First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3A, 6-8 Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the son of man who holds to it; Who keeps the sabbath free from profanation, and his hand from any evildoing. Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the LORD, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, Loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants– All who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, Them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: Others will I gather to him besides those already gathered. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8 R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you! May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. R. O God, let all the nations praise you! May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. R. O God, let all the nations praise you! The earth has yielded its fruits; God, our God, has blessed us. May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! R. O God, let all the nations praise you! Gospel: John 5:33-36 Jesus said to the Jews: “You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” NAB These days, I look out the window in the evenings and have to check the clock—it feels so much later than it is. As the last bits of sunlight are gobbled up by shadow, my heart sinks. How long, O Lord? How many more minutes will darkness consume before the balance shifts, before daylight fights its way back to take a bigger slice of the twenty-four hour pie? Why must minutes spent in the dark drag on forever? These weeks can feel like the darkest of the year in more ways than one. When the world around us seems filled with conflict and anger and bad news on every channel and on every street corner, it sometimes feels impossible to find any light at all. The people living when Jesus was born might have felt this way, too. Theirs was a time of political unrest, oppression, and darkness. When Saint John the Baptist came to testify to Jesus’ coming, his words of prophecy glowed against the dark backdrop like a lamp, casting light into the world and pushing back the shadows a bit. People crowded around to be near that light, longing for a little relief from the ever-present darkness. Still, it wasn’t enough . . . just like putting out strand after strand of twinkling lights isn’t enough to push back the darkness now. The world just needed Jesus. No little lamp is enough to illuminate the darkness we now face. What we need now is still the same Light of the World. That same, One, True Light is the only one who can fix this darkness for us. We’re not so different from the people of Jesus’ time. Injustice and oppression move in our shadows, too. We still fear the dark. We still feel alone. We still need hope, and the only one who can give it to us is Jesus. The poet Wendell Berry said, “It gets darker and darker and darker, and then Jesus is born.” Take heart. Keep faith. He’s coming. Sometimes a lamp isn’t enough to fix the darkness . . . but it can help us push it back a little until Jesus gets here. Think of a way this week that you can be a lamp in the darkness, holding out the light until Jesus comes. [bctt tweet="We still need hope, and the only one who can give it to us is Jesus. // @dere_abbey"] What can you do to help lighten the shadows in someone else’s life? Abbey Dupuy writes her life as a homeschooling mama of four while relying on coffee and grace. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 54:1-10 Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear, Break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor, For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband, says the LORD. Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes. For you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left; your descendants shall dispossess the nations and shall people the desolate cities. Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. The LORD calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, A wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer. This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30:2 AND 4, 5-6, 11-12A AND 13B R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing. R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. “Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me; O LORD, be my helper.” You changed my mourning into dancing; O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks. R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Gospel: Luke 7:24-30 When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see B a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you. I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” (All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.) NAB The season of Advent is well underway and the world around us is likely bubbling with Christmas cheer. However, today’s First Reading is a reminder that, for some, the Christmas season may not be as joyful as they’d like. The Prophet Isaiah uses various forms of imagery to portray a woman in anguish—being childless or without a husband, having a shameful past, and generally feeling grieved and abandoned. How many of us have experienced that grief at one time in our lives—or perhaps even now? When I was single, the holidays were enjoyable but there was still a pain and longing in my heart for a vocation I felt called to but saw no answer in sight. After I married, we longed for a child but another Christmas passed without the gleeful giggles of a baby. Still years later, as everyone was joyfully singing songs of Gloria at Mass, I was holding back the tears as I worried about the cancer that was residing in my husband at the time. This Advent, those painful times are now memories tucked away in my heart but I know that there are some of you reading this experiencing pain that is very real—loneliness, grief, wounds of abuse, shame from past mistakes, marital issues, health problems, financial worries, or physical and emotional exhaustion. Like Jesus on the cross, you may be asking, “Father, why have you abandoned me?” However, today’s First Reading assures us that although it may feel like God has turned away from us, in reality He is saying, “Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Let this Christmas be a reminder to you that your Savior has come. The Christ Child wants to reside in your heart, casting out the darkness and filling it with light and peace. Embrace Him. Let Him begin to heal your hurt. [bctt tweet="Christ wants to cast out the darkness and fill it with light and peace. // @bobbi_rol"] Take some time today to pour out your troubles to God, your Father. Let Him comfort you. Or is there someone in your life that is going through a difficult time this Christmas season? Pray for them and let them know you are thinking about them. Do something kind to lift their spirits. photo credit Bobbi Rol is a wife, a mama of four and a blogger learning to love God in the midst of dishes, laundry and swinging light sabers. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church First Reading: Isaiah 45:6C-8, 18, 21C-25 I am the LORD, there is no other; I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things. Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, The creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other. Who announced this from the beginning and foretold it from of old? Was it not I, the LORD, besides whom there is no other God? There is no just and saving God but me. Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other! By myself I swear, uttering my just decree and my unalterable word: To me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, Saying, “Only in the LORD are just deeds and power. Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger against him. In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14 R. (Isaiah 45:8) Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior. I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior. Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior. The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior. Gospel: Luke 7:18B-23 At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” NAB I love Christmas. When I was young, I lived for seeing the gifts being placed under the tree. I loved helping my mom bake the cookies we only made during Christmas season. I took so much joy in finding the perfect gifts for my family members. And, then, on Christmas Eve, I rarely slept, dreaming of what the next day would bring. Today, it’s a bit different. Instead of joy in finding the perfect gift for all of the recipients, I often find myself anxious, never thinking I’m getting it right. Instead of the peaceful weeks of Advent leading up to the splendor of Christmas morning, I’m baking dozens of cookies, wanting to make sure and get every fun holiday-themed craft in, going from one day to the next marking things off the list while not forgetting our new traditions, and still worrying that I’m not doing enough, that it’s not special enough, that I’m missing the point of it all. Sadly, I’ve discovered, I am. Then God speaks through the Psalm making it all so very clear: “Let the clouds reign down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.” A Savior. In eleven short days, we will celebrate the birth of He who has come to save us from ourselves. It will not matter to Him if we’ve made Christmas cookies or not. He will not care if we celebrated every single day of Advent in a unique and special way or if we never even bought a wreath. Our Just One will remind us that He came into this world in the mess of a pen of animals, surrounded by nothing more than His parents, and all was well. He has come and comes again on this Christmas to save us . . . from our worries, anxieties, loneliness, and fears. He will save us from any and all things that keep the joy from our hearts as we prepare for His coming. He has come to save us from the idea that what we do will make for a perfect Christmas, and instead teach us that it is all in whom we serve. Eleven more days. We can choose to remain wrapped up in the idea of a perfect Christmas, or we can let Him save us from the unnecessary and find solace in only opening our hearts to the joy of His coming. [bctt tweet="He'll save us from any thing that keeps the joy from our hearts as we prepare for His coming."] Come, my Savior. photo credit Britt Fisk is the wife of Jeremy and mother of five young kids. She spends her days living simply in the-middle-of-nowhere-New Mexico helping with the family beef cattle operation. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr First Reading: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Thus says the LORD: Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city! She hears no voice, accepts no correction; In the LORD she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near. For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, That they all may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one accord; From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings. On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD: the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 AND 23 R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.” NAB His astonishment was palpable. Even though my scholar had read every word, even though he’d faithfully answered every study guide question and could spit them back, he bombed the test. Essays. The test asked him to write what he knew from his own understanding and apply it to his life. When we read today’s Gospel, we wonder if we’re being set up for a trick question. Even though the Pharisees answer correctly, Jesus compares them unfavorably to harlots and tax collectors. The chief priests, the tax collectors, and the harlots all heard Saint John the Baptist’s teaching. They all knew the lessons. The Pharisees bragged that they were faithful to God’s teaching, but they refused to believe the Baptist. They knew it, but they didn’t own it. The tax collectors and harlots made the teaching their