advent Reflection Book

The2021Bi s hopI reton AdventReflecti on Booklet Wri tten bytheBIFacul ty& Staff

The 2021 Bishop Ireton Advent Reflection Booklet Written by the BI Faculty and Staff

Thank you to all of the contributors. May God bless you as you read and reflect on His word this Advent season.

Opening Salesian Advent Reflection

By Fr. Donald Heet, OSFS

God for all the good he had done but lacked the humility that allowed the Publican to go home justified.

One of the major figures in Advent is St. John the Baptist. On the second Sunday of Advent this year, we hear Luke’s account of John’s ministry in the region of the Jordan where he proclaimed a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.

The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

We make rough ways smooth by developing an even disposition, one that is not determined by negative emotions and attitudes towards people we like and those we don’t. We probably can’t control the emotions we feel, but we can keep those emotions from controlling us. When we do, we are smoothing the rough ways.

In Advent of 1620, St. Francis de Sales preached on this passage, reminding his congregation–and us–that the best way to prepare for our celebration of the Lord Jesus’ birth is by repenting of our sins. To make clear what he meant by this repentance, he interpreted John’s images allegorically.

Francis interprets the valleys we need to fill as fear, specifically the fear that some people have that their sins are too great for God to forgive. He urges us to fill these valleys with confidence and hope because the time of our salvation is near at hand, the salvation we celebrate at Christmas.

We are to lower the mountains and hills of our presumption and pride. We may think ourselves as holy because of prayers we say or sacraments we have received, but if we do not live in a way that manifests the faith and love those prayers and sacraments are supposed to inspire, we are like the Pharisee who proudly thanked

Finally, we need to make the crooked way straight. We do that by focusing on who we are and who we are called to be. When Francis says “Be who you are and be that well,” he is reminding us that in whatever situation we find ourselves, we are beloved children of God and we must do our best to live as beloved children should.

Advent is a time of repentance, of preparing ourselves for the coming of the Lord. Francis de Sales gives four specific areas to examine and, if necessary, to repair; there may be others that are particular to ourselves and which we need to attend to. To the extent that our repentance is sincere, we will be able to welcome the Lord into our lives, and he will share with us the divine life he has received from his heavenly Father.

And that would be the greatest Christmas present of all.

The First Sunday of Advent First Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16

Reflection

By Stephen Crooker

The days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

In those days, at that time, I will make a just shoot spring up for David; he shall do what is right and just in the land.

In those days Judah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; this is the name they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.”

One of the major concepts of the Old Testament is known as the “Day of the Lord,” or the time when God will intervene in the history of the Israelites and redeem, repair and protect Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. Roughly six hundred years before the birth of Our Lord, the Prophet Jeremiah called the nation of Israel to repentance and holiness in the face of imminent military invasion and moral collapse. Amid the panic, fear, blame and corruption that ripped apart the nation of Israel in his time, Jeremiah looks forward with compassion and clarity to speak boldly regarding the birth of a Savior, a man from the House of King David, who will save the people from their sins.

For many, this savior needed to be a military leader, skilled in the art of war and best suited to deal with the threat of the Babylonian Empire looming down over Jerusalem like a plague. Yet, amid the darkness, there was a constant and steady voice, clear and unwavering that would echo through time to prepare a way for the coming Messiah: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, turn again to the Lord your God!” My loving Jesus, like the Prophet Jeremiah, I look forward and seek to choose You, this Advent, as my King and my God. I surrender myself to You and seek to put all my trust in Your tender care. Draw me close to You as your humble servant, free me from my sin so that I may love You with a pure and holy heart.

The First Sunday of Advent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach me your paths.

Guide me by your fidelity and teach me, for you are God my savior, for you I wait all the day long.

Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he shows sinners the way, He guides the humble in righteousness, and teaches the humble his way.

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth toward those who honor his covenant and decrees.

The counsel of the LORD belongs to those who fear him; and his covenant instructs them.

Reflection

By Meredith Tombs This first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of our waiting period.

During this time, we are journeying toward Christ’s coming with renewed commitment, prayer, and penance. Today’s Psalm encourages us to follow the Lord, trusting His plan for our lives.

Trusting in the Lord seems like a fairly simple idea. At the points in my life when things are going well, it’s easy to say that I’m trusting God’s plan. Living out that faith on a daily basis, however, doesn’t always go so smoothly.

When life gets overwhelming, I try to fight against the stress and uncertainty by planning each day with painstaking detail. This careful control provides temporary relief: I can work to check off each item on my daily to-do list, tracking my tangible progress… but the more I try to control all aspects of my life, the more I realize that everything can go wrong. I tend to lose sight of what’s really important, caught up in the minutiae. This leads to unreasonable expectations of those around me, and then frustration when I’m inevitably let down.

