December 31, 2015 - Thursday

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them.
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice
before the LORD who comes,
who comes to govern the earth,
To govern the world with justice
and the peoples with faithfulness. (Psalm 96:11-13 NABRE)

As we stand at the dawn of a new year, it is tempting to dwell on things of the past. And while there can be value in such reflections, it is better to celebrate the glory of the one who creates our new years and is the author of their unfolding, moment by moment.

When we look back on the events of the past year, may we see the times we remembered to celebrate our Lord. May we draw from it strength and comfort for the year ahead. And may we dwell in his company during each moment of the new year.


Today, I will celebrate with all joy because the Lord has come to us and will return!


Saint Sylvester I, whose life reminds us that it takes deep humility and courage in the face of criticism for a leader to stand aside and let events take their course, when asserting one’s authority would only lead to useless tension and strife, pray for us.

December 30, 2015 - Wednesday

Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NABRE)

John urges us not to love what is hostile toward God and alienated from him.* When we love something, we put it before other things, we idolize it, we focus our attention on it, we miss it when we are away from it.

What John calls "the world" are all the things that draw our thoughts and actions away from God. Whether by way of summary or as examples, he lists three: sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life.

John's words are very practical and modern. When we give our hearts, minds, time, energy, and attention over to an inordinate desire for physical gratification, avarice or covetousness, or pride, arrogance, or ostentation, our earthly style of life reflects a willful independence from God and others.*


Today, I will consider my own ties to this world which turn my attention away from God and hold me for too long.


Saint Egwin, known as a protector of orphans and the widowed, a fair judge, and who was a bishop determined to correct abuses by members of the clergy, pray for us.

December 29, 2015 - Tuesday

Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived. (1 John 2:4-6 NABRE)

How often do I fail to show love to those around me?

How often do I act with my own interests first, thinking nothing of how my actions affect someone else?

How often do I see others in need and fail to act on their behalf?

Too often I think.

Lord Jesus, help me to know you better so that I will keep your commandments. Help me to keep your word so that the Father's love grows in me. Lord, I seek to be in union with you and so I ask for your grace. By my own power, I cannot live as you lived, but only by your Spirit am I able to do so. Thank you for your Spirit. May I have the grace to be humble so that I may put aside my own desires, angers, and selfish pursuits. I listen for your voice. I act with the intention of expressing your love.


Today, I will listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit in the busy moments of this day.


Saint Thomas Becket, who learned to stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of your life, pray for us.

December 28, 2015 - Monday

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15 NABRE)

When it was time for them to leave, the Magi departed for their country without informing king Herod about the location of the newborn King. Soon after, Joseph was given instructions to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod's anger.

Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing from danger in Palestine (see 1 Kings 11:40; Jeremiah 26:21), but the main reason why the child is to be taken to Egypt is that he may relive the Exodus experience of Israel.*

The fulfillment citation is taken from Hosea 11:1. Israel, God’s son, was called out of Egypt at the time of the Exodus; Jesus, the Son of God, will similarly be called out of that land in a new exodus. The father-son relationship between God and the nation is set in a higher key. Here the son is not a group adopted as “son of God,” but the child who, as conceived by the holy Spirit, stands in unique relation to God. He is son of David and of Abraham, of Mary and of Joseph, but, above all, of God.*


Today, I will thank God for his son, Jesus.


Holy Innocents, boys of Bethlehem who were massacred by king Herod, martyrs, and patrons of babies, pray for us.

December 27, 2015 - Sunday

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:12-14 NABRE)

As we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it is good to take to heart this advice of Saint Paul's. Family life brings many challenges, giving each of us plenty of opportunities to practice:

• Heartfelt compassion - when we offer a hug of understanding
• Kindness - when we do something without being asked
• Humility - when we praise someone else
• Gentleness - when we respond calmly to harshness
• Patience - when we accept troubles and delays without impatience
• Bearing with one another - when we endure struggles with someone
• Forgiveness - when we choose to let go of well-deserved anger and resentment
• Love - when we choose to commit ourselves to our families

Today, I will be grateful for my family.


Saint John the Apostle, who wrote, we have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us, pray for us.

December 26, 2015 - Saturday

But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:17-20 NABRE)

Have you ever worried about having the right words to say as you anticipate a difficult conversation? Jesus sent the twelve out to preach with a warning and a comfort. He told them to expect resistance and persecution for the message they were to share, but he also told them not to worry about finding the right words. The Spirit of God would speak through them.

