The fear of God’s anger or disappointment is one we know well, because our fallen human nature inclines us to think God will react the way we as humans do. My dear friends, the beauty of the Incarnation we are celebrating this season allows us to realize that this idea of God being disappointed in us couldn’t be anywhere further from the truth. In our weakness, anxiety and loss of focus, it is God who ushers us in closer and shows us the way to grow in holiness and return our focus to Him.
Mary, in carrying the Son of God, had no other response but to praise and delight. In her presence, Elizabeth could see the goodness. Her joy was so overflowing that the baby in her womb leaped for joy. Both were walking intimately with God the Father and so had the eyes to see each other as they were: beloved, sacred and whole.
For my first year of mission in Ireland, I left home the August right after graduating. Knowing I wouldn't see them again until my Christmas break, I said goodbye to all my family and friends. For the first few months, it was great! I was traveling and making new friends, and we were always so busy. Still, the anticipation and desire for home grew, especially in those quiet moments of prayer. Much like we desire the coming of Jesus Christ this Advent season, my heart was longing for something it didn't quite know how to prepare for.
When Jesus came to Earth as a newborn baby, very few people were aware of what had happened. Yes, there were wise men and shepherds and even angels rejoicing, but Christ didn’t come “in a cloud of power and great glory” (Gospel Reading) the first time. He came as a small human born to an Immaculate Mother and a carpenter father in a manger filled with hay.
by Lizzie Beauchamp, Youth Minister and Teacher at Most Blessed Sacrament
Like any good parent, He waits. He listens. He says, “Oh, you done? Now are you ready to listen to Me?” Even though we fail, the King patiently and faithfully works to transform our heart to serve Him. Let me just throw it out there… Jesus has an abundance of patience with us. He gives us the Sacraments to continually turn back to Him.
How can we better prepare yourselves and our families to receive Christ this Advent and Christmas season? What is one spiritual goal you might possibly want to accomplish this Advent? How could you “keep watch?”
My prayer this week is that we ask the Lord for opportunities to give. To recognize those instances where He calls us to give even if it goes against our immediate reaction. For He is a loving Father who is always searching for our hearts and showering us with graces even when we ignore them. May we learn to give so much that we have nothing left but to trust in Jesus.
I often fall into the trap of viewing God as a conditional lover. IF I pray a rosary every day, THEN God will notice me. IF I go to daily mass a few times a week, THEN God will heal my brother. IF I am on a million ministry teams, THEN God will repay me by gifting me with whatever I want. Clearly, this is incredibly distorted and not who God is! Rather than diving into the reasons why I might believe these lies, I’d like to explain my remedy of how I get myself out of this pit and into reality. To ground myself in the truth of who God is, I recall the most impactful piece of advice that has radically transformed my prayer life: “Do things WITH the Lord, instead of doing things FOR the Lord.”
by Shellie Pergola, Communications Coordinator of Christ the King Parish
Mercy is our hope. It is our light in darkness, and only with mercy can we break through our blindness and see God's face. All the things that keep us from Love Himself feel so real and big and scary, but when we cry out for mercy and receive our sight again - then we see that all of these big, scary anxieties are really nothing to worry about. The Lord holds the details of my life with such care and attentiveness. He looks on me with such gentleness. His power shone through my weakness. And when I respond to His call, others can be encouraged and take heart themselves to blindly cry out for His healing.
by Elizabeth Pendleton Fuselier, Diocesan Young Adult
When I say, Oh yes, Jesus, I want to follow you, am I willing to drink the cup, to endure the baptism- whatever that may be? We may ask (or maybe it’s just me, who is terrible at suffering) Is it worth it? All that suffering? But to sit at the side of Jesus for all eternity, his glory made manifest through our lives and witness on earth— I think it is worth it, but we must keep our eyes on him. Our vision must be an eternal one in order to put our sufferings in their proper place. We must keep heaven at the forefront of our minds if we are to endure these passing earthly trials.