That’s why a step back from life’s daily demands can be necessary. A reminder of the bigger picture is needed to renew purpose and vigor.

“Backwards design” is a term we’ve heard far too often as teachers and yet that’s precisely the kind of guidance that would benefit our spiritual lives. We need to maintain sight of the desired end result in order to stay on the right path. God has proclaimed and modeled His way for us. We’ve countless reminders of the life to which we are called - but it’s easy to push His direction to the side in order to focus on the material “now.”

This Advent Season, let us spend more time reflecting on the journey God has designed for us and planning out not our daily to-do lists, but our spiritual preparations.

Heavenly Father - you’ve crafted our hearts to long for you. Provide me with patience and prudence as I discern your call in my heart. Help me to see the obstacles in my life as opportunities to see you more clearly and love you more dearly. Open my ears to hear your direction, and continue to guide me on the path that you’ve placed in front of me. You find me when I’m lost, and you strengthen me when I stumble. Keep me close to you, always. Amen.

The First Sunday of Advent Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God—and as you are conducting yourselves—you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Reflection

By Katie Rice This passage reminds me to ask God for patience, which I consider one of the most powerful conduits to increasing love. Whether it be patience with myself as a novice Bishop Ireton theater director, still learning all of the necessary protocols for a live performance, or patience with the dozens of students who are trying to learn how to do many challenging tasks for the first time, I must remain vigilant in my pursuit of cultivating a generous and forgiving mindset.

Patience allows for failure, for flaws, for trial and error. Patience allows us to pause and reflect on how to collaborate with love and understanding. It allows us to take the time to mentally turn the corner and look at things from another’s perspective, building empathy instead of resentment. We appreciate how hard everyone is working, each contributing their own unique talents.

Interestingly, love is one of the greatest motivators for patience.

Which comes first, I really don’t know. I’ll leave that for others to debate. For me, for now, patience serves as a lifeline.

God, make me pause, take a deep breath, and give thanks for all the students and staff that give their hearts, their minds, their time, and their talents to make so many moving parts come together to tell a story for others to enjoy. Make me grow in my love for all that you have given me, especially in the form of fellow creators, learners, and teachers.

The First Sunday of Advent Gospel Reading Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Reflection

By Mary Briody The first line of this reading with its mention of “the sun, the moon, and the stars” reminds me of one of my favorite quotes. “Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.” I am an idealist at heart, but I think, like many of us, I have had life experiences that have tested those ideals and caused me to doubt. Why bother to shoot for the stars if

we know we’ll never reach them? As teachers we face this – our idealistic plan for a profound lesson that takes a wrong turn upon delivery and, if we’re lucky, we can convert that turn into a “teachable moment”. Believe me, when you are teaching computer science and technology skills, there are plenty of those teachable moments! Sometimes, our lessons are lessons for us as much as for our students – we find out what works and what doesn’t work – but no matter what we shouldn’t give up trying to deliver the best lessons we can.

Similarly, St. Francis de Sales gives us advice to not give up just because we are not always walking personifications of our ideals – “Don't get upset with your imperfections. Surrender to the Power of God's Love, which is greater than our weakness.” It is just one of many of St. Francis de Sales’ “pep talks” to not lose faith despite our imperfect humanness. This reading tells us to look to the sky and heavens for the powerful signs of the coming of the Son of Man like the beautiful Christmas story of the star of Bethlehem that leads shepherds and kings alike to baby Jesus. At the same time, we should be vigilant and avoid the human distractions of “carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” It is interesting to me that anxieties are listed as distractions right up there with carousing! It is true that worrying and stressing over something does distract us and to think of that as worthy of giving up may help us to “let go, let God!” This provides us an image of our distractions being like the smog which obscures our view of the stars; and the stars being like the light of God - there to fill up our lives if we choose to clear up our own personal smog and look up.

Next time you look up at the stars, I invite you to not only recognize their innate beauty but think of each one of them as representing your ideals and guiding you through life as we surrender to the power of God’s love!

Monday, November 29, 2021 Gospel Reading Matthew 8: 5-11 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.

Reflection

By Mike Rauer This verse is one of three in the New Testament that refers to a Roman centurion. The Roman centurion was a leader who served as the backbone of the Roman military. On each occasion in the New Testament, the “pagan” Roman centurion recognized the wisdom, holiness, goodness and divinity of Our Blessed Lord. We live in a world that is becoming more secular with each passing year. Are we able to recognize the holiness of Our Blessed Lord amidst the vanities and distractions of the world? Let us strive this Advent season to follow the example of the Roman centurion. May we always have the Faith that is born of innocence and believe as the Roman centurion did.

The Second Sunday of Advent First Reading Baruch 5: 1-11 Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on forever the splendor of glory from God: Wrapped in the mantle of justice from God, place on your head the diadem of the glory of the Eternal One For God will show your splendor to all under the heavens; you will be named by God forever: the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.