Similarly, in Exodus (4:11-12), "The LORD said to [Moses]: Who gives one person speech? Who makes another mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, I will assist you in speaking and teach you what you are to say.

When the young prophet Jeremiah said, “Ah, Lord GOD!...I do not know how to speak. I am too young!” the Lord said to him, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you. (Jeremiah 1:6-8)

And in Luke's gospel, Jesus expresses it this way: When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say. (Luke 12:11-12)


Today, I will put aside the worry, fear, and hesitation that seem to come with God's sending me to act in ways that are pleasing to him, confident in the Spirit's presence and impact during difficult conversations.


Saint Stephen, who, even as you died, kept your eyes trustfully fixed on God, and with a prayer of forgiveness on your lips, pray for us.

December 25, 2015 - Friday

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 NABRE)

Imagine what it was like for the shepherds to have shared in such a deep way the incarnation of the creator God, and to be invited to visit the Messiah at his birth. We are humble people, like these shepherds. We bow our heads at the name of Jesus. And what an overwhelming thing it is when we also find ourselves invited to share in the presence of our Lord, the Christ who saved us, Jesus.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, I will seek to discover Christ in my heart—somewhere between skepticism and wonder, between mystery and faith.

From Spiritualdirection.com

December 24, 2015 - Thursday

When your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12, 14a, 16 NABRE)

These are God's words spoken to King David through the prophet Nathan. In context, this is called the Dynastic Oracle. The message is prompted by David’s intention to build a house (i.e., a temple) for the Lord, like David’s own house (i.e., palace) of cedar. David is told, in effect, not to bother building a house for the Lord; rather, the Lord will make a house for him—a dynasty, the House of David. Not only will he have descendants who will sit upon the throne of Israel, their rule will last forever. The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father. The Dynastic Oracle is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king, son of David.*

Lord Jesus, you came to us through the House of David, yet you were born, hidden away in poverty, utterly vulnerable. With your birth, God made the divine helplessness very clear to us, for a human infant is totally dependent on the loving response of other people.* Thank you, Lord, for my free will and for making yourself vulnerable to my choice to love you. I do chose to love you, each day.


Today, I will thank God for my free will, and the opportunity to choose to serve him.


Saint Francis, who created the first Christmas crib in the year 1223 at Greccio, Italy, pray for us.

December 23, 2015 - Wednesday

Now I am sending my messenger—
he will prepare the way before me;
And the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple;
The messenger of the covenant whom you desire—
see, he is coming! says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1 NABRE)

As the season of Advent draws to a close, we are fast approaching Christmas day and the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. During this time of preparation it is good to recall the one who prepared the way for the arrival of the Messiah. The gospel of Matthew (11:10) refers back to the first two lines of today's verse (written about 450 years before the birth of Christ) using them to describe John the Baptist.*

Lord Jesus, your cousin John prepared the way before you. He turned hearts to you so that they might know you when you arrived. He lived an austere life in the desert, preached a message of repentance to all who listened, and baptized those who came to him as a sign of cleansing of sin. Help me to learn from John how to live in this time of waiting for Jesus' return. Help me to joyfully celebrate the One who redeemed my soul and to live in a way pleasing to God.


Today, I will seek to help others recognize Jesus as Savior, like John the Baptist did, by my words and by the way I live my life.


Saint John Kanty, who was kind, humble and generous, who suffered opposition and led an austere, penitential life, pray for us.

December 22, 2015 - Tuesday

And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him. (Luke 1:46-50 NABRE)

These lines from the gospel of Saint Luke are the first lines of Mary's prayer, which we call the Magnificat, after greeting her cousin Elizabeth who calls her blessed. It contains a number of references to the Old Testament. The Magnificat may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for God’s favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.*

Lord, may my entire soul proclaim your greatness and may my spirit rejoice in you!


Today, I will remember, with Mary, that God's mercy is available to us even today, and I will celebrate it during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.


Belssed Jacopone da Todi, whose whole life rang out “Alleluia!” and inspires us to keep singing in all circumstances, pray for us.

