THIRD WEDNESDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 18

"Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Lk. 1:30-33

Reflection: Mary accepts the angel Gabriel’s annunciation with her “fiat,” her yes. She is the handmaiden of the Lord, the example of all that is good and holy. God makes His own mother, and He makes her perfect.

Prayer: God our Father, we thank you for Our Blessed Mother’s “yes” to Your invitation to be the mother of Your Son. May we joyfully receive You in the wombs of our hearts and minds as she received you in these as well as her body. Amen.

THIRD TUESDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 17

"But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha 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.” Mic. 5:1

Reflection: It is not in Jerusalem that the stage is set for the coming of the Messiah, but in the little towns of Bethlehem of Judea and Nazareth in Galilee. Joseph, a simple carpenter, and Mary, a girl of about 14 years will be the earthly parents of the promised King of Kings.

Prayer: God our Father, after generations of men and women who, at best, followed you imperfectly, you bring forth Joseph and Mary – our wonderful examples of love and devotion to You. Show us how to ask for their unending intercession in our journey of faith. Amen.

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.