Third Week of Advent - A Spiritual Journey towards Christmas

Discovering the Presence of Christ - Daily Gospel Reflections

December 15, 2013

Gospel Reading:

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:2-11

Reflection:

Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another? This is what Jesus was asked today in the Gospel. In a similar way this same question is being asked in different ways today. Is Jesus the Son of God or only a great prophet? Is Jesus the Messiah or only a great philosopher? There is a tendency to reduce Jesus to a great figure in the world of religions than to believe whom He said He was, the Son of God. I have heard on numerous occasions individuals refer to Jesus as a great teacher, yet they cannot believe He is the Son of God. We all can choose to believe what we believe, but it would be completely wrong to refer to Jesus as anything, but the Son of God. Why? This is because Jesus never claimed to be a great teacher or philosopher. He claimed to be the Son of God. After all, for this reason Jesus was crucified on the Cross. As disciples of Jesus it is our responsibility to profess and to live with Jesus as the Lord of our lives. Living as disciples requires us to be part of the Body of Christ, the Church. We are not renegade disciples called to live our faith in isolation from each other. Rather we are called to be part of the Church to walk with each other and to be nourished collectively.

Action:

Reflect on who Jesus is for you? How does a relationship with Christ change your life? Pray for your Christian brothers and sisters in the world who are persecuted for their belief in Jesus.

December 16, 2013

Gospel Reading:

When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” –Matthew 21:23-27

Reflection:

In the course of one’s faith journey there will be a time when one’s motives will be questioned. There are individuals who look to catch you in a lie or wait for you to fall. This was no different for Jesus. The chief priests and elders of the people were looking to do the same with Jesus. Only Jesus could see their ulterior motives and turn in back on them. He didn’t do it with anger or with hate in His heart. He was calm, yet straightforward. You can learn much from Jesus. In those moments when individuals question your motives you must remain calm, keep your cool and refrain from returning evil with evil. Preach the Word and live your faith. Be sure to know in your heart why you do what you do and whom you ultimately strive to serve. Always be at the service of God!

Action:

Pray for someone whom you may have mistakenly questioned their motives. Reflect on why you do what you do in regards to your service to God.

December 17, 2013

Gospel Reading:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 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 Christ, fourteen generations. –Matthew 1:1, 17 (Read Matthew 1:2-16 for complete genealogy)

Reflection:

The genealogy of Jesus we read in the Gospel of Matthew is much more than a laundry list of difficult names to read. The genealogy does two things for us. First, it shows to us that God is intimately linked to His people throughout all of these generations. As people of faith we all descend from our father Abraham. Ever since Abraham left behind his home and trusted in God there has been a special relationship between God and His people. The second thing the genealogy does is to let us know God always has a plan. God has great and bountiful plans for each one of us and He is always at work bringing to light those plans. It is our task to know we too share in God’s plans and then to do all within our means to discern and cooperate with those plans. Even through all the messiness of numerous generations, Jesus enters it all. God will enter into our own messiness to bring peace, joy and love.

Action:

Where is there a messy situation in your life today? Pray God’s light enters and brings forth peace, joy, and love.

December 18, 2013

Gospel Reading:

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus. –Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection:

The Gospels say very little about St. Joseph. Despite the silence on his part there is much to learn from this humble, obedient, and righteous man. The little we do know about Joseph comes to us from the Gospel of Matthew, especially today’s reading. There is no doubt Joseph had an important role in the life of Jesus. From the beginning of Jesus’ life, Joseph was present to him and Mary. He was faithful and attentive to the will of the Father. St. Joseph shows to us the importance of silence in our lives. Silence does not mean a person is unconcerned or uninterested. Pope Benedict XVI in speaking about St. Joseph says, “His is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. In other words, the silence of St Joseph was not the sign of an inner void, but on the contrary, of the fullness of faith he carried in his heart, and which guided each and every one of his thoughts and actions.” In a society all too often filled with much noise and egocentric behavior, we can learn much from St. Joseph. We can use his example to find time for silence and to make ourselves more available to God.

Action:

Look to enter into silence today. Spend ten minutes without any noise or distractions. Be silent before the presence of God.