December 21, 2015 - Monday

The sound of my lover! here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
See! He is standing behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks and says to me,
“Arise, my friend, my beautiful one,
and come!
For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my friend, my beautiful one,
and come!
My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see your face,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.” (Song of Songs 2:8-14 NABRE)

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is a collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. Although the poem is attributed to Solomon in the traditional title, the language, style, and other considerations suggest it was written after the end of the Babylonian exile (538 B.C.) when an unknown poet collected extant love poems, perhaps composing new material. Some scholars argue the possibility of female authorship for at least portions of the Song. In both form and content, sections of the Song bear great similarity to the secular love songs of ancient Egypt and the “Sacred Marriage” cult songs of Mesopotamia which celebrate the union between divine partners.

While the lovers in the Song are clearly human figures, both Jewish and Christian traditions across the centuries have adopted allegorical interpretations. The Song is seen as a beautiful picture of the ideal Israel, the chosen people whom the Lord leads by degrees to a greater understanding and closer union in the bond of perfect love. The Song frequently proclaims a joyous reciprocity between the lovers and highlights the active role of the female partner.

Christian tradition has followed Israel’s example in using marriage as an image for the relationship with God. This image is found extensively in the New Testament. Thus the Song has been read as a sublime portrayal and praise of this mutual love of the Lord and his people. Christian writers have interpreted the Song in terms of the union between Christ and the Church and of the union between Christ and the individual soul.*

Over the centuries the emphasis of interpretation shifted, the 11th century adding a moral element and the 12th century understanding the Bride as the Virgin Mary, each new reading absorbing rather than simply replacing earlier ones, so that the commentary became ever more complex, with multiple layers of meaning. This approach leads to conclusions not found in the more overtly theological books of the Bible.*


Today, I will reflect on the many qualities of marriage which reflect God's relationship with his people.


Saint Peter Canisius, patron of Germany, pray for us.

December 20, 2015 - Sunday

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:41-45 NABRE)

Today's passage has much to tell us about belief, hope, and joy. The baby--John the Baptist, even before he is born, is said to leap for joy at the sound of Jesus' mother's voice. Jesus causes joy when we are open to his presence in our lives. Elizabeth, who carries the baby though she was thought to be infertile, expresses her own (probably renewed) sense of hope and joy at the arrival of Mary, her cousin who was also with child, carrying Jesus. She blesses Mary and in her blessing we learn a deep and powerful lesson about Mary's faith.

Mary believed what the angel Gabriel had told her, the impossible news of what would happen, that she would become the mother of God's only son. Her faith in God was total. Her simple willingness to obey God and to accept whatever God called her to do makes her the perfect role model of faith for us today. May we learn to trust in the Lord as Mary did. May we learn to obey God humbly and without reluctance as Mary did. And may we find the joy and hope that is part of a relationship with Jesus.


Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, I will celebrate joyfully the near arrival of Jesus among us at Christmas.


Saint Dominic of Silos, Benedictine monk who lived 1,000 years ago, pray for us.

December 19, 2015 - Saturday

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” (Luke 1:24-25 NABRE)

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were the parents of John the Baptist. They were already considered old and Elizabeth had never been able to have children. At that time, this was thought to be the result of a curse or punishment for sin.* However, as a sign that nothing is impossible with God, their prayers were finally answered and Elizabeth bore a son.

So often, we pray for things, for health, for others, for peace, for guidance, and all the other needs and wants of the human condition. And just about as often, we feel our prayers are not answered. We want answers in our time. We want answers that match our expectations. Yet, God, whose ways are above ours, often answers our prayers in unexpected ways. The question for us is, how do we respond when our expectations are not met?

Lord God, thank you for answering my prayers, big and small. Please give me the patience to await your answer to my prayer and the discernment to recognize your answer when it arrives. Protect me from frustration, anger, and bitterness when I do not receive an answer from you in the time or manner I want. Instead, remind me of the words your son taught me to pray, your will be done.


Today, I will seek to be patient, awaiting the answer to prayer in God's timing, not my own.


Blessed Pope Urban V, fourteenth-century Benedictine monk and canon lawyer whose goal it was to reunite the Eastern and Western churches, pray for us.

December 18, 2015 - Friday

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 NABRE)

In first-century Judaism the Hebrew name Joshua (Greek Iēsous, Latin Iesus*, transliterated as Jesus) meaning “Yahweh helps” was interpreted as “Yahweh saves.”*

And so when the baby was born, Joseph named the boy Jesus as he was instructed, giving him the name Yahweh saves.

