Advent Reflections

First Sunday of Advent

The Light of Faithfulness

Prayer for Faithfulness

Loving God,

Ever-living source of all that is good,
keep me faithful in serving you.

Help me to drink of Christ’s truth, and fill my heart with his love
so that I may serve you in faith and love.

Keep me in your presence.
Let me never be separated from you and help me to do your will.

In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.

“When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly. We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord.”    -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Reflection:

Cristian Martinez Montalvo, CP, shares his reflection for this First Sunday of Advent.
Cristian is a professed Passionist student studying at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, Illinois. Originally from Puerto Rico, Cristian is a member of the Passionists of St. Paul of the Cross (Eastern) Province.

English:

Español:

Through Faith
Poet: E. Margaret Clarkson

Through faith we understand
The things we cannot know –
The hidden pattern God has planned
And why each thread is so.
We trace life’s vast design
And lose His golden strand;
But when our wills with His entwine,
Through faith we understand.

Through faith we understand
What to our sight is dim,
And still Love’s sweet, all-knowing hand
Leads those who trust in Him.
Ours not to know the way
But bow to His command;
And when our childlike hearts obey,
Through faith we understand.

Call to Action: 
If you use social media:  post a hopeful Advent message on your pages.

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

Reflection:

Bob Rizzi is a longtime parishioner at St. Joseph Monastery Parish in Baltimore, Maryland, and a member of the Passionist Family.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

Celebrate an old-fashioned and healthy tradition: tonight, fill children’s stockings with fruit and nuts, rather than toys and candy. If you do not have children, start a Christmas Eve tradition this year that is Jesus-centered and expresses solidarity with the poor.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56

Reflection:

Sandra Sierra serves on the Board of Directors, where she is the Treasurer, for Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

For your bookshelf:  The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear” by Paul Rogat Loeb.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois. She is the co-chair of the Holy Cross Province Laudato Si Vision Fulfillment Team.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

Focus for a moment on an image of someone or a marginalized group who are the “face of Christ Crucified” in your life, community or in the world.

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus. We have experienced of all Your creation. We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world. Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son. Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

Mike Owens is the Coordinator of the Passionist Alumni Council. Building off the values gained during his Passionist formation years, he is active in religious education, volunteering and board memberships.  Mike and his wilfe, Joyce, live in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

Name a hope you have for yourself, your family, your community this Advent. What can you do to make it a reality?

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Light of Hope

Prayer for Hope

Loving God,

We conclude this season of Advent in anticipation of the Coming of Your Son Jesus.
We have experienced all of Your creation.
We have seen the pain, the violence, the grief and the sorrow that is in our world.
Fill us with the hope that comes from knowing Your Son.
Grant us the strength to persevere in loving You and loving our neighbor and tending to our “common home.”
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
-Father Phil Paxton, CP

Let us live in the joyful hope of reciprocating to our brothers and sisters, through what little we can, the abundance we receive from God each day. -Pope Francis

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Deacon Phillip Donlan, CP, is currently a student at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago, Illinois, as he continues to prepare for Ordination to the Priesthood in Spring 2022.

English:

Spanish:

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers
-Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Call to Action:

If you use social media:  post a hopeful Advent message on your pages.