Rise up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children Gathered from east to west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you carried high in glory as on royal thrones.

For God has commanded that every lofty mountain and the age-old hills be made low, That the valleys be filled to make level ground, that Israel may advance securely in the glory of God. The forests and every kind of fragrant tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; For God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with the mercy and justice that are his.

Reflection

By Rory O’Donnell Jerusalem was made the central capital of David’s kingdom. After David’s son Solomon ruled, the Davidic kingdom was split in two by his descendants into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The two are eventually conquered by the Babylonians and Assyrians. Later the Jews would be allowed to return to their land and restore Jerusalem.

In this reading, the prophet Baruch urges the people of Israel and Judah to anticipate the coming glory of a new Jerusalem. But what do we find? Is it anything like David’s kingdom? Many Jews in Jesus’s day hoped for such an outcome, but hindsight is 20/20. Instead, we believers with the eyes of faith understand that we are being given a description of the glory of the kingdom of heaven, i.e. the New Jerusalem.

The riches are its virtues: mercy and justice. Without God’s grace we cannot achieve these virtues, because God is their source and principle.

All instantiations of justice and mercy, if they be true, are a participation in the order and love originally given by God. As virtues, they perfect our human existence, i.e. they complete us. We become better versions of ourselves by practicing these. Thus, “the Glory of God is man fully alive.” God delights in our flourishing, and God’s people play a special role in bringing about his kingdom. Since it is a kingdom in which all are invited, we as God’s people (the new Israel of the new covenant that brings about the glory of the new Jerusalem) are called to perfect ourselves with these virtues. We are to adorn ourselves and our society with these riches. These riches will be brought to all the nations. It is time to rejoice! These are available to us with the coming of our king and savior, Jesus Christ!

The Second Sunday of Advent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 A song of ascents.

When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.

Then our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy.

Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD had done great things for them.”

The LORD has done great things for us; Oh, how happy we were!

Restore our captives, LORD, like the dry stream beds of the Negeb.

Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy.

Those who go forth weeping, carrying sacks of seed, Will return with cries of joy, carrying their bundled sheaves.

Reflection

By Kevin Weiss “Pinch me, I must be dreaming!”

The long-exiled Israelites returning at long last to Jerusalem are looking to one another in awe. Sent away after their defeat at the hands of King

Nebuchadnezzar, they spent decades suffering the Babylonian Captivity away from the land promised to them by God. In winter, we see the world transfigured by the chilly climate around us: bare branches shivering in the breeze; chirpless powerlines; and scarves wrapped and wound tightly over face, neck and chin. Like bears and bulbs in their respective beds, we await the spring and the return of warmth and new life. This is the central grace of Advent: hopeful anticipation. Like farmers entrusting their lives to the distant harvest, so we dwell in expectation of the Kingdom of God among us. “Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy… carrying their bundled sheaves.”

The Babylonian Captivity is likened to a winter season, a time of darkness but not without hope. Like the Israelites exiled in Babylon, we cling to the promises of God. We ought to embrace this season of Advent and its anticipation of things to come, both the celebration of the Birth of Christ and also the second coming of Christ in fulfillment of the promise of the Heavenly Kingdom. Then, it will be our turn to say, “Pinch me, I must be dreaming!”

Consider meditating on the phrase, “Your Kingdom come.”

Eternal Father, We present our hearts to you in this season of Advent and ask for your blessing.

May this time of preparation and expectation bring about a renewal in hope, faith, and love that we may experience the joy of your Kingdom both now and at the end of time.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Second Sunday of Advent Second Reading Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11 Praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.

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.

For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: 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.

Reflection

By Lana Gonzalez It was four days before Christmas in 2016 and I sat in my empty and humble classroom in Central America. The paint on the walls was chipping; the floor had cracks scattered throughout; the simple wooden desks were covered in graffiti; a gecko ran over my feet. As I sat there looking at the empty desks, I was thinking of each of my students who had filled them throughout the semester. I thought of the moments of joy, the moments of deep pain and loss, the moments where class felt out of control, moments where the Lord’s peace and joy reigned supreme, the questions, the smiles, the times I felt so tired and didn’t think I could get through the day, and the overwhelming prayer in my heart was this: “ 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.” (Phil 1:6) Every class was a gift, both the good and the bad, because each day it was Christ continuing the good work that He had started in and through me.

Christ never gave up on His promise, even in the moments where I didn’t see or “feel” His grace. I pray that these words of Paul may fill you with joy and consolation that Christ works in and through you and He is not done with His work through you yet.

Lord, we praise you and thank you with joy for the gift of each of our students and for the joy that you bring to us through them.

We thank you for beginning this good work in us, to bring your Kingdom and your love to the students of Bishop Ireton. May we leave this semester in peace knowing that the promise of Your presence and of Your work will prevail.