Lord Jesus, you came to save me. Your incarnation gives me hope. I marvel at your unexpected arrival in the small hill town of Bethlehem, to a girl known by few. You came in the form of a helpless baby. You grew up as a humble carpenter's son. Yet, you alone made eternal salvation possible for all humankind in a victory marked by your suffering and dying, but sealed by your rising from the dead. You came to serve others. You were a king hidden among the poor and outcast. You surprised all who were expecting a royal leader who would perform great international military and political feats. Yet, you alone inaugurated God's kingdom here on earth during your brief life. And to this day, it remains strong within the hearts of your people. May we follow the will of God the Father as you did, Lord Jesus, and enjoy eternal life with you.


Today, I will appreciate participating in the spiritual kingdom Jesus inaugurated, and look forward to the day of his return.


Blessed Anthony Grassi, whose spiritual life began in earnest after surviving a lightning strike, pray for us.

December 17, 2015 - Thursday

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.(Matthew 1:16-17 NABRE)

The gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham, the father of Israel. Yet at the beginning of that genealogy Jesus is designated as “the son of David, the son of Abraham”. The kingly ancestor who lived about a thousand years after Abraham is named first, for this is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the royal anointed one.*

Matthew is concerned with fourteen generations, probably because fourteen is the numerical value of the Hebrew letters forming the name of David.*

Lord Jesus, your family tree extends back many generations from Joseph and Mary, through Joseph's father, Jacob, to David and even back to Abraham. At the time of your birth, your people expected an earthly king to lead them back to a position of power in the world. Jesus, you were a surprise! Even with your legitimate claim, your circumstances were humble and you came to serve not to be served. Thank you for your presence among us and for your example. Teach me each day to turn back to your perfect example and to look forward to your return. And as I wait, may your Spirit never leave my side.


Today, I will recall Jesus' ancestry back to King David and to Abraham.


Saint Hildegard of Bingen, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to develop the gifts you received from God, pray for us.

December 16, 2015 - Wednesday

Love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth;
justice will look down from heaven. (Psalm 85:11-12 NABRE)

In today's passage, divine activity is personified as pairs of virtues.* Written at a time when encouragement was needed, these words turn us to a time when God will act on behalf of his faithful people. And when God acts, look at what is produced! Love and truth, justice and peace.

Lord, even when I am not grateful, share your love with me. Even when I am dishonest with you, with others, and with myself, share your truth with me. Even when I lack compassion and generosity, share your justice with me. And when I am anxious, share your peace with me. Lord, I ask these things not just for myself, but so that I might be changed. I ask for these graces so that I will shine a small bit of your light into my world.


Today, I will look for indications that the Holy Spirit of God is working in my day, and I will look for ways to share God's love, truth, justice, and peace with someone else.


Blessed Honoratus Kozminski, who is a powerful example to us to obey the teachings of the Church willingly and gladly, placing our gifts at the service of the Good News of Jesus Christ, pray for us.

December 15, 2015 - Tuesday

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the LORD;
let the poor hear and be glad.
Magnify the LORD with me;
and let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:2-4 NABRE)

With so many distractions in our culture, in our lives, and in our daily routines, it is extremely easy to lose our focus on what matters most. Especially this time of year, when we are particularly busy with preparations for holiday parties and sometimes challenging social responsibilities, we find ourselves struggling to keep the joy and peace of the season in our hearts.

O Lord, give us peace in our hearts in times of tumult. Give us joy in times of struggle. Help us to overlook the multitude of distractions in our day so that we can remain in your holy presence. As we walk our paths this day, keep us safe. Lead us to the places you want us. Show us the people you want us to encounter. O Lord, may our day today be one we look back on this evening and remember how we blessed you in each moment, how we praised you through our trials, how we gave glory to you as we recognized each blessing, and how we spoke lovingly of you to all those we met who were poor and in need of your kindness.


Today, I will give glory to the Lord in each moment of the day.


Blessed Mary Frances Schervier, who was led by God to establish a community of sisters who care for the sick and aged in the United States and throughout the world, pray for us.

December 14, 2015 - Monday

Make known to me your ways, LORD;
teach me your paths.
Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
for you I wait all the day long. (Psalm 25:4-5 NABRE)

Psalm 25 is a lament of King David. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides.*

My God, like David, I seek to understand your ways. I want to learn to walk along the path you have set before me. Each day, I desire to be guided by your Spirit. Thank you for your faithfulness to me and the guidance you provide. I look forward to the day of your coming among us.


