God's Gift to Humanity: The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The most thought-provoking reminder of the Lord's birth, about to take place, comes from the Nativity scene which has already been set up in many homes.

The simplicity of the Crib, however, is in strong contrast to that concept of Christmas which advertisements present insistently. Even the beautiful tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts between relatives and friends is under the influence of consumerism, which risks obscuring the true meaning of Christ's birth. Indeed, this tradition of exchanging gifts is to be understood in the perspective of God's gift to humanity in the person of Jesus, of which our gifts in this celebration are a reflection and expression. It is all the more important, for this reason, to favor actions that manifest solidarity and openness toward the poor and needy.

Looking at the Crib, our gaze is especially fixed on the Virgin and on Joseph, who await the birth of Jesus…

…In her, and in her most chaste spouse, we see realized the indispensable conditions to prepare ourselves for Jesus' birth. In the first place, interior silence and prayer, which allow one to contemplate the mystery that is commemorated. In the second place, the willingness to accept the will of God, in whatever way it is manifested.

The "yes" of Mary and Joseph is all-encompassing and involves their entire person:  spirit, soul and body.

May it be this way for each one of us! May Jesus, who in a few days will come, making our Nativity scenes radiant with joy, find a generous welcome in every Christian family, as was the case in Bethlehem on that holy night.

-Blessed John Paul II, Angelus December 22, 2002. 

Praying During the Year of Faith

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops published a list of prayers that can help us strengthen our prayer lives during the Advent season and throughout the Year of Faith. One of these prayers is the Magnificat. The Bishops say, “The Canticle of Mary in the Gospel of Luke (1:46-55) gives a glimpse of the faith of someone who trusted God so much that he entered the world through her.”

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

The Holy Father Has Over 2 Million Twitter Followers

And that’s just after five days! Are you one of them? If not, find Pope Benedict XVI at his @Pontifex handle.

His most recent tweet says, “Mary is filled with joy on learning that she is to be the mother of Jesus, God’s Son made man. True joy comes from union with God…”

Sanctify your Twitter account, and receive these daily “words of truth,” from the Holy Father.

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, Pray for Us!

Making Sense of the Senseless

Fr. James Martin, S.J. published a heartfelt reflection on the tragic school shooting in Newtown last week.  He writes,

Jesus understands what sorrow is. Jesus understands pain. Jesus, I believe, weeps with us. Our God is not an intellectual abstraction or a philosophical theory, ours is a God who has lived a human life. This helps me during times of sadness. Jesus is with us in our pain, not standing far off.

 “The God who weeps with us also promises us eternal life,” Fr. Martin wrote. Let us remember this as we continue to pray for the children, their families, and the gunman himself. 

Glad Tidings: The Third Sunday of Advent

“Rejoice in the Lord always". In the face of the inevitable difficulties of life, the uncertainties and fears for the future, the temptation to give in to despair and disappointment, the Word of God always proclaims again the "glad tidings" of salvation: the Son of God comes to heal "the wounds of the broken-hearted" (cf. Is 61,1). May this joy, anticipation of the coming joy of Christmas, fill each of our hearts and every corner of our lives.

-Blessed John Paul II, Homily December 15, 2002

Take God for Your Spouse

Take God for your spouse and friend and walk with him continually, and you will not sin and will learn to love, and the things you must do will work out prosperously for you.

-St. John of the Cross

St. John of Cross, so beloved to our patron Blessed John Paul II, pray for us today, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Lord’s Incarnation. 

Pope Benedict XVI’s Intentions for Advent

Pope Benedict’s general intention for this month is that “migrants throughout the world may be welcomed with generosity and authentic love, especially by Christian communities.” His missionary intention is that, “Christ may reveal himself to all humanity with the light that shines forth from Bethlehem and is reflected in the face of his Church.” 

Let us join the Holy Father in prayer this month, as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord.