December 24 - Nearly Here

Today's Readings:

• 2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
• Psalm 89.2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
• Luke 1.67-79

Today's Reflection:

The time of the Lord is almost here.  God is sending His Son to be among us.  I will sing the goodness of the Lord as long as I live.

December 23 - Rejoice!

Today's Readings:

• Malachi 3.1-4, 23-24
• Psalm 25.4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
• Luke 1.57-66

Today's Reflection:

A child will be born among us; His name will be Emmanuel, God with us.  Every person on earth will be blest, because He is with us.  Rejoice! 

December 22 - The Lord Is Near!

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 7.10-14
• Psalm 24.1-2, 3-4, 5-6
• Romans 1.1-7
• Matthew 1.18-24

Today's Reflection:

The Lord is near.  Let rain and snow show upon us.  Let the Just One come down among us.  Let the earth open up and bring forth a Savior. 

December 21 - Exult and Sing

Today's Readings:

• Songs 2.8-14 OR Zephaniah 3.14-18a
• Psalm 33.2-3, 11-12, 20-21
• Luke 1.39-45

Today's Reflection

Trust and faith are the keys to our relationship with God.  Make this your “new song” as you pray today.

December 20 - The King of Glory

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 7.10-14
• Psalm 24.1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
• Luke 1.26-38

Today's Reflection

Make a prayer today to let the Lord enter your life more fully.  Be open to his love and teachings.

December 19 - Sing Your Glory!

Today's Readings:

• Judges 13.2-7, 24-25a
• Psalm 71.3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17
• Luke 1.5-25

Today's Reflection

Take time today to open your eyes to all the Lord has provided. Give thanks and share these gifts with others so that they too may sing God’s praises.

December 18 - Poor in Spirit

Today's Readings:

• Jeremiah 23.5-8
• Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
• Matthew 1.18-25

 Today's Reflection:

"He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor, the lives of the poor he shall save."  It is difficult for me to see sometimes that I am poor in spirit  and need God's help - my ego has a real hard time with that!  What can I do today to put my ego on the shelf for just a little while so that God can provide what I need.

December 17 - Fullness of Peace Forever

Today's Readings:

• Genesis 49.2, 8-10
• Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17
• Matthew 1.1-17

 Today's Reflection:

With everything going on in the world, it is sometimes hard to see justice and peace.  But it reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi's worlds: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."  What can I do today to promote justice and peace in my own little corner of the world? 

December 16 - Teach me your ways, O Lord

Today's Readings:

• Numbers 24.2-7, 15-17a
• Psalm 25.4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 
• Matthew 21.23-27

 Today's Reflection:

As I slow down and reflect on my life this Advent, I realize that God will show me the way, if I just stop and listen….what can I do today to open myself to God's guidance?

December 15 - Is Patience Still a Virtue?

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 35.1-6a, 10
• Psalm 146.6-7. 8-9, 9-10
• James 5.7-10
• Matthew 11.2-11

Today's Reflection:

How hard it is to be patient today!!! Almost everything seems to move at a breakneck speed, but when something doesn't, and you have to wait, wait, wait – well, you can feel your blood pressure rising with each second of waiting. The tension can be overwhelming. The early Christians were impatient about the second coming of Jesus, which they expected would be any day, and sooner rather than later. In this reading, St. James tells them and us about the patient farmer waiting for the time of harvest. The farmer's experience has shown him that his crops need both the early and the late rains, and they will be ready when they are ready. He doesn't have any way of hurrying them along, so he patiently and resignedly accepts this fact. 

Is patience a part of my life? Am I able to resign myself to the fact that things take time? Do I have patience with myself and accept that I am a work-in-progress? Do I realize that everyone is a work-in-progress? 

December 14 - Lord, Make Us Turn to You

Today's Readings:

• Sirach 48.1-4, 9-11
• Psalm 80.2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-29
• Matthew 17.9a, 10-13

Today's Reflection:

How often do I ask God to MAKE me turn to Him so I can see His face? 

If I know I'm doing something wrong, I certainly don't want a face-to-face encounter. That would be heartbreaking and frightening. 

Being able to look at the face of God then, is a sure sign that I'm on the way to salvation. So..... Lord, make me turn to you, let me see your face, and I shall be saved.

December 13 - Let Go and Let God

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 48.17-19
• Psalm 1.1-2, 3, 4 and 6
• Matthew 11.16-19

Today's Reflection:

It seems easy enough – just trust that God will lead your life in the way it's supposed to go. Okay, but how do I know it's truly God behind the messages I'm getting? How do I know it's not my own wants, or something I read or heard or saw? Do I believe that God works through others? How can I know? God answers these questions for us when we live our lives according to His will. 

