Praying through Advent -- 2006

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2006 Advent Calendar
Tuesday
Take a moment today to listen to Christmas carols as a joyful symbol of the season.

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Tuesday, December 19
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

Need to Know

What is God doing here? What is the plan? These are the questions that arise as we progress in our life of prayer. We know that he has a plan – but how does it all come together? There is in our human nature a seemingly unquenchable “need to know,” a demand to see the breadth of his providential plan and the way we fit into it. When the angel came to Zechariah to announce that his barren wife, Elizabeth, would soon be with child, Zechariah asked that same question: “How shall I know this?” For this querying, for the expression of his lack of faith, Zechariah was struck dumb. How different is that other annunciation where Mary, too, asks a question of the angel: “ How can this be since I have no relations with a man?” But, unlike Zechariah, Mary does not seek to know. She simply wants to be true to her own virginal purity. Her life is utter abandonment to God, trusting that God’s will is one with his fatherly love. Let us, in these days of Mary’s journey to Bethlehem, join her in her total acceptance. Let us not demand reasons, but seek an ever-deeper trust in our Father’s plan for us.

Reflection based on Luke 1:5-25
Lisa Lickona

Loving Father, deepen my trust in your plan for me.

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	December 20 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  [Luke 1:27 -31] Reflection What should Christians look like to the world in which we live? How could other people know by our words and actions that we are followers of Christ? What should make us distinctive and stand out from non-Christians? How can we be the light of the world and the salt of the earth as our Lord says we should be? Advent Action If we are to teach by example, make plans to teach someone  during the Holiday season. A child or friend could learn by your actions. Prayer Lord, clarify my vision that I may see You in others and sense You within my own soul.

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2006 Advent Calendar
Wednesday
Desginate or decorate a special candle as your "Jesus Candle." Think about how Jesus brings us the "Light of the World" on Christmas Day. Say a special prayer of anticipation.

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Wednesday, December 20
Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

The Light that Is a Mystery

In the beginning of his Gospel, John beautifully synthesizes Advent and Christmas: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (Jn 1:9) Advent is when we await this light; Christmas is when we celebrate this light. The lights around our houses and on our trees are reminders of this true light. The first moment this light broke into the darkness was when Jesus entered Mary’s womb. A virgin’s womb has no reason to expect the presence of a child. Yet into this dark enclosure comes the child who is the light of the human race. Our Christmas lights are noble but pale images of this true light. Our lights come from electricity or flame. The source of this light is a Mystery. This Mystery would come to be known as Father through the human face of the Son of God who would call this Virgin his Mother. This familiarity of God with us is the good news of Christianity. It is what we want to await with eyes wide open during Advent. Let us seek this light even, and especially, in those situations where we least expect it. For it all began with a poor virgin in a small town whose “Yes” brought about the fulfillment of the promise of a King whose kingdom, and whose light, would last for ever.

Reflection based on Luke 1:26-38
Father Richard Veras

Loving Father, do not let me be overcome by the darkness in my life. In Mary, help me to claim the light.

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	December 21 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty Savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. (Zephaniah 3:17) Reflection The reading from Zephaniah expresses in poetic language the boundless love God has for each of us. In some translations the words say "God will exult over you!" It is surely God’s desire that someday we will all be with Him in heaven. No matter what happened before, God is ready each moment to show us this love. The words of Zephaniah and our celebration of Christmas should bring us to a deeper awareness of how profound is God’s love for us. Advent Action Send a get-well card to someone in the hospital. Prayer O come, O Dayspring from on high And cheer us by your drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

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2006 Advent Calendar
Thursday
Set up your Nativity set or creche. (The Christ Child will be added Christmas Eve.) Imagine yourself in the scene and think about how you would act if you were there. Say a prayer.

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Thursday, December 21
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

The Bearer of God

Yesterday we gazed on Mary as with all the power of her spirit she accepted God’s call to be the mother of his Son. Today, the Church places all of us in the position of Elizabeth watching as Mary approaches over the hills bearing Jesus. “Hark, my lover – here he comes/springing across the mountains,/ leaping across the hills…../My lover speaks; he says to me,” ‘Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come’…../’O my dove in the clefts of the rock,/ in the secret recesses of the cliff,/ Let me see you,/ let me hear your voice./ For your voice is sweet,/ and you are lovely’”….(See Song of Songs 2:8-24). Jesus comes to us through Mary; he tells us that he loves us and that he wants to hear our voice. He wants to listen to our spirit as we talk to him. Finally, we can join with Mary and the Church as they sing to him on this day: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of the eternal light, sun of justice, come shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Or perhaps we can let him hear the voice of our heart and our lips: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord: / my spirit rejoices in God my savior!” Ask Mary, the bearer of God to visit you today.

Reflection based on Luke 1:29-48
Father Francis Martin

Loving Father, give me the eagerness of Elizabeth as I await the coming of your Son whose love banishes all my misery.