own. They saw the truth connections. They let it change their lives. You can have encyclopedic knowledge of what righteousness is, but until your heart directs your hands to do whatever He tells you, you don’t have the right answer to the critical question of salvation. It is important to know God’s law. It is vital to learn the faith, but it is all for naught if we don’t do God’s will. We are not saved by knowledge. It is not enough to recognize God as Lord and Savior. Later in this Gospel, Saint Matthew makes that very clear: “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) My young scholar knew all the answers. He could have cited chapter and verse of his text. If the questions had been framed differently, he would have gotten a perfect score on that test. But the teacher wanted more. The teacher wanted him to know that the answers required something of him. The truth wasn’t really his until he made it his own. It’s not enough to tell the Father that we will certainly do what He asks. We have to want what He wants. We have to understand His will in such a way that we don’t walk away from it. We have to let it change us. [bctt tweet="We have to understand His will in such a way that we don’t walk away from it. // @elizabethfoss"] Don’t just know what He wants. Tell your head to make your hands do whatever He tells you. Ask the Holy Spirit for the strength and grace to actually do it. Elizabeth Foss is a wife, the mother of nine, and a grandmother. She finds the cacophony of big family imperfection to be the perfect place to learn to walk in the unforced rhythms of grace. You can learn more about her here.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe First Reading: Zechariah 2:14-17 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem. Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling. Responsorial Psalm: JDT 13:18BCDE, 19 R. (15:9d) You are the highest honor of our race. 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. R. You are the highest honor of our race. Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God. R. You are the highest honor of our race. Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 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. NAB The Blessed Virgin Mary said in today's Gospel, in an act of radical faith, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Without hesitating, she accepted the Holy Spirit and all the messenger angel shared—fully and completely. Even though it was difficult and would change her life and the entire world, forever. This unknown gift, this unforeseeable path for her, she truly embraced. On a profoundly smaller scale, when I was in high school, I had an unforgettable experience where I felt I faced an unknown gift and learned to embrace it, too. I was about fifteen years old and in the throws of finding out about life. I wondered what to wear. I wondered how to act. It is a challenging age. I wanted to simultaneously fit in and stand out. I wanted to be unique, as long as I was not too unique. Everything seemed too big. Too hard. Too much. But I had a safe space. On Saturday evenings, I went to our youth Mass followed by Life Teen. It was the highlight of my week. After an intense school week, I found comfort in my circle of friends there. I learned about Jesus, His message, and how to be faith-filled in the world. I struggled with the message at times, but it shaped me in those years. But I had this weight on my heart. I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was failing. I would break down in tears while I prayed, begging to know why I felt this immense weight on my shoulders and my heart. At times I would feel these intense waves of sadness, fear, anxiety, and worry. I did not know where it was coming from. I did not know how to deal with it. One night, while we were praying the Rosary at Life Teen, I completely broke down. I was sobbing, uncontrollably. One of our core members, a sweet older woman, took me aside, wrapped me up in her arms and said, Samantha, I am sensing something in you. You have a gift. You have a gift of the Holy Spirit. You feel what others are feeling. You take on what they feel. It is a gift. Wait, what? A gift? I did not think it was a gift. I thought it was a curse. I did not want to feel the emotions of others. I was not ready for it. Over ten years later and I still remember what that kind friend said to me. I fought it for years. I rebelled against it. I tried to numb it. But finally, I have embraced it. I allow others to affect me—their joys AND their woes. I am still learning how to utilize this gift and I still wonder why it happens. But I accept that it is a gift. A weighty gift. I turned to Our Lady and reflected on what she endured and how her amazing gift of being the Mother of God changed all of our lives. [bctt tweet="May we all accept what is sent to us, especially when it is hard. // @Substance_Soul"] May we all accept what is sent to us—even when it is hard. Especially when it is hard. And know Our Mother has gone before us, sisters. photo credit Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife, mom of two, and dentist currently living in The Bay Area, California. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6A, 10 The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 R. (cf. Is 35:4) Lord, come and save us. The LORD God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. R. Lord, come and save us. The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down. The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers. R. Lord, come and save us. The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. R. Lord, come and save us. Second Reading: James 5:7-10 Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 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.” NAB “If it happened then, it’s happening now.” Our Scripture professor repeated these words over and over to the class throughout the semester. This was his refrain to teach us the truth of Scripture: the Word is not captured on the page or contained in the past. No, our teacher told us over and over. If it happened in Scripture, it’s happening now, too. Scripture’s stories are testimonies to how God continues to work in the world—not just in ancient history, but in the present tense. Today’s readings emphasize this truth through Jesus’ own words. When asked by Saint John the Baptist whether He is the one the people have been waiting for, Jesus invokes the Prophet Isaiah as proof. Go and tell what you hear and see, He says. All the wonders that the Prophet foretold (the same that we sing in today’s Psalm, too) are happening before the people’s eyes. Through Jesus’ work in the world, God gives food to the hungry, sight to the blind, freedom to captives, protection to strangers, and justice to the oppressed. If it happened then, it’s happening now. The risen Christ is at work in the world in powerful ways. God’s Spirit is still on the move. We know this, because in our own lives, we have experienced this truth, too. We have been deaf to God’s voice, but now we learn to hear. We have been blind to truth, but we begin to see. We have stumbled to walk in God’s way, but now we are strengthened and healed. Our world is full of darkness, full of hatred and fear, full of people who are blind and deaf to God’s love. What are we to do as disciples, the ones who seek to follow Christ today? Isaiah instructs us: “Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God . . . he comes to save you.” The psalmist sings for us: “Lord, come and save us.” James encourages us: “You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm.” And Advent reminds us that behold, God is still breaking into our world, still asking to be born in our hearts. If it happened then, it’s happening now. What good news does God want you to go and tell? [bctt tweet="What good news does God want you to go and tell? // @laurakfanucci"] When have you been able to see after being blind? When have you been raised up? What in your life has been healed by God? Reflect on one way that God has transformed your life. Imagine who might need to hear the beauty of your witness. Laura Kelly Fanucci is a mother, writer, and theological researcher. She and her husband are raising three little boys in the suburban wilds of Minnesota. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:2AC AND 3B, 15-16, 18-19 R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hearken, From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power. R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see; Take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong. R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. May your help be with the man of your right hand, with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Gospel: Matthew 17:9A, 10-13 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. NAB Today’s Gospel makes me think of a handful of moments/decisions/encounters I had as a young, searching, unformed Catholic. Like those Israelites who didn’t recognize Saint John the Baptist, I didn’t recognize them at the time as the truly foundational and transformative experiences they turned out to be. When my sister insisted that we visit every moldy old church in Europe on our college backpacking trip, I found comfort in the familiarity of the Mass . . . even though I hadn’t been attending regularly at home. Did it turn me into a faithful Catholic overnight? Or in a year? Unfortunately, no. But the beauty and familiarity of finding my Catholic faith in many strange lands planted seeds that did, eventually, grow. A couple years later, I accepted the challenge of a priest to attend Mass daily during Lent, even though my Sunday attendance (still) hadn’t been exactly stellar. I made it all forty-six days in a row (including Sundays) and haven’t missed a Sunday Mass since. I do like a challenge. My now-husband and I were faced with the reality of the Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception and human sexuality, for the very first time, on our engaged encounter. I shared about our decision in this devotion. At the time it felt straight-up nuts. But I look back now and I realize that that married couple who shared their personal experiences with a roomful of eye-rolling twenty-somethings, that physician who explained how various forms of contraception actually work, Janet Smith on an old cassette tape that we listened to sitting in a car in a parking garage (because who has tape players?) . . . all of them were Saint John the Baptist to me. All of them were begging me to get my act together, and ready my heart for Jesus. I didn’t recognize them at the time, but, by the grace of God, they did their job anyway. [bctt tweet="The beauty and familiarity of finding my Catholic faith in many strange lands planted seeds that did, eventually, grow. // @kendra_tierney"] Who was or is that person crying out to you from the desert? Who can help you prepare the way of the Lord, and make His paths straight? Kendra Tierney is wife to a good man and mother to eight pretty good kids. Together they are fixing up a tumbledown hundred year old house. She's a writer, and a blogger, and a graphic designer, and a homeschooler, and a regular schooler. Her word art is available here. Her book, A Little Book About Confession for Children, is available here. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 48:17-19 Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea; Your descendants would be like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, Their name never cut off or blotted out from my presence. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6 R. (see John 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers. R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19 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.” NAB "To what shall I compare this generation?" Today's Gospel reminds us that the words of Christ are cross-generational. Our generation . . . maybe not like children in a marketplace but not much different, right? When I read this, it's easy to turn to the default reaction fed by my own concupiscence — "Wow, look at THIS generation; look at THAT generation." But Jesus is not asking me to evaluate who and how these people were or how our own generation is. I don't think He is asking that from you, either. I read this Gospel over again, and I think, "How often am I the scoffer, how often is it me?" When I look at our generation, trying to figure out how we relate to each other, I find many revelations. Some things that are ugly in my own heart, too. Accusations, expectations, judgments, bitterness. They're all there. Living out this beautiful faith is a continuous editing process, a never-ending revision meeting, a way to look into the heart of Christ and into the lives of the Saints and say, "Jesus—what is it you ask of me?" Not them, not my generation, but me, personally. Turn inward, once again, again, and again, holding these words up to your heart like a candle to a stained glass window. Allow our Lord to reveal your defects, and your bad habits, and accept them all. And then allow Him to love you and to change you. Go back into the world—our homes, our work, our social media, our marketplace, with generous hearts soft and ready to love. [bctt tweet="Allow our Lord to love you and to change you."] Have you looked inside before taking a judgmental stance outwardly? In this season of Advent, how can you soften for our Baby Jesus? photo credit Blythe Fike is the wife of Kirby and mother of 7 smallish kids. She loves the quiet life in small town SoCal. You can find out more about her here.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4 R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Brothers and sisters: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 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. NAB Today is my favorite celebration of the Church year. I once mistook it as a day to honor Christ’s divine conception, but it's actually a celebration of our Blessed Mother's conception—a reflection on the mystical moment that our Lord both created and redeemed a humble maiden, all so she could one day be worthy to carry our Savior in her own womb. Why care so much about the Blessed Virgin Mary's conception? She's a mere human. Shouldn't it be all about God? It starts with the First Reading: Adam and Eve. They were God’s dream team, created to share with Him in Paradise. But by choosing to follow Satan's lies instead of trusting God's directions about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve rejected the headship of God. In doing so, they dragged all of humanity with them into the darkness of their free choice and their bitter fall from grace. But our merciful God, He who created our hearts for His own, gave us another chance to choose Him above our selfish selves. He assembled a new dream team, a new Eve who could bring forth a new Adam, a literal re-birth of God and His headship into our desperate, broken world. Yet this new Eve, this Mary of Nazareth, humble handmaiden that she was, could not by her own merit overcome the inherited broken nature set into motion by Adam and Eve. She needed our God. It was He who chose to pre-redeem Mary at the moment of her conception, that she might be worthy, body and soul, to bear the God-son. God, in his wisdom, ordained every minuscule detail of this crucial preparation—long before science ever “discovered” it was Mary's own DNA which directly gave Christ His human body, long before we understood the permanent cellular connection of mother and child in the discovery of microchimerism, meaning that Mary's body, beyond housing the Holy Spirit and the God-son for nine months, was sinless and immaculate enough down to the most basic cellular level to house the cells of God for the rest of her life. Through her pre-redemption, God reinstated the preternatural gifts squandered by Adam and Eve, enabling Mary to accept God’s perfect will above her own. Allowing her to humbly say yes to a plan which would require more strength than mere broken human will could bear, a plan which would ask her again and again to break her heart and embrace insufferable suffering, and watch her own Son die for the sake of the world's salvation. Yes, for all these reasons, God facilitated the Immaculate Conception, so that where Eve said no, Mary could choose to say yes. Far from this day being all about Mary, it all boils down to God’s love for you and me—gifting us as sin-filled humans in a mind-blowing way with another chance to join Him in eternity. [bctt tweet="Even more than this day being all about Mary, it all boils down to God’s love for you and me."] Mary’s singular role on earth in and heaven is to point us to what God has done for mankind. She never fails to acknowledge the eternal debt of gratitude that she—and we—owe to our redeeming Savior. On this Holy Day of Obligation, let’s honor her example by remembering that, like her, we can’t do it on our own; we need to accept God’s grace and love above our own will in order to live our fullest life. Megan Hjelmstad is a wife, mom, writer and sometimes soldier whose real passion is equal parts faith and chocolate. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church First Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31 To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. 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 as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 AND 10 R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul! Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. R. O bless the Lord, my soul! He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. R. O bless the Lord, my soul! Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. R. O bless the Lord, my soul! Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30 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.” NAB I was sitting in the confessional with tears streaming down my face as the priest handed me a Bible and asked if I wanted to read a few verses out loud. It was November 15, 2014, and I was serving as a chaperone for my parish's annual Confirmation retreat. Nodding a “yes” since I wasn’t familiar with the Zephaniah 3:14-20 passage he had mentioned and to hopefully regain my composure before facing the students, I thumbed through the pages and began reading: “Shout for joy, daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against you . . . ." My hopes to gain composure were tarnished as the tears started falling even harder, but this time the tears were filled with something else: peace. It was in reading this passage about God's great mercy that I was finally able to let go of one of the deepest wounds and sufferings I'd ever experienced—an eating disorder that I had battled years earlier. Thanking the priest for sharing this Scriptural gem with me, I left the confessional feeling like a boulder had been lifted. Today’s readings made me think back to this experience as they are filled with countless examples of God’s unending love and mercy. In Isaiah's First Reading we read about the Lord giving strength to the fainting and to those who hope in Him. In the Psalm we find the Lord pardoning iniquities and healing ills. And lastly in the Gospel we hear Jesus encouraging all of us who labor and are burdened to come to Him, so that He can give us rest. What a truly loving and merciful God we have! My dear sisters, I want to remind you that there is no sin or wound that the Lord doesn’t want to heal. Whether it's asking to heal a broken relationship or an addiction: let Him help you. Whether it's asking for more trust in His plan for your life or to remove insecurities you have about your role as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, or friend: let Him help you. Never forget that He wants to give you rest, and He wants to give you wings so you can soar, but we have to let Him help us. What wound are you carrying in your heart that you want to offer up to the Lord today? [bctt tweet="There is no sin or wound that the Lord doesn’t want to heal."] As you reflect on the wounds in your life, recall the words of Saint Ambrose whose feast day we celebrate today and pray: “Lord, I show you my wounds, and I let you see my shame. Knowing my sins are many and great, I have reason to fear. But I trust in your mercies, for they are beyond all numbering.” Amen. Joan Geiger is a North Dakota native and newlywed, and in her spare time she can be found going on adventures with her husband, working as a Registered Dietitian, and learning to play the ukulele. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. A voice says, “Cry out!” I answer, “What shall I cry out?” “All flesh is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. So then, the people is the grass. Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever.” Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2, 3 AND 10AC, 11-12, 13 R. (see Isaiah 40:10ab) The Lord our God comes with power. Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name; announce his salvation, day after day. R. The Lord our God comes with power. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. Say among the nations: The LORD is king; he governs the peoples with equity. R. The Lord our God comes with power. 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. R. The Lord our God comes with power. They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. R. The Lord our God comes with power. Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14 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.” NAB I moved to a brand new city for graduate school and my first year of teaching. Being alone with an endless spiral of tasks left me feeling incredibly overwhelmed. I also began to feel a little stuck in my spiritual life, becoming embarrassed that my feeble attempts at prayer were either flooded with distractions or lost to sleep. I remember driving back to my little apartment after Christmas break and relating to Jesus that something needed to change in order for me to survive the rest of the year. Jesus, I need you. Jesus, I need you to help me. In the silence of that dark night, a deep peace flooded my heart and I heard His gentle words, “You are not alone. I am here with you. I will help you. I delight in you. I delight in the way you love my little ones.” His tender words brought such comfort. My heart relaxed into receiving His love. When the poor little sheep in today’s Gospel found herself all alone, she received the compassion of the Good Shepherd. Can you relate? Have you let Him find you, feeling His merciful gaze on your heart? Have you let Him rejoice over you? Jesus' gift of comfort to me that night continued the next morning when I read a new email about the start of a Catholic young adults group near me. I was not very familiar with Adoration, but I joined them for a Holy Hour each week. Going to Adoration during the week continued my participation in Sunday's liturgy and deepened my love for the Blessed Sacrament. Here, I received the comfort of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. Here, I learned how to bring my burdens to Him and find rest. Here, I began to trust Him even more. [bctt tweet="Jesus, I need you. Jesus, I need you to help me. "] In this beautiful season of Advent, let us create a little more time for prayer so that our hearts will be prepared to adore the Good Shepherd who seeks, finds, comforts, and delights in us. Rose Coleman is a contemplative in action who delights in all things beautiful. Her adventurous heart has traveled many places—from circumnavigating the globe on a ship during college to some years in the convent as a religious sister. Exuberant from her childhood, she is an elementary school teacher who learns so much from her students. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10 The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; The abode where jackals lurk will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it. No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14 R. (Isaiah 35:4f) Our God will come to save us! I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Our God will come to save us! Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. R. Our God will come to save us! The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. R. Our God will come to save us! Gospel: Luke 5:17-26 One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.” NAB I’ve always been a do-it-myself kind of girl. I used to think that’s because I was fiercely independent and capable, now I know it’s because asking for help made me feel vulnerable and needy. And so I insisted on doing all the things all by myself, until one morning I tripped and fell—rather painfully—going up a flight of stairs. Arms loaded with numerous bags, books, and electronic devices all precariously balanced, I couldn’t catch myself and slammed into the jagged wooden steps. The message was about as hard to ignore as my skinned knees and the throbbing in my shoulder: You can’t carry everything. I had a lot to learn from the man today in Saint Luke’s Gospel. He allowed himself to be carried by his friends into the presence of Jesus for the purpose of being helped. That's asking for help twice. Too often, when I meditate on this miracle, I identify with the man’s friends. I am comfortable in the role of helper—even fed by it. But the joy of giving to our friends, families, and work can only sustain us for so long. And pretty soon we’re running on fumes. It’s in this place of need that I sense an invitation: to stop striving, stop pretending we’ve got it all under control, and ask for help. Because, sister, you can’t carry everything. Sometimes you need to be carried. As I sat in Adoration with this Scripture, for the first time I saw myself as the paralyzed man. I felt both anxious and thrilled. There was some embarrassment there, too. Am I too heavy? Too much? Can Jesus heal me? Will He? But using my imagination, I listened in on the expectant, jubilant conversations of my friends. I felt myself being supported by their strong hands and I looked into the compassionate eyes of Jesus as I lay helpless before Him. All of the fear and questioning subsided. I was loved. As it turns out, being helped by those we love doesn’t mean that we are weak, it means that we are loved. [bctt tweet="Being helped by those we love doesn’t mean that we are weak, it means that we are loved."] Do you have a heart-sister with whom you can share your burdens? Thank God for her and simply soak up the memory of being loved by God through a friend. Beth Davis is a lover of Jesus, an aunt to five beautiful humans, and a full time youth minister in Flagstaff, Arizona. She is passionate about winning the hearts of young people for Jesus through discipleship. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 R. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; he shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun his name shall remain. In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9 Brothers and sisters: Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name. Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 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.” NAB Justice is a main theme in today's readings, but it can be a tricky concept to grapple with. We tend to equate justice with the idea of fairness, and fairness is seen as either total equality or, alternatively, it is giving people what they specifically need. Many people also see justice as someone getting what they deserve for a wrongful action. Or justice can be protecting what is right. So, with all of these ideas of what is just, what is fair, and what is equal —when justice is such a subjective idea—how do we know what is truly just? How can we agree? In today’s Second Reading, Saint Paul urges us: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Think in harmony with one another. That is a tall order. And not only do we need to think in harmony, but we need to focus those thoughts on bringing praise to the Lord? I don’t know about you, but I think about today’s post-election world, and that just seems darn near impossible. And then the quiet voice of the Lord says to me, “I am asking this of you. Think in harmony with one another. I don’t ask that you change the thoughts of every person on earth, or bring justice as you see fit. I ask that you work on yourself. I will worry about the big picture. Justice will flourish in My time.” So how do we think in harmony with one another? This Advent is a perfect season to reflect on this task. Be still and listen. Sit quietly this season, and ask the Lord how to begin this endeavor. Sit next to your tree, your lights, or a candle with some cocoa, and have a cozy visit with Jesus. He will lead you in the right direction. [bctt tweet="Advent is a perfect season to reflect on how we think in harmony with one another."] Find yourself a cozy moment with Jesus today. Ask Him how you can think in harmony with the rest of His creation. Jenna Hines has teeny army of three children (and one in utero), and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. A former high school English teacher, she now stays at home where she blogs and runs a crafty embroidery business. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest First Reading: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 Thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left. He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, And the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your flock will be given pasture and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows; The oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork. Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water. On the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall, The light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days. On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. (see Isaiah 30:18d) Blessed are all who wait for the Lord. Praise the LORD, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord. Great is our LORD and mighty in power: to his wisdom there is no limit. The LORD sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground. R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord. Gospel: Matthew 9:35B-10:1, 5A, 6-8 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.