The Second Sunday of Advent Gospel Reading Luke 3: 1-6

Reflection

By Andrew Curtin Prepare the way of the Lord.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,a and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout [the] whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

This week, the gospel of Luke treats us to a beautiful image. “Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.

The winding roads will be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.” That image, of a world made righteous for the Lord’s arrival, is inspiring, powerful and arresting. It should fill us with hope—even in the brokenness of our world, full of cruelty, ignorance, racism, indifference, poverty and war, there is the possibility of a brighter tomorrow.

As is so often the case for our faith, however, this hope is not idle. In fact, it follows immediately after the great imperative: Prepare the way of the Lord. Those valleys will not fill themselves. The rough ways will not magically become smooth. If we wish to live in the Kingdom of God, we must dedicate our lives to bringing it forth.

Sometimes we must do this in large ways, like standing up against discrimination or demanding justice for the poor. Other times, we do it in the little moments of our daily life. Every time we demonstrate with a kind word or small gift of service that we recognize those around us for who they are—the beloved of God—and treat them accordingly, the mountains are made a little lower. The winding road leads a little more directly towards the Kingdom.

How did I prepare the way of the Lord in my life today? How can I do more tomorrow?

The Third Sunday of Advent First Reading Zephaniah 3: 14-18 Shout for joy, daughter Zion! sing joyfully, Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem!

The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, Zion, do not be discouraged!

The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you, as on festival days.

I will remove disaster from among you, so that no one may recount your disgrace.

Reflection

By Rebecca Vaccaro In a world that often seems to be falling apart around us, joy can be difficult to understand and even harder to practice. What does it mean to be joyful? It is not simply happiness (how many times have we heard

or experientially understood the paradox of being joyful without feeling happy?), nor is it merely contentment or peace or trust (although these are essential parts of joy). If we look at this reading from Zephaniah, we can see that the reason for shouts of joy, exaltation and gladness is nothing short of our acknowledgement of what the Lord has done and will do in our lives. The Lord "has removed the judgement against you, he has turned away your enemies;" He "is in your midst;" He "will remove disaster from among you." The Lord is always working in our lives, active, significant work designed for our restoration. Much of it, however, seems beyond our limited sight and comprehension. Can we ever know which or how many enemies the Lord has turned away? Do we always recognize when the mighty Savior who rejoices over us with gladness and renews us in His love is in our midst? Are we on the lookout for that possibility? Do we believe that, now and in the future, God will give us the strength to fight against and overcome fear and discouragement? In the end, Zephaniah seems to be reminding us that the reason for joy in our lives is the Lord Himself. He is the source of our joy, not simply for what He does for us (although that is part of it), but because of who He is. He is Lord of our past, present, and future. As such, even when things look bleak, hopeless, or frustrating, we can know that there is cause for joy, not resignation or despair. The Lord is moving in our lives; we need to wait patiently to see our joy fulfilled.

Lord, joy is difficult, especially in a world beset with frustrations, anxiety, and sinfulness. Please help us to remember that joy is not a thing that we attain, but a Person that we know, You, and that only through a relationship with You can any of the frustrations, anxieties and sins find resolution. Thank you for caring for our pasts, presents, and futures. Amen.

The Third Sunday of Advent Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6 God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid.

For the LORD is my strength and my might, and he has been my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation, And you will say on that day: give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; Among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the LORD for he has done glorious things; let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, City of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!

Reflection

By Gina Garcia This psalm is written to the Israelites who awaited Jesus’ coming.

From the sin of Adam and the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin had entered the world. Jesus’ arrival would be the light and hope restored to the world, a second chance, a chance for renewal.

During Advent, we too are awaiting the coming of Jesus in whom we find our hope and our consolation in difficult times, as well as our happiness in joyful moments. Jesus’ coming into the world and humbling Himself for us, in our image, represents for us what we should imitate and become. This psalm is an invitation to look only to Him because nothing else matters. Our purpose in life becomes realized because of Him. It is an invitation to be grateful at this time, because without Jesus, we are nothing. With Jesus’ arrival and with His help we are able to do great things in His name.

The Third Sunday of Advent Second Reading Philippians 4: 4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!

Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection

By Father Noah Morey “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” This is a command, not a suggestion, which might seem unrealistic or naïve, especially considering the burdens we currently carry. But Saint Paul wrote these words from a prison cell. He found internal peace and joy without any material comfort because he knew he was loved and chosen by God. The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, and we rejoice because the coming of Christ at Christmas is very near. The rose candle on the Advent wreath is a symbol of joy and hope. Joy is a trademark of a follower of Christ, for joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a proof of God’s presence. Joy does not imply the absence of suffering or challenges. No, Christian joy is serene and stable, rooted in Christ, who is more powerful than our sins and problems. Even amid difficulties, we rejoice because of what we celebrate at Christmas: that God sent his Son, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary to teach us how to live and how to love. Jesus

has claimed us as His own, which should make us rejoice in the Lord always!