Today, I will wait in the spirit of Advent for the coming of the Christ.


Saint John of the Cross, priest, Doctor of the Church, and patron of mystics, pray for us.

December 13, 2015 - Sunday

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior,
Who will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
Who will sing joyfully because of you,
as on festival days. (Zephaniah 3:17 NABRE)

The ministry of the prophet Zephaniah took place during the reign of Josiah (640–609 B.C.), not long before the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. about the time of the prophet Jeremiah.*

Although his prophecies were primarily of divine judgement, Zephaniah captures this wonderful image of God. It is remarkable and exciting to think of God rejoicing over his people, indeed over you and me, of him singing joyfully because of us! Let us change our hearts each day, turning to him in humility, aware of our personal sinfulness and our responsibilities to those around us, so that God will renew is in his love.


Today, on this Third Sunday of Advent, I will be joyful in the knowledge that God is in our midst.


Saint Lucy, patroness of the blind and those with eye disorders, pray for us.

December 12, 2015 - Saturday

Then Uzziah said to her, “Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the leader of our enemies. (Judith 13:18 NABRE)

The Book of Judith relates the story of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people. The work may have been written around 100 B.C., but its historical range spans hundreds of turbulent years. The work is considered historical fiction, written to exalt God as Israel’s deliverer from foreign might, not by an army, but by means of a simple widow.*

The Book of Judith is not without controversy, because Jewish rabbis did not count Judith among their scriptures, and the Reformation adopted that position. The early Church, however, held this book in high honor. The first-century Pope, St. Clement of Rome, proposes Judith as an example of courageous love. St. Jerome holds her up as an example of a holy widow and a type of the Church and, in another place, describes Mary as a new Judith. The Council of Trent (1546) included Judith in the canon; thus it is one of the seven deuterocanonical books.*


Today, I will welcome the inspired Word of God in all its recognized forms.


Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and of Mexico, pray for us.

December 11, 2015 - Friday

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I am the LORD, your God,
teaching you how to prevail,
leading you on the way you should go.
If only you would attend to my commandments,
your peace would be like a river,
your vindication like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:17-18 NABRE)

Vindication simply means to be proven right. We are urged to "attend" the commandments of God. In the New Testament, we see Jesus use the word wisdom and we might equate that with Isaiah's use of the word commandments by the shared reference to vindication.

In particular, in Matthew's gospel, Jesus concludes a parable about those who reject him by saying, "But wisdom is vindicated by her works." (Matthew 11:19c) In Luke's version of the parable, Jesus says, "wisdom is vindicated by all her children." (Luke 7:35) There is some unity in all of these statements which points us toward God's expectation for our lives.

The particulars of God's wisdom are expressed in his commandments. Jesus along with John the Baptist and others who follow the commandments are Wisdom's children, and will be proven right in the eyes of the world at the appointed time.


Today, I will wait with joy for the time when the children of Wisdom are vindicated.


Saint Damasus I, fourth-century pope who makes us aware of two qualities of good leadership: alertness to the promptings of the Spirit and service, pray for us.

December 10, 2015 - Thursday

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the wilderness into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
In the wilderness I will plant the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
In the wasteland I will set the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41:17-20 NABRE)

When we are most in need, God steps in. If we will not lose hope and instead turn to him in our worst moments, he will meet our needs. And if we are attentive, we will see his hand in our assistance, we will see the generous excess of the Lord's gifts, and we will know without doubt that it has been his aid all along which sustained us. Let us share this confidence with others, especially those who need hope restored.


Today, I will praise the Lord who created all things and who is lovingly involved in each moment.


Blessed Adolph Kolping, founder of the Young Workmen's Society in Germany in the 1840's who helped many skilled workers and factory laborers to overcome their isolation and defeatism, pray for us.

Marshland

December 9, 2015 - Wednesday

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is God from of old,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives power to the faint,
abundant strength to the weak.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar on eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NABRE)

Let us remember that it was only God who existed before time. God created time. God created this world. And God created each one of us. There is no beginning or end to God, but we are creatures who had a beginning. And when we remember and meditate on all of this, let us welcome the perspective it brings, the strength it promises, and the endurance it provides.