A point that should be emphasized here is that this young man represents all of us in that we have possessions, deemed “riches”, that our very attachment to is a block between ourselves and the Father. Consider how this person could have grown in virtue by doing what Jesus said. His wealth was likely gained by his skill and diligence in decision making and attention to detail. It is probable that he would have known how to give liberally and beneficently so that his wealth would have helped the most people possible in the best way possible. Jesus really challenges those who wish to follow Him to let go of these attachments in radical ways to grow closer both to God and to our neighbors. In this there is true freedom and true riches. What goodness does a chain made of gold have, if by it we are made slaves?
by Bailey Polson, Teacher at St. Michael’s High School
We do not have to put up a front and fix ourselves before going to Him. He wants us in our brokenness and our mess. He wants us in our childlike state of humanity where we can’t fully understand what is going on in our lives and turn toward a loving parent for guidance. When we can fully surrender in this childlike state, we are most free.
by Brooke McCall, Missionary with Regnum Christi Mission Corps
Christ tells us in the Gospel, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for one to enter the kingdom of Heaven maimed than having two hands to go into hell.” (Mk 9:42) This probably sounds a little extreme! What Christ is really saying here is to get rid of anything in your life that causes you to sin. Nothing in this world is ever worth more than your salvation. It could be a person, a job, a relationship, a friendship, or something else that becomes a near occasion of sin for you. Whatever it may be, Christ tells us it is not worth it; get rid of it. It can be hard to let go of our near occasions of sin.
by Alise Ruch, Campus Minister at St. Joseph's Academy
In my own life, I find I’m much like the disciples. Cleaning the bathrooms has been on my to-do list for about a month now, but it’s my least favorite chore so I avoid it. No bells rang as I made the herculean effort to get myself out of the chair where I was comfortably reading. No spring came to my step as I scrubbed rings from toilet bowls. The task sounded too off-putting to brag about afterwards, and it certainly didn’t have the aesthetic appeal for an Instagram post. But this is a moment of my life that will be exalted, not a great success, but a sacrifice. As I lift high the cross of my Lord, He invites me to glory in the crosses he bestows on me today.
by Fr. Joe Vu, Pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish
To love Christ is to go through the process of embracing the cross to grow into loving everything there is to love about Christ...This week, ask yourself in what areas of my life can I grow to love to produce more supernatural fruits? What hinders me from experiencing God and neighbor more fully?
Whether it be science, entertainment, sports, food, drink, relationships, etc; we seek things to “heal” us from whatever struggle or pain that we bear. The things listed previously are not inherently bad and can provide joy, but they are not God. Yet we can fall into the trap of speaking about them as though they are our gods. The Lord desires eternal, intimate relationship with each of us, not as a collective whole but personally. That is the truth of what Heaven is. But while we are still here on Earth, we have the opportunity to live in this world but not belong to it. We can proclaim like the deaf man the truth and reality of WHO we are made for. Our calling as faithful Christians to speak of our relationship with the Lord that others may hear and come to believe.
by West Giffin, Associate Director of Red Stick Catholics
A quote that has stood out to me recently has been “truth without love is brutality and love without truth is hypocrisy.” This quote is attributed to Baptist preacher and writer, Warren W. Wiersbe. I think most of us have experienced some share of both brutality and hypocrisy in the current cultural climate as of late which stems from either the absence of truth or the absence of love in some capacity. It can be quite overwhelming and disheartening at times, especially after having gone through this past year like we all have.
If you are struggling with some difficult teaching of the Church or just the burdens of your own life, look to the face of Jesus. Let Him love you just as you are. It is by encountering the living person of Jesus that we are disposed to see Him in the brokenness of our lives. It is our own relationship with Him that Jesus invites us into relationship with His bride, the Church.
by Nicole Jones, Coordinator of Red Stick Catholics
I have so many experiences and memories associated with The Visitation, and each of them are so meaningful and tender to me. To share any poorly would be a disservice to them, but to not share them at all would be just as much a disservice. As I prayed with what the Lord wanted me to share in this reflection, I began to realize that it is in these experiences that I learned some of the most important lessons of my life.
by Fr. Taylor Sanford, Associate Pastor of Immaculate Conception - Denham Springs
We need to hear these words of Jesus anew with their full arresting force: “Stop murmuring among yourselves!” And what should we be doing instead? Jesus says to listen to the call of the Father: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him…. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.” If we are murmuring among ourselves, we cannot hear the call of the Father to enter more deeply into intimacy with Christ.