December 19, 2013

Gospel Reading:

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 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 1:13-25

Reflection:

In the Gospel of St. Luke we read that Zechariah like Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel to announce the birth of a child. Both were told not to be afraid when given the news. Although the responses of both seem to be similar, there is a subtle difference. A difference highlighted by the fact that Zechariah is given a punishment of sorts by being silenced until the birth of his son, John. Zechariah’s response warranted proof from the Angel Gabriel while Mary had only a question, which ultimately led to her acceptance without proof. We, in many ways, are similar to Zechariah. At certain times in our life we require proof from God. We tend to ask God for signs to prove He is faithful to His promises. When it comes to faith it is not about having all the answers. It is placing our complete trust in the promises of God. It is to know that God is always faithful and will always lead us through. When we are tempted to ask for proof or to be sent a sign, may we look to the Incarnation which was, is and will always be the proof of God’s love for the world.

Action:

The next time you are tempted to ask for proof from God choose instead to respond with a similar response of Mary, “Let it be down according to your word.”

December 20, 2013

Gospel Reading:

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” 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 1:26-38

Reflection:

As disciples of Jesus we are also sent forth by God to carry the message of salvation. The angel Gabriel certainly brought THE message of salvation by announcing the birth of the Messiah. The angel Gabriel had no idea how Mary would respond or if she was willing to accept the message. The angel completed his task, which was to go forth and to announce the good news. In a similar way, we too must embrace that we are sent to announce the good news of Jesus Christ to others. Our responsibility is not based upon the acceptance of the message. The responsibility is only to go forth and announce. The message is not our own. God doesn’t ask us to determine who we think should receive it, rather, God only sends us forth to announce. When we do go out and announce the good news, we never really know who might just hear it and how they will respond. They might just respond like our Blessed Mother, “Let it be done according to your word.”

Action:

Go and deliver a message of God’s love to someone else today. It might be as simple as telling someone, God loves you!

December 21, 2013

Gospel Reading:

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 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 1:39-45

Reflection:

The power and work of the Holy Spirit is like nothing else! Much like we hear in the reading today, the Holy Spirit fills us with joy and sends us out to share that joy with others. It is a joy that is not self-contained, but motivates us to share it with others. A person that exuberates the power of the Holy Spirit is Pope Francis. He lets the Holy Spirit fill him in such a way that it becomes contagious to others. He never ceases from sharing the good news with the world through his words and example. I would like to end my reflection today with the words of Pope Francis: “Let's ask ourselves: are we open to the Holy Spirit, do I pray to him to enlighten me, to make me more sensitive to the things of God? And this is a prayer we need to pray every day, every day: Holy Spirit may my heart be open to the Word of God, may my heart be open to good, may my heart be open to the beauty of God, every day. But I would like to ask a question to all of you: How many of you pray every day to the Holy Spirit? Eh, a few of you I bet, eh! Well, a few, few, a few, but we realize this wish of Jesus, pray every day for the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to Jesus.”

Action:

Say a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to open your heart to Jesus. 

Second Week of Advent - A Spiritual Journey towards Christmas

Discovering the Presence Christ - Daily Gospel Reflections

December 8, 2013

Gospel Reading:

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” –Matthew 3:1-12



Reflection:

John the Baptist is known as the last great prophet of ancient Israel who prepared the way for the Messiah. The preparation he called forth was one of true repentance and a real change of heart. John was no pushover. He was direct, unafraid, and spoke the truth. John challenged the religious leaders of his day not to presume all is well without true repentance and concrete actions that follow. Similarly one can see the same attitude in today’s world. The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to it as a sin of presumption. It reads: “There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high), or he presumes upon God's almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit)” (#2092). Both are equally sinful, but the latter seems to be an attitude that is all too common today and a cause for great concern. Fr. Vincent Serpa sums it up well, “One wonders how sincere a person’s love for God is when he is so readily willing to sin simply because God is forgiving. God cannot be fooled. He reads hearts and knows our sincerity. To decide to sin is to offend God. To decide to sin because one knows that he can be forgiven is to sin twice. It is to use God, reducing him to a utility at the service of our whim. It is to laugh at his passion and death.” The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus is a great gift of grace that opens for us the doors of salvation. Never take for granted the gift nor presume without conversion, but let us use each day to be a modern day John the Baptist, preparing others and ourselves for the coming of the Messiah, both at Christmas and for His Second Coming.



Action:

Spend some quiet moments to reflect on the sin of presumption. Does it apply to you? Do you try to save yourself without help from God? Do you presume on God’s mercy by seeking forgiveness without true conversion and concrete actions?





