THIRD MONDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 16

"Even if you now remain silent, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another source; but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows—perhaps it was for a time like this that you became queen?” Esther 4:14

Reflection: Like Ruth centuries before, Esther the Queen of Persia cannot perceive the magnitude of her decision. Humble and deeply in love with the Lord, how could she imagine that it is indeed her, a simple Jewish girl in Susa, that God in His Providence has appointed to save her people from yet another grave threat? God works through mystery. Would that we trust Him at His Word.

Prayer: God our Father, how quick we are to tell You that You must be mistaken about us. Like so many of our ancestors do we doubt Your ability to make us exactly who You intend us to be. Help us to see ourselves as You see us and to believe. Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (GAUDETE SUNDAY)

DECEMBER 15

"As the visions during the night continued, I saw coming with the clouds of heaven, One like a son of man. When he reached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him, He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:13-14

Reflection: God’s people find themselves once more displaced from the Promised Land during the captivity in Babylon. But once more He sets them free. Daniel, however, sees beyond the present blessing to the glory of the coming Messiah. It will not be long now.

Prayer: God our Father, we each face our own Babylonian Captivity. Every human person is held captive to whatever he or she cannot part with that is less than him or herself. But above all, we are meant to cling to You at all moments. Help us to do so! Amen.

SECOND SATURDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 14

"The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you...Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever.”  2 Sam. 7:11,16

Reflection: David, like so many of his ancestors, eventually falls from grace into great sin. But the ever-faithful Lord will never abandon him. David’s house is shaken and will face centuries of turmoil, but the Lord makes another oath: one day He will raise up the Messiah, the King of Kings from David’s line who will rule forever. The Savior is coming.

Prayer: God our Father, David the King is the great unifier and leader of the Hebrew people, but he falls like all the others. But in Your infinite mercy, you raise him up and bring us salvation through his house. Help us to reflect on your boundless love. Amen.

SECOND FRIDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 13

"Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to go back and abandon you! Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.’”  Ruth 1:16

Reflection: Ruth is a foreigner, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Both widows, the two women return to Israel with a uncertain future ahead of them. Little does Ruth know that her faithfulness to Naomi will result in her becoming the great-grandmother of none other than David, the king.

Prayer: God our Father, you gave Ruth a faith that would help to shape the history of salvation. May we, like her, be faithful to the people You have placed in our lives. Amen.

SECOND THURSDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 12

"Moses went up to the mountain of God. Then the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying: ‘...tell the Israelites: You have seen how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now, if you obey me completely and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession among all peoples, though all the earth is mine. You will be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’”  Ex. 19:3-6

Reflection: The Lord sends Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt after 400 years. He gives His people the Law that will govern them for centuries to come, a law meant to protect them from the nations around them that will seek to lead them astray from the Lord.

Prayer: God our Father, we are often tempted to view Your guidance and rules as negative restrictions that limit our freedom. Help us to see that every law you give us is meant to protect us from being separated from You. Amen.

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 11

“'So it was not really you but God who had me come here; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his household, and ruler over the whole land of Egypt. Hurry back, then, to my father and tell him: ‘Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me without delay.’”  Gen. 45:8-9

Reflection: Abraham’s descendants now begin a new chapter, one that seems like a blessing and an answer to prayers of desperation. Little do they know that within a few generations, they will be mired in unbearable slavery. Joseph has saved them for the time being, but they will soon cry out once more for a savior.

Prayer: God our Father, sometimes your blessings are disguised from our eyes. Other times, what we believe to be a dream come true is actually the beginning of a dark struggle we must endure. Prepare us for everything we will encounter on our journey to You. Amen.

SECOND TUESDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 10

“The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven and said: 'I swear by my very self...that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your son, your only one, I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth will find blessing, because you obeyed my command.'”
                                                      Gen. 22:15-18

Reflection: The Lord puts Abraham to the test - how much does he really trust God? God knows the answer to this already. It’s Abraham who must see for himself how deeply he believes the Lord’s oath to him.

Prayer: God our Father, sometimes we forget how much faith You have in us. We struggle to trust you and to accept that You love us beyond all imagining. Amen.