How can we live a joy-filled life? 1) “Your kindness should be known to all”—perform acts of love and service for others, beginning with our families. To serve them is to serve Christ Himself. 2) “Have no anxiety at all”—trust in God completely. 3) Pray at all times, including prayers of thanksgiving. A grateful heart is a joyful heart.

When we rejoice with gratitude, we acknowledge God’s presence in our lives, and how everything results from His grace. We rejoice because God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.

Christian joy does not come from material possessions or human success, but only from the presence of God which we cultivate by receiving the sacraments, reading the Scriptures, and through daily prayer. Prayer attunes us to the voice of God and heightens our awareness of His presence. So let us fulfill the remaining days of Advent with much prayer and great joy with thanksgiving. Amid the empty sadness of our secular and materialistic culture, St. Paul’s message is completely different: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice! Have no anxiety at all. The Lord is near.”

O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Third Sunday of Advent Gospel Reading Luke 3: 10-18 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflection

By Joseph Jacobeen With his diet of honey-dipped locusts and wardrobe of rough, camel hair, John the Baptist strikes a radical figure. Sometimes, his words are just as striking: “You brood of vipers!” he warned the Israelites (and us). Today, we find a humane Baptist “preaching the good news to the people.” He tells us that a mighty savior is coming to help us at our weakest points. One whom we are unworthy to welcome but

who nonetheless wants to meet us. Jesus is coming to bring blessings and peace to our anxious lives. The people are filled with great expectation. Their hope inspires their willingness to make a change for the better, so they ask, “What should we do?”

Because John is so radical, we would expect he would have some austere advice for his listeners. Instead, he offers simple, practical advice to those who want to prepare to meet the Lord: Donate some excess clothes. Quit extorting money. Be content with your salary. Cut back on your judgments of others.

No extreme insect-fasts nor ascetic dress code necessary to prepare for the Savior.

Sometimes, we might assume God or the Church is going to ask a lot of us, in order to be ready enough to receive Jesus. “Follow God’s moral law perfectly,” or “tithe 15% of your income,” or “spend your Saturdays serving the poor,” or “pray the Rosary, attend daily Mass and go to a Holy Hour every day.” Who knows. Maybe after drawing closer to God, we’ll willingly take on those practices. But today, let’s focus on the simple, first step.

Perhaps pray for a colleague, and tell them you did. Spend five minutes in the chapel after school, thanking God for his blessings.

These small acts will make us open to moving more and more toward the amazing life God has in mind for us.

Dear Jesus, please show me what little act of selfless love you are calling me to today. Open my heart to receive you and to serve you in those I meet.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent First Reading Micah 5: 1-4a But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah least among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.

Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, Then the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel.

He shall take his place as shepherd by the strength of the LORD, by the majestic name of the LORD, his God; And they shall dwell securely, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth: he shall be peace.

If Assyria invades our country and treads upon our land, We shall raise against it seven shepherds, eight of royal standing.

Reflection 1

By Kathleen McNutt I have always been fascinated by the prophets. They not only had to accept God's grace and inspiration to know the details of Christ's

coming, they needed tremendous courage to share the news in word and writing. It can be a challenge for people to openly share what they believe on a daily basis, so the thought of sharing the news of the Savior of the world is a challenge worth reflecting upon.

Micah is one of the lesser known prophets, and yet, in this reading, Micah shares the news of Christ's coming, even down to the ancestral line. Did he envision the manger? Did he foresee the humble start for the Holy Family? While we don't know the answers to those questions, we do know that Micah was inspired to share the reason for Christ's coming. He told us clearly in his writings that Christ is peace—peace personified. How right Micah was! Christ's message was of love and truth and service, and not with the force of the military or riches, but through peace.

Micah never got to see his message come to fruition, and yet his writings speak to millions daily through the Scriptures. This is a reminder to each of us to spread the message of Christ openly in word and writing. We may not think that we are making a difference, and yet, the work of prophets impacts future generations. During this Advent season, let us find time to be silent and listen to God's unique message to us, and let us ask for the strength and courage to share His message with others.