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	December 22 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." (Luke 1:46) Reflection Mary says that she is lowly, and also that all will call her blessed. How can both of these things be true? Mary’s lowliness was transformed by her faith in God’s promise as given to her by the angel. Through this faith she became the most exalted of God’s servants. Do we let God work with and transform our lives? Or, do we use our own "lowliness" as an excuse for inaction? Christmas is a beautiful time for re-inviting God into our lives and letting His power transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Advent Action Make a "mini-retreat" to prepare for Christmas. Read the first and second chapters of Luke’s Gospel and spend some time reflecting on the story of Jesus’ birth and early life. Prayer O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of humankind; O bid our sad divisions cease  And be for us our King of Peace.

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2006 Advent Calendar
Friday
Gather some friends and neighbors and go Christmas caroling at a nursing home or homeless shelter.

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Friday, December 22
Friday of the Third Week of Advent

The Song after Silence

The Magnificat of the Virgin Mary may have been the first words uttered by Mary after a silence that possessed her soul following the annunciation. She made a hard journey to her cousin, Elizabeth, in haste, as the Gospel says, and we can surmise from the burst of these beautiful words from her lips that the spirit of this prayer accompanied that long dusty journey. The Magnificat is indeed stunning in its beauty, like Mary herself, so much so that the whole Church repeats it at every evening vespers, allowing us to gaze inward at the heart of our Mother. Above all we can be moved by the sense of humble awe at God’s favor that filled Mary. We ought to let our Virgin Mother teach us to make this prayer our own, beginning with the opening verse: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.” How merciful God is, and how privileged we are to be invited to draw close to him, even in our lowliness. Christmas is a mere three days away. Let us spend some of these hours in companionship with Mary in her humble silence, knowing her love for us and her desire that we turn with great open-hearted desire toward her newborn Son on Christmas morning.

Reflection based on Luke 1:46-56
Father Donald Haggerty

Loving Father, despite my lowliness, let the favor of my desire honor you and prepare me for your Son’s birth.

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	December 23 Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1) Reflection For children, these last days of waiting are probably the hardest. The goal is in sight now, but it is still far enough away to make the wait seem endless. When we are grown, waiting for Christmas is not a major problem. Nevertheless, as the day approaches even grownups feel the urgency in the air. As we anticipate the celebration of Christmas, let us look around us. Are those around us anticipating joy and happiness or loneliness and depression? Advent Action Find someone who is not anticipating the holiday with joy and attempt to brighten their outlook. Prayer O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appears.

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2006 Advent Calendar
Saturday
The holidays can be a lonely time for anyone who is alone. Today offer someone some companionship.

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Friday, December 23
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Recognizing Greatness

The Gospel today tells us that all those who heard about John the Baptist’s birth (and his father’s transformation when it came time to name him) wondered at the story and asked what this child would become, “For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” They understood that the Lord was working through this small child and his family; they perceived their God through the signs he placed in the world. The Lord had shown great mercy to John’s aged, barren mother. He had silenced Zechariah for doubting. And then the Lord freed Zechariah’s tongue for recognizing his greatness. God gave clear signs to his people that this was someone they needed to watch. Truly this is the great invitation that John’s birth signals – an invitation to recognize the Lord through his signs, and to gaze attentively at what his hand has wrought. John is a perpetual, continual, sign for each of us.

Reflection based on Luke 1:57-66
Rebecca Vitz Cherico

Loving Father, you fill my life with signs so that I might live with certainty before your Presence. Make me more sensitive to your every grace.

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	December 24 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people. (Luke 1:68) Reflection As soon as Jesus was born, visitors began to come. First it was the shepherds. Then the wise men. Then Simeon and Anna. Then even the soldiers of Herod were sent to find Him. Together these visitors represent the people of every nation, coming by every possible path and conveyance to see Christ.  These words of Zechariah’s Canticle, cited above, remind us that it was impossible to contain God in heaven. Through Jesus, He "visited" and "brought redemption" to us. He continues through Jesus and through us to dwell in our world today. When people look at us, do they think of Jesus? Advent Action Thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus. Prayer Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel. Lord, may we rejoice that Jesus Christ is born anew in our hearts and in our home. Amen.

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2006 Advent Calendar
Sunday
Light all four candles in the Advent wreath tonight. Reread today's Gospel readings, Luke 1:39-45. Place the Child Jesus in your Nativity Scene tonight.

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The purest of Virgins gave us our God, who was this day born of her, clothed in the flesh of a Babe, and she was found worthy to feed him at her Breast: let us all adore Christ, who came to save us. Ye faithful people, let us all rejoice, for our Savior is born in our world: this Day there has been born the Son of the great Mother, and she yet a pure Virgin. O Queen of the world, and Daughter of a kingly race! Christ has risen from thy womb, as a Bridegroom coming from the bride-chamber: He that rules the stars lies in a Crib. — Antiphon from the ancient Church of Gaul Day One activity Day One recipe (Breton Nut Bread)