December 9, 2013



Gospel Reading:

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” 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 1:26-38



Reflection:

Depending on where you are in the world you may be celebrating the Immaculate Conception today. Normally, the Immaculate Conception of Mary is celebrated on December 8th. However, since yesterday was the 2nd Sunday of Advent, the Solemnity may have transferred. With all that being said, today is one of the two opportunities in the month of December to celebrate Mary, the Mother of God. The other will be in a few days when we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mary is a perfect example for disciples of Jesus. From the very beginning of Mary’s life she was the perfect vessel. She grew up in the Jewish faith and always discerned the will of the Father in her life. This is what enabled her at a young age to say the words we read in the Gospel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” None of us know exactly what we are getting into when we say yes to the Lord and neither did Mary. Yet, she didn’t allow the obstacles and challenges to deter her from the will of the Father. All too often in some circles, the Blessed Mother, is not respected in the manner that she deserves. In some ways, I do not believe this is a concern of Mary. Her concern is always the same “listen to him” as she said of Jesus at the Wedding Feast of Cana. There is no doubt Mary has a special place in Heaven, but her desire is for all of us to join her in the Kingdom of Heaven. She is a model of the faith. She shows us to always trust in God. She reminds us to always say yes to the Lord. She teaches us to listen to her Son. Pope Francis when speaking of Mary says, “Mary wishes to bring all of us to the great gift that is Jesus with his love, his peace and his joy.” Mary will not rest until the Second Coming of Jesus. Until then, she will do all she can to bring us closer to her Son and so inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.



Action:

Pray three Hail Mary prayers for someone who is in need of knowing the love, peace and joy of Jesus.

December 10, 2013


Gospel Reading:

Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” –Matthew 18:12-14



Reflection:

What is your opinion? This is the question posed by Jesus in the Gospel today. What is your response to the lost sheep? One possible response could be, “Forget the one sheep, after all it is the sheep’s fault that it went astray!” This is a belief held by many, “it’s his or her fault, let it be!” Although this is a shared position, this is not the perspective of Jesus. Jesus’ concern is that of the will of the Father, “that not one of these little ones be lost.” Jesus, the Good Shepherd, highlights the lost sheep, not in neglect of the ninety-nine others, but out of special concern for the one who is missing. This is the love of Jesus to search out the lost and to rejoice over their return. It is evident that in many cases an individual's imprudent choices and actions are often the cause of their going astray, but this isn’t the sole concern for Jesus. For Jesus, finding the lost and bringing them back is the focus. So it should be with us! We cannot spend our time obsessed with the reasons why one departed. Certainly, the Lord does not rejoice when we stray. However, for whatever reason we do, it is never stronger and more important than His love and mercy, which can bring us back! And so, as Jesus, we must proclaim His love and mercy while using our energy to seek, restore, and rejoice over the return of our brother or sister who is lost.



Action:

Pray for someone who is considered a lost sheep. Instead of turning to judgment regarding their absence, be like Jesus, who with love goes out to search, restore and rejoice. If you are the one who is lost, spend time in prayer. Surrender yourself to Jesus. He desires in love to restore and rejoice over you!

December 11, 2013



Gospel Reading:

Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” –Matthew 11:28-30



Reflection:

Come to me all who are burdened and labored and I will give you rest. Hearing this passage provides great relief and consolation. How many feel so burdened and labored with all that must be done? Being created in the image and likeness of God, our souls and bodies yearn for a Sabbath: a time to rest, reflect, and renew. Jesus wants to be the source of that rest, reflection, and renewal. Do we allow Him? Do we take advantage of His invitation “to be” in His presence throughout the course of our day? This is accomplished in quiet moments of prayer surrendering to the Lord all that weighs one down. The invitation is to willingly lay at the feet of the Lord all those expectations, demands, responsibilities and challenges that burden. If you surrender to Him in moments throughout the day, you will find rest. At the same time you will be given the grace to carry on with renewed strength and direction. Remember Jesus does not intend to take away your cross. Nevertheless, in that mere moment of surrender, Jesus provides a gentle and loving reminder that He is with you! He will help you carry your cross and He will most definitely lead you to victory.



Action:

Surrender one of the heaviest burdens you have to the Lord today and in gratitude offer one Our Father.