Reflection 2

By Rebecca Vaccaro One of the hardest virtues to cultivate is patience. Many people do not practice patience; they practice various forms of dissatisfied waiting. For some, this looks like resignation: "The future will come

no matter what I do and it will probably look fairly mundane anyway, so there's no point in me looking forward to it." For others, it more closely resembles unhappy forbearance: "Good things may be coming, but they aren't happening now. I just need to survive until that day comes." Our reading from Micah reminds us that patience certainly involves some measure of resignation, unhappiness, and forbearance. The ruler of Israel who will shepherd his people to security, peace and safety has not come yet. Yet, at the heart of this reading is hope. The savior will come. It is not a matter of 'if,' but 'when.' Thus, for the people of Bethlehem-Ephrathah and, by extension, for all of Israel, their salvation lies in them living through suffering with anticipation and joy by looking forward to the wonder that is to come. The same is true for us. In his Advent reflections, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us: “Whoever does not know the austere blessedness of waiting—that is, of hopefully doing without—will never experience the full blessedness of fulfillment. Those who do not know how it feels to struggle anxiously with the deepest questions of life, of their life, and to patiently look forward with anticipation until the truth is revealed, cannot even dream of the splendor of the moment in which clarity is illuminated for them….For the greatest, most profound, tenderest things in the world, we must wait. It happens not here in the storm, but according to the divine laws of sprouting, growing, and becoming.”

(God Is in the Manger 4).

Let us, then, wait patiently throughout this Advent season and our lives, bearing with our daily struggles while always looking forward

to the joy God has promised to those who follow Him, both here on Earth and forever in Heaven.

Lord, life is full of sadness and frustrations. Many days seem to be repeats of the day before and sometimes the future seems to stretch out in front of us in a seemingly unbroken line of mundanity. Help us to live patiently and hopefully during these seasons, remembering Your promises of renewal and blessing. And may we always thank You for being our hope. Amen.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent Responsorial Psalm Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19 O Shepherd of Israel, lend an ear, you who guide Joseph like a flock!

Seated upon the cherubim, shine forth upon Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.

Stir up your power, and come to save us.

Turn back again, God of hosts; look down from heaven and see; Visit this vine, the stock your right hand has planted, and the son whom you made strong for yourself.

May your hand be with the man on your right, with the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.

Then we will not withdraw from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.

Reflection

By Stephen Crooker Throughout the Old Testament, and in the history of the nation of Israel, the descendants of Abraham turned their face from God and embraced false gods or empty worship. Psalm 80 is a beautiful reminder that whenever we, like the Children of Israel, turn away from God and embrace something other than the love of the Father, there is a way forward! God never stops extending to us love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness for sins. As we look to the birth of Our Lord, let us be mindful of the blessings we enjoy and times when we

fall short in the eyes of God, making amends in a manner that brings true joy on Christmas.

St. Gerard, Patron of a Good Confession, who gave courage to souls whom fear and shame had overcome; who gave sorrow to their hearts, resolution to their wills, truth to their faltering lips; help me to make a good Confession.

Enable me to know my sins, to be truly sorry for them, and to be firmly resolved, with God’s grace, never to sin again.

Help me to confess my sins humbly and sincerely, to confess them in the spirit of faith, as confessing them to Our Lord Himself.

Stand by me in this Confession, O gentle Saint, an angel of God sent to free me from sin.

Amen.

—St. Gerard Majella

The Fourth Sunday of Advent Second Reading Hebrews 10: 5-10 For this reason, when he came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in.

Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law.

Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.

By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Reflection

By Terri Kelly and Rebecca Vaccaro What does it mean to do God’s will? How do we know what God’s will is? It is not a simple thing. To some, it seems that doing the will of God would mean spending every waking moment in prayer. To others, it would mean to serve our neighbor 24 hours a day. In each of these cases, doing the will of God translates as not doing anything for ourselves, living a completely austere life, perhaps even asking to suffer in place of others. But is that really God’s will? Is everyone supposed to do those things?

The answer to these questions is yes and no. Yes, it is God’s will that we pray (probably more than we already do) and spend time thinking of and

serving others. But everyone isn’t called to a life of prayer and service in the same way. How would the world go on if every single person on the earth did nothing but pray? We would all starve to death. What would life look like if we gave up all of our own desires and plans to help others?

There would probably be as much resentment and unhappiness as there would be actual help. The reality of life is that, while we all have bodies and souls that require nourishment, God has called us to live out that nourishment of self and others in different ways.

So, how do we know what God’s will is so that we can actually do it?

Father Jacques Phillippe in Interior Freedom writes: “Even if we do all that we can to find out God’s will …, we will not always get a very clear answer … There are two reasons for this: first, God treats us like adults, and in many situations he wants us to decide for ourselves.

The second reason is purification… Not being absolutely sure we are doing God’s will is humbling and painful, but it protects us. It preserves us in an attitude of constant seeking and prevents the sort of false security that would dispense us from abandoning ourselves to God. When uncertain about God’s will, it is very important that we tell ourselves: ‘Even if there are aspects of God’s will that escape me, there are always others that I know for sure and can invest in without any risk.’” (pp. 54-55) The best way to know God’s will is to hear it from Him. Thus, we need to ask Him in prayer what His will is and then we need to sit in silence and listen. And we need to live our lives and observe His workings there. But, in the end, we need to do the things that we know are the right things and trust that God will show us the rest as we seek after Him. The answer will always come.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they will be created, and You will renew the face of the Earth. Amen.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent Gospel Reading Luke 1: 39-45 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to the town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Reflection

By Mary Sample As we enter this fourth Sunday of Advent, our time of waiting is coming to a close. We spend so much of our life waiting, but do we wait well? Do we wait on the Lord, or for the Lord? His time. His plan.