Today, I will place all my hope for the future in the Lord's hands alone.


Saint Juan Diego, to whom the Blessed Mother appeared in the 16th century in Mexico on Tepeyac hill, pray for us.

December 8, 2015 - Tuesday

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38 NABRE)

There is a special quality in Mary which led her to yield without hesitation to God's will. Perhaps this quality is rooted in her perception of herself as the handmaid of the Lord.

How do we see ourselves?

Even though she was troubled and confused by what she was told by Gabriel--that she would bear a son, Jesus, who would be called the Son of God and be given the throne of David--Mary accepted this news and the task from God without hesitation.

Do we say, like Mary, "May it be done to me according to your word." without hesitation?

Today's feast day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century and came to the West in the eighth century. The Church believes the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was born and "preserved free from all stain of original sin." It took a long time for this doctrine to develop, but it is understood as enhancement of Jesus' redemptive work because "in Mary, Jesus' work was so powerful as to prevent original sin at the outset."* We do not worship Mary, but we turn to her as our spiritual mother who intercedes with God on our behalf.


Today, I will pray the rosary, asking the Lord to show us his mercy during the Church's Jubilee Year of Mercy.


Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now.

December 7, 2015 - Monday

A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
but it will be for his people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it.
No lion shall be there,
nor any beast of prey approach,
nor be found.
But there the redeemed shall walk,
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning flee away. (Isaiah 35:8-10 NABRE)

Isaiah chapters 34 and 35 form a small collection which looks forward to the vindication of Zion, first by defeat of its enemies (chap. 34), then by its restoration (chap. 35). They are generally judged to be later than the time of Isaiah (eighth century), perhaps during the Babylonian exile or thereafter.*

Lord, thank you for preparing the way for your people to return to you. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to redeem me from my sinful nature, so I might walk this road, so that I might enter your city of everlasting joy and gladness.


Today, I will remember the coming of my Lord who redeemed me, and I will walk with joy along the holy way.


Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, and patron of bee keepers and learning, pray for us.

December 6, 2015 - Sunday

For God has commanded
that every lofty mountain
and the age-old hills be made low,
That the valleys be filled to make level ground,
that Israel may advance securely in the glory of God.
The forests and every kind of fragrant tree
have overshadowed Israel at God’s command;
For God is leading Israel in joy
by the light of his glory,
with the mercy and justice that are his. (Baruch 5:7-9 NABRE)

Have you ever felt lost, lonely, or even abandoned? And amid this most empty, frightening, sinking and devastating feeling, have you ever then realized it was your own fault--that something you said or did directly caused the circumstance that brought you your present suffering?

What a humbling experience that is! So humiliating in fact that it can overwhelm us to the point of denial. But if we resist becoming overwhelmed. If we resist denial. If instead, we can seek to be humble before God, we (sometimes very) gradually become better able to acknowledge our own faults--those times we offend him by our actions and omissions--and responsibilities. By this intentional humility we experience surprising strength to turn to him for mercy. And when we do this, when we turn to God for mercy, he always welcomes us back.

God is merciful and he wants us to turn to him always, especially when we are most at fault.

One of my favorite metaphors for life is that of walking a path toward God in the dark. He provides the light, but only in a very small area surrounding where I currently stand. When I look forward it is dark. When I look to the right or to the left it is dark. Even looking back along the path I've walked, things have dimmed and are quickly difficult to see. It is only in the circle of light, in the present moment, I can see the path. My only task then is to rely on the light and remain on the path. Every step I take that moves me forward is confirmed because the light remains with me, and if I test the edges of the light in any direction, the darkness is actually frightening.

In today's passage, God prepares the path back to Jerusalem for those who were exiled, and he does it in dramatic fashion! For his people, he levels mountains, raises valleys, and shades them on their way.


Today, I will remember that God is always preparing the path ahead of me to return home to him.


Saint Nicholas, fourth-century bishop of Myra, patron of many and especially children, pray for us.