December 12, 2013



Gospel Reading:

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 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.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” –Luke 1:39-47



Reflection:

Mary, the mother of Jesus, always represents much more than herself. Mary brings with her the love of God and the presence of her son, Jesus. In the Gospel, Mary, after receiving the news from the Angel Gabriel, sets out and travels to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth speaks about the infant in her womb leaping for joy. The infant in the womb of Elizabeth not only leaps with joy at the voice of Mary, but more significantly leaps with joy for the one who Mary brings within her. This presence of Jesus is the cause of joy! Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom we celebrate today in the Church, is the story of Mary, which we hear in the Gospel. Until this day, Mary continues to set out and travel into the homes of people throughout the entire world bringing with her the love of God and the presence of Jesus. When we encounter Mary, it is also an encounter with Jesus. The source of our joy is Jesus and Mary would not have it any other way! For this reason, our hearts are full of gratitude for Mary who never relents in bringing to us the love of God and the presence of her son Jesus.



Action:

Pray the joyful mysteries of the Holy Rosary for the intentions of a loved one or someone in need.

December 13, 2013



Gospel Reading:

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” –Matthew 11:16-19


Reflection:

Affirmation is a positive experience. When we are blessed to receive it, we should be grateful. However, there will be times in our lives when the affirmation will not be there. In fact, not only will there be time with no affirmation, there may be moments when we are criticized or ostracized. What then? Do we give up? Today the Gospel hints at the fact that life is not defined by the affirmation or criticism we receive, but by the way we live our lives. In the end, the only person we should strive to please is the Almighty Father. We are pleasing to the Father by simply being our authentic self. When we live authentically and strive to live the will of the Father, this is where we are vindicated. This is where we find meaning and true joy in our lives.



Action:

Pray for those who persecute you.

December 14, 2013


Gospel Reading:

As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. –Matthew 17:9-13



Reflection:

God will never cease from reaching out to His wonderful creation. The perfect example was when God sent His only begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins. In the incarnation of Jesus we see the fullness of God’s love enter the world in the form of an innocent baby boy. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the doors to salvation were open wide to humanity. It is a gift in which we should be eternally grateful. Today in the Gospel we hear Jesus speak of expectations. We all have expectations. We wait for the day to see those expectations come to reality. The danger, while we are waiting, is being so fixated to the results of our own expectations that we close our eyes to the element of surprise. The God we serve is definitely a God of surprises! And so, as we await the fulfillment of the promises of God, we are invited to stay alert! Never close the door to the element of surprise by God because when you leave it open, you will be amazed at the unexpected ways God is at work in your life!



Action:

Be open and alert to surprises from God. Later this evening, reflect and be grateful for God’s surprise for you today. Likewise, don’t forget that you too can share in God’s surprise for another! You can do this by doing an unexpected act of goodness for someone else today.

First Week of Advent - A Spiritual Journey towards Christmas

Discovering the Presence of Christ - Daily Gospel Reflections

December 2, 2013

Gospel Reading:
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. - Matthew 8:5-8

Reflection: 
Discover Jesus in His word. Believe in the power of Jesus' word as did the centurion. Jesus speaks not only to him, but also to us. Do not allow fear or doubt to turn you away from hearing His voice. Place your trust in His healing words.

Action: 
Pray for someone who is need of healing today. Trust in Jesus' words, "I will come to cure him."

December 3, 2013

Gospel Reading:
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” –Luke 10:23-24

Reflection: 
As Disciples of Christ we are privileged to be invited by Jesus to see and hear things differently. This invitation is not to deny the challenges that exist in this world, which is all too often full of chaos, violence, and fear. Rather, it is an invitation, in the midst of the challenges, to encounter the presence of Jesus. Jesus reminds us to discover meaning in the chaos, to seek peace amidst the violence, and to hold firmly to faith in the moments of fear. As disciples we choose to see Jesus’ presence of love, reconciliation and hope. And so when you are confronted with challenges don’t despair. Instead, stop, close your eyes, and take a breath. Then open your eyes to see God’s blessings and open your ears to Jesus’ voice calling on you to be His presence of love, reconciliation and hope in the world all around you.

Action: 
Take a quiet five-minute walk outside. Experience the sights and sounds around you. Name God’s blessings in your life. Then reflect on where Jesus is calling on you to be His presence of love, reconciliation or hope to another person or situation.