Perhaps our Advent journey has been a flurry of activity, from grading to gift buying to a deep breath as we find ourselves on Christmas break, but also lighting that fourth purple candle. The anxiety and fear of having missed our time of preparation, perhaps not having accomplished all that we had spiritually set out to do at the onset of Advent, may set in. And yet, we know fear is not of God and He always welcomes us to Him. It is not too late to turn to Him now, whether we did so yesterday or not.

Let us take a moment with this Gospel reading from Luke and unite ourselves to Our Lady, trusting that she will help bring us ever closer to her Son, trusting her maternal care and protection are upon us.

May we choose to trust God in His timing, trust God in His plan, trust God in how He chooses to bring it about in our lives and in the whole of the world around us. May we, like Mary, choose to trust God, who we know is always good, and may we, like her, be blessed, for believing that what has been spoken to us by the Lord will be fulfilled.

Christmas Vigil First Reading Isaiah 62: 1-5 For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication, and all kings your glory; You shall be called by a new name bestowed by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No more shall you be called “Forsaken,” nor your land called “Desolate,” But you shall be called “My Delight is in her,” and your land “Espoused.”

For the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be espoused.

For as a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.

Reflection 1

By Nicole DiLorenzo In the beginning of the reading, the Prophet Isaiah tells the people of Jerusalem to come home. After years of war, the land is desolate and no longer the beautiful place it used to be. For 2,000 years, Israel experienced the turmoil of wars, they could no longer grow crops and it was not the beautiful city it once had been.

Throughout history, humanity continued to forsake The Lord.

Starting with the Flood and the Tower of Babel forward to the pagan idol worship in the days of the Kings of Israel and Judah, humanity found ways to reject God. Because they rejected God, He was enraged and continued to demonstrate anger and destruction towards the people of Jerusalem.

But now, the Prophet Isaiah said that God was not going to leave Jerusalem. Instead, God was going to rebuild it. The Prophet prays and begs to God, so He will hear him. The Prophet says there will be a profound physical and moral rebirth of Jerusalem. He is speaking in regards to Jesus’ coming, not knowing what this new Jerusalem will look like or when it will happen. As history writes, Isaiah’s prophecy comes to fruition about 500 years later, with the coming of Jesus’ birth.

In verse 5, Isaiah says, “And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you.” The newfound relationship between God and the people of Jerusalem has a spiritual transformation and energy. God has a New Covenant and a new marriage with His people.

We often say prayers to God, renewing our personal commitment and covenant with Him. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Reflection 2

By Terri Kelly One of my favorite things to do at a wedding is to watch the groom as the bride enters the church. Most people turn and look at the bride, but I know that there is a special moment, never to be seen again, when he first sees her.

And this is how God looks at Jerusalem, how God looks at Jesus and how God looks at us.

This is not a natural disposition for me, to think that God would be pleased to see me. I am too aware of my imperfections, my poor choices, my lack of faith and my inability to grasp my duty to love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

But I am wrong.

I have not yet gotten to the point where my inclination as I approach God is to expect him to look at me like a bridegroom looks at his bride.

When you enter into prayer and you envision yourself approaching God, do you run toward him as a young child would or–like me–do you wish for something to hide behind? For now, my first stop is always the cross, where I envision the blood of Jesus melting the sin that I too readily remember, before I dare to enter close to God. And as I approach God in my mind, I fall to my knees and beg for mercy. I do not yet see myself as God sees me.

And maybe it will be like that until I die. But I hope not. I hope that someday I will understand God’s perspective much more clearly and that I will see in me what He sees in me.

God, thank you for creating me and loving me. Please help me to see myself as you see me. Please help me to grow in my understanding of and belief in Your unadulterated love for me. Thank you for this season where we slow down and stop to think about the gift that You gave the world in Jesus. Thank you for Your never-ending call to us. Please grant us the ability to take the time to hear that call.

Christmas Vigil Responsorial Psalm Psalm 89: 4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages.”

Blessed the people who know the war cry, who walk in the radiance of your face, LORD. In your name they sing joyfully all the day; they rejoice in your righteousness.

He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!’

Forever I will maintain my mercy for him; my covenant with him stands firm.

Reflection

By Stephen Crooker Psalm 89 reminds us in the most gentle and amazing way that God’s love and forgiveness is always available to us, even in the most profound way on the eve of Christmas, the eve of the coming of the Incarnation: God made man!