December 5, 2015 - Saturday

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matthew 10:7 NABRE)

After some time of instruction, Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples to go out and preach and cure the sick. He told them to make the proclamation in today's verse. It echos his own words (see Matthew 4:17) and those of John the Baptist before him (see Matthew 3:2). John the Baptist called for a change of heart and conduct, a turning of one’s life from rebellion to obedience towards God.*

The phrasing, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" loses some of it's impact today unless we realize that heaven (lit., “the heavens”) is a substitute for the name “God” that was avoided by devout Jews of the time out of reverence. So, it is a particularly powerful statement made during the life of Jesus.*

There was no season of Advent during Jesus' life on earth. There was no need for it. He was here! Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for Jesus during which we recall his incarnation as a baby in Bethlehem, the beginning of those few decades when he lived among us as a man. During Advent, we also look forward to his return, his second coming, which we call the parousia.


Today, I will reflect on the importance of Advent and how grateful I am for this time to remember Jesus has already lived among us and that he will return.


Saint Sabas, who stands as a model of patient generosity for anyone whose time and energy are required by others, pray for us.

December 4, 2015 - Friday

Wait for the LORD, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14 NABRE)

During this time of Advent, we wait. We prepare for the coming of the Lord. We remember his promises. God, whose only son walked this earth with us as a man, and whose Spirit is with us even now at this moment, has a plan for each one of us. And it takes courage sometimes to trust him to protect us as we venture out in the world to live out his plan. We are called to be people of courage in in the face of the enemy. We are called to rely on God's power when the battle overwhelms our own abilities.

Lord, help me to wait and to prepare for your return. Give me the courage and endurance to carry on during this time of Advent and during this life of mine. Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly! And in the meantime, keep your Spirit alive in my heart. Lead me to action when action is called for. Lead me to patience when action should be held back.


Today, I will endure the challenges that confront me with courage, confident in the Lord's protection.


Saint John Damascene, whose holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord, pray for us.

December 3, 2015 - Thursday

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NABRE)

There is an urgency about this verse. Phrased as a command, it implies strongly that there will come a time when the Lord will be too far away to be found.

In context, today's verse is thought to have been written toward the end of the Babylonian exile about 550 years BC.* In it, the Lord calls out to his struggling people to trust him to provide for their worldly needs, to listen to him, and to pay attention to him. To the faithful who would trust and heed his word, the Lord promised to more than meet their physical needs by providing good and delightful food, to give them life, to keep his promises to them as a nation, and to glorify them in the eyes of other nations.

Lord God, thank you for your encouragement. Help me to foster a sense of urgency in my own search for you. I know you are near to me. Continue to light my path by your Spirit so that I might follow it faithfully. Give me the grace to trust you in all circumstances, to center myself in your Word, and to act in a way pleasing to you which is based on your guidance.


Today, I will trust God, listen and pay attention to his guidance, and seek him while I have time.


Saint Francis Xavier, whose life exemplified the understanding that sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another, pray for us.

December 2, 2015 - Wednesday

The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31 NABRE)

Every now and then it helps to remember that the stories about Jesus which are recounted for us by his followers were also witnessed by others, many others, people we know nothing about. In the presence of crowds of people, Jesus healed the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others.

Imagine being one of the people Jesus cured. Imagine your biggest problem and do what the people of Jesus' time did, bring it right up to Jesus and ask him for help. Not as a dare, but trusting that the Jesus we read about is still alive today and able to answer your request. No, not as a dare, but with deep humility before the one who humbled even himself before God and died on the cross. Ask him to intercede for you with the Father, just as he did for those people in the crowd who needed his help.


Today, I will place my biggest problem in Jesus' hands, humbly trusting that he will hear and answer my request.


Blessed Rafal Chylinski, whose life reminds us that every one of us, even though we are sinners, has been called to love and to holiness, pray for us.

December 1, 2015 - Tuesday

At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. (Luke 10:21 NABRE)

In this Spirit-led prayer, Jesus tells his disciples that God the Father has given them (the childlike) understanding and insight into who he is and what his mission has been, indeed into the very nature of God.

By this, we learn that acceptance of what Jesus taught depends upon the Father’s revelation, but this is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant.*

Lord God, I ask only for openness to receive your truth. I do not seek the wisdom and learning of this world. I seek only you in my heart. Protect me from arrogance, thinking too much of myself. Guard me from attempts to be the smart or clever one in conversation. Take away my anxiety throughout this day so that I might better listen for the times when you want me to speak, and more importantly, for the times when you want me to remain silent.


Today, I will stay attentive for the Spirit's guidance.


Blessed Charles de Foucauld, who struggled with faith and was eventually centered on God and animated by prayer and humble service, pray for us.