December 4, 2013

Gospel Reading:
Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”  Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”  “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. –Matthew 15:32-39

Reflection: 
Discover Jesus in the other. Today Jesus’ heart is moved with pity for the crowd. In today’s world pity is often understood as “feeling sorry” for the other. For Jesus the word pity is much stronger. It is a strong feeling of sympathy for the other; it is having compassion, to suffer with the other. It is when we are weak Jesus looks to nourish us. As disciples we are invited to give what we have to Jesus. We can often find ourselves in what seems to be an impossible situation. Instead of “giving up” Jesus invites us to “give him” what we have. We must not be helpless or hopeless! We serve a God of miracles and Jesus proves to us time and time again he will not only satisfy us, He will go over and beyond to provide us an abundance! In response to our suffering and to the sufferings of others, we must be willing to give whatever we have to Jesus. And when we do, not only will we be satisfied, we will be able to go forth to share the blessings we have received with others.

Action: 
Be compassionate with someone else today. It may be a simple greeting, phone call or an invitation for a meal. Don’t forget to help those who cannot repay you. Perhaps you can prepare a sack lunch or buy a meal for someone homeless or on the street. When we give ourselves in service to others everyone receives.

December 5, 2013

Gospel Reading: 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” –Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Reflection: 

Jesus demands more of his disciples than merely words. Action is fundamental to the life of a Christian. It flows from one’s proclamation of faith, but it does not end there. At the same time discipleship is not about earning some type of credit for any given action. Neither will respond to Jesus’ demand. Disciples must first seek to do the will of the Father. This necessitates listening and discerning in prayer. After prayer we are then sent forth to act in a manner that responds to the will of the Father, which is always to build the Kingdom of Heaven. And so responding to Jesus’ demand requires faith, prayer and action. All three movements must be carried out and be built upon a strong foundation. A foundation that will stand despite the rain, flood and wind that will no doubt come. That foundation is Christ, who perfectly fulfills the will of the Father. Therefore, are you wise enough to heed the words of Jesus and to act on them? If so, you are you building your house on rock. If not, it is time to make some changes by ending the madness of building your house on sand.

Action: 

Build your house on rock! Spend a short time in prayer. After your time in prayer, go forth to do a concrete act that reflects the life of Jesus Christ.

December 6, 2013

Gospel Reading:

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?”  “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. –Matthew 9:27-31

Reflection: 

At every moment of every day Jesus “passes by” our lives. In fact, He is always there to respond to our needs. We can learn from the blind men in the Gospel today. Even though we can “see”, we are often blinded to the presence of Christ around us. We, at times, only see the wrong, the hurt, or the unanswered prayer. This blindness can lead us to feel abandoned, downhearted, unloved. Disciples may get discouraged, but must never give up! For as St. Paul reminds us, we live by faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). And so, as we journey in faith, before we try to figure it all out or give Jesus a laundry list of wants, let us first humbly acknowledge His presence. The two men in the Gospel give us an example as they first acknowledged the presence of Jesus by saying, “Son of David, have pity on us”. Their faith brought them to an encounter with Jesus. We must do the same and when we do, we too, will be in a place to hear the Lord say to us, “Do you believe that I can do this?” Our response should be, “Yes Lord”.

Action: 

Acknowledge Jesus’ presence with a heartfelt prayer. Then make a request to the Lord. After the request, hear him ask you, “Do you believe that I can do this?” Let your response be “Yes Lord!”

December 7, 2013

Gospel Reading:

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.  At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” –Matthew 9:35-38

Reflection: 

We hear in the Gospel that Jesus went around to all the towns and villages. Imagine for a moment Jesus walking around your life. Walking with you in your home, school, work or daily activities. As he goes about the day, what does He see? Does He find himself at the center of your day? Or does Jesus find himself in and out of the picture? Jesus is the Good Shepherd looking to care for His sheep. He walks around your life because it bothers Him to see when you are troubled or abandoned. He comes to teach, to proclaim joys of the Kingdom and to bring healing to your life. In the hustle and bustle of life, you need reminders of His presence. You need voices that point you to Him and that challenge you to keep Jesus at the center of your day. Jesus gives us a Church with pastors to be that voice. Recently Jesus’ Vicar on Earth, Pope Francis, reminded us, “To follow Jesus means putting him first, and stripping ourselves of all that oppresses our hearts.” Let us always make Jesus the center of our lives. Let Him teach us, proclaim to us the joys of His Kingdom and to heal us of all that burdens.

Action: 

Spend some quiet time reflecting on how you can make Jesus the center of your life. What is one concrete action you can do each day to ensure you keep Jesus at the center of your life?