Christmas can easily become crowded by events beyond our control.

Holiday plans, travel, gift giving, stress, feasting with family and friends, etc. While all of the aforementioned have a role in our lives in some capacity, what happens on Christmas happens in silence and suffering. Jesus Christ is born in a world and time of profound

suffering. Souls perished to protect the Child Jesus before He was even born! When He was born, the location was a manger, where animals eat. The Bread of Life for our salvation is born in a manger where animals consume their food for life! The irony is not by accident.

Psalm 89 also speaks of the covenant and standing firm. Humanity has drifted away from God. This is seen all throughout Sacred Scripture. Now, humanity is being redeemed for our sins by our Creator who gives us nothing less than His only Son, born now as an infant, helpless and needing our love, support, care and protection!

Christmas is many things come together; many theological topics that surround us that we often miss or overlook. Christmas is also a reminder not to overlook the little child who needs us, loves us and will grow to save us all from sin and death. That is part of the covenant reestablished through Jesus Christ. Today we focus on the manger and the profound goodness of the Lord God Almighty.

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings.

Amen.

Christmas Vigil Second Reading Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25 So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.

The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it.

Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’

From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.

John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’

Reflection

By Caroline Duffy Tonight, on this Vigil of the Nativity, we hear Paul’s words from his first missionary journey. He gives his listeners a mini-lesson in salvation history, recounting how from the beginning God chose Israel as His chosen people, and “in the fullness of time” sent His only Son to come into the world and save them. Salvation history is the story (His story) of God’s love for His people, despite their (our) infidelity, despite their (our) many flaws, despite the mess they’ve (we’ve) created. We see this clearly outlined in Acts and even more so in Matthew’s genealogy. One might ask, why is this the reading for the Christmas Vigil? But hearing those names – some of whom are well known (some for good reasons and others not so much), and some who are more obscure – reminds us that God enters into human history – He enters into the mess and redeems it. Every day He enters into the mess, our mess, if we let Him. God is always faithful to His promises!

Christmas Vigil Gospel Reading Matthew 1: 1-25

David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar.d Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

Reflection

By Josh Goldman I have to make a confession. It’s not easy to admit. Perhaps in doing so, I should be disqualified from writing this very reflection. But I feel it’s important to share this up front. For the longest time, I didn’t understand the majority of this reading. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that I didn’t even particularly like it. Sure, I understood and appreciated the latter part about the angel appearing to Joseph and

the birth of Jesus. But the first two thirds? Year after year, I would sit at the Christmas vigil with my family and listen to what I dismissed over and over as a laundry list of strange and difficult to pronounce names (Zadok? Zerubbabel?!). I simply didn’t get it. Why was this included in what was meant to be a celebration of Jesus’ birth?

One Christmas vigil eight or nine years ago, I sat in the sanctuary at St. Charles Borromeo in Arlington, Va. with my girlfriend (now wife), my parents and my sister. As I awaited the Gospel reading I knew was coming, I did my best to remain in the moment. But the Gospel came and went and I settled in for what I thought would surely be another in a long line of slow sermons without much to say on the long list of names we’d just heard. As soon as this homily started though, I could sense that it would be different. The booming, confident and powerful voice of Father James Searby began preaching. And what he explained that night—surely inspired by the Holy Spirit—forever altered my interpretation of not just this Gospel reading but of our faith as a whole.

“What do we actually know about the people behind those names read in the lineage of Jesus?” asked Father Searby. In some cases a lot. In some cases, very little. But as Father Searby pointed out on that Christmas Eve, though we may not know much about these people, what we do know is that every one of Jesus’ ancestors was a sinner. Some, in fact, were very bad sinners. Among those listed are murderers, idolaters and adulterers. So why would Matthew choose to include this at the very beginning of his Gospel? And more importantly, why would Jesus want to be associated with these men and women who sinned so deeply against God and man? The answer that Father Searby gave was what resonated with me most

(paraphrased here as best I can remember it): “Jesus was not ashamed to have these sinners in his lineage. And he’s not ashamed to have you, a sinner, either.”

As someone who often gets bogged down with the sins I’ve committed and questions how I can possibly be worthy of forgiveness and love, this was a simple yet powerful reminder for me. The love and grace of Jesus goes beyond the bounds of comprehension. He loves us despite our imperfections. He came into this world for the sole purpose of freeing us from sin. This Gospel reading is a testament to the very idea that Jesus is not ashamed of His imperfect people. Instead, He embraces them fully.

We are all sinners. We are all imperfect. We all fall and fall and fall.

But with Jesus’ grace, we all have the opportunity for forgiveness and eternal life. This Christmas season, may we rejoice in the gift of salvation that came from a tiny, perfect child who came from an imperfect line of people, just like us.

Merry Christmas!