God says “If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea.”

December 12 - The Faith of Mary

Today's Readings:

• Zechariah 2.14-17  OR  Revelation 11.19a; 12.1-6a, 10ab
• Judith 13.18 bcde, 19
• Luke 1.26-38  OR  Luke 1.39-47

Today's Reflection:

Oh!  The faith of Mary!  Are you prepared to meet Gabriel and receive God's gift - His holy Son Jesus in the flesh!

December 11 - Lightening the Burden

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 40.25-31
• Psalm 103.1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10
• Matthew 11.28-30

Today's Reflection:

Be submissive to the Lord.  If you do,  you will truly find your life's burden lightened.

December 10 - Astray

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 40.1-11
• Psalm 96.1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13
• Matthew 18.12-14

Today's Reflection:

If you have gone astray, open your heart to the Lord so that He can rescue you.  For He alone can save you!

December 9 - Rejoice!

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feastday of the United States of America

Today's Readings:

• Genesis 3.9-15, 20
• Psalm 98:1-4
• Ephesians 1.3-6, 11-12
• Luke 1.26-38

Today's Reflection:

Blessed Virgin Mary, your willingness to serve as handmaiden to the Lord is profound.

Humanity, redeemed by the fruit of your womb Jesus, shouts for joy.

Our thankfulness for your great gift and motherly sacrifice is without peer.

We rejoice and sing praises to the King of Kings.

December 8 - Such Joy

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 11.1-10
• Psalm 72:1-17
• Romans 15.4-8

Today's Reflection:

Spirit of the Lord,

I tremble with fear, O Lord; turn to me, hear me.

I delight in your coming.

There is such joy in your presence.

Spirit of the Lord,

Rest on me, strengthen me, counsel me, lead me, O Lord.

December 7 - Blessed are all who wait

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
• Psalm 147:1-6
• Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

Today's Reflection:

Guide me O Lord for I am lost without you.

Take pity on me O Lord for I am troubled.

Heal my heart O Lord for I am brokenhearted.

Bind my wounds O Lord and make me whole.

December 6 - Expectant Faith

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 29.17-24
• Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
• Matthew 9.27-31

Today's Reflection

Lord Jesus, help me to draw near to you with faith and trust in your saving power and mercy. Free me from doubt and unbelief that I may approach you. Confidently and pray boldly with expectant faith. Let your kingdom come and may your will be done in me.
 

December 5 - Rock and Refuge

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 26.1-6
• Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
• Matthew 7.21, 24-27

Today's Reflection

Lord Jesus, you are my Rock and my Refuge. Help me to conform my life according to your word that I may stand firm in times of trouble and find hope in your promises.

December 4 - True Thirst and True Hunger

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 25.6-10a
• Psalm 23.1-3a, 3b-4, 5-6
• Matthew 15.29-37

Today's Reflection

Lord Jesus, you alone can satisfy the longing and hunger in our hearts.
May I thirst for your kingdom and find joy in your presence.
Give me the true bread of heaven and nourish me with your life-giving word.

December 3 - Choose wisely

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 11.1-10
• Luke 10.21-24

Today's Reflection:

"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." You realize, don't you, that we can choose what to "see". The dirt, pain, stupidity of the world around us OR the bright smile of a child, soft touch of a faithful dog, the colors of the sky. All around; all aspects of life are in front of us. "Choose wisely."

December 2 - Say the word

Today's Readings:

• Isaiah 4.2-6
• Matthew 8.5-11

Today's Reflection:

“..say the word…” Is it really that simple? Jesus says “the word” and miracles happen? Look. We have a living person in front of us. The idols of the past (and present) were a poor imitation of God. We don’t need  bad copy…we have the real deal. Ask for the word/ meet Him face to face.

The First Sunday of Advent - Going through the motions

Today we begin the season of Advent. Join us for a few moments each day to reflect on the day's readings. The reflections are written by members of our parish's worship and liturgy committees.

You can find today's readings here on the USCCB's website.

Today's reflection is particularly focused on the reading from Paul's letter to the Romans.

“You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake…”. How much of our day is spent going through the motions; work, school, projects, chores, shopping, traveling? Wake up, look around; see the elderly person who would welcome a friendly hello; a child in need of “good job!” a waitress who smiles at a sincere “thank you”. Wake up!