Advent Reflections

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

The Light of Faithfulness

“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:

Isaiah 26:1-6
Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Reflection:

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

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: 
Buy Ethical Trade Christmas gifts at Catholic Relief Service. Ethical Trade means people will get a fair price for their labor and materials and no forced labor. https://ethicaltrade.crs.org/

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

The Light of Faithfulness

“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:

Isaiah 25:6-10a
Matthew 15:29-37

Reflection:

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

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: 
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 First Week 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.

Scripture:

Isaiah 11:1-10
Luke 10:21-24

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.

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: 
Multiply your giving: for each person on your gift list, donate to a favorite cause of theirs, or give a gift in their name to someone in need.

Monday of the First Week 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:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Matthew 8:5-11

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.

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: 
Make time to have a one-on-one conversation with someone you have wanted to “check in on.”  Give them your full listening presence.

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.