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” NAB The obvious theme in today's readings is healing. From Isaiah, we hear promises of the Messiah fulfilling every earthly need, drying every tear, and healing every fracture. In the Gospel, Jesus' Heart is moved with pity (thank you, Saint Matthew, for this beautiful imagery) when He sees people coming to Him for healing. Then, He commissions His Apostles to turn around and do the same. God is all about healing our whole selves. Yet, there is another factor in this equation, and that is the necessity of showing up. Those being healed in the Scripture passages are showing up for God to do the healing. They are walking, they are sowing, they are singing, they are literally following Him like lost and abandoned sheep. They "wait for the Lord," and that's why they are blessed. Sometimes I half-heartedly ask the Lord to bring healing to my own life or a personal situation. I do it because I know I should, but I don't take the time to really ask. I just rattle something off. I don't show up. I don't plant or follow. I just stand still, not really believing that the healing will come, not willing to dig in with the Lord, and then I go on with my day. These people wanted to be healed. They were willing to show up, to ask persistently, and to do the hard work. Are we willing to do the same? Or will we be lazy in our pursuit of the Lord's mercy? [bctt tweet="These people wanted to be healed. They were willing to show up and to do the hard work. Are we willing as well?"] Can we pray for each other on this? Maybe some of us aren't ready for complete healing, so let's do some heavy lifting for one another. Want to pray a Hail Mary with me for our sisters in Christ? Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Olivia Spears is a middle school religion teacher turned SAHM who is married to her high school best friend. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 29:17-24 Thus says the Lord GOD: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; All who are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, Who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham: Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale. When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, They shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel. Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31 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. NAB Advent wasn't always my favorite time of year. For much of my young adult years I think I just mentally scooted over those purposeful, preparatory days of Advent with my eyes set squarely on Christmas morning. It's not that I didn't place value on the birth of Jesus, but I just didn't get all of the waiting that happened beforehand. Today, as a woman with a few more years under her belt, I've come to realize that I thankfully know a little bit more about the beauty and goodness and even loveliness of waiting. I know what it means to wait for a husband, wait for a job to come through, wait for a home purchase. I know what it means to wait through the illness of a parent. I know what it means, as a doula, to wait for those I'm serving in birth to welcome their little ones into the world. The blind men in today's Gospel from Saint Matthew must have also known what it meant to wait: Wait for healing. Wait for the Messiah. Wait for the promise of better things to come. And while I know a thing or two about waiting, what I'm still learning is the sheer capacity of this waiting to transform my heart and prepare me for the good things to come. I've come to view waiting not as something to breeze through as quickly as humanly possible, but as something to be embraced and be transformed by. I'm learning to welcome the waiting, because I know that it changes my heart and (please God) makes me more devoted, more grateful, and more attentive to His will. Our Lord's interaction with those two blind men in today's Gospel wasn't just a random occurrence; it was after months, perhaps years of waiting and praying that their hearts were prepared for the healing that was to come. In the same way, the depth to which we receive the Baby Jesus into our hearts this Christmas season is dependent on our willingness to wait for Him this Advent. What are you waiting on this Advent season? What stirs your heart as the one thing that would mean so much? Is it a child coming home to the Church? A relationship to be restored? A baby to be conceived or an adoption to be granted? A Mr. Right to be found? A physical, emotional, or psychological healing? Know that there is power, grace, and mercy in the waiting, especially in this holy Advent season. [bctt tweet="What are you waiting on this Advent season?"] Pray for the grace to be willing to wait, as the blind men did in the Gospel today. And believe, as they did, that He can do anything according to our faith. Karen Schultz is a Birth Doula who hails from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1 AND 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD. This gate is the LORD’s; the just shall enter it. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. O LORD, grant salvation! O LORD, grant prosperity! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he has given us light. R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27 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.” NAB Years ago, when I was active in youth ministry, there was a skit that we did for the youth attending retreats. It involved two “builders” and a narrator. One builder was the wise man, and the other was the fool. It was silly and exaggerated, but the words of today’s Gospel will forever be ingrained in my mind. It seems so obvious. Be like the wise man! Build your house upon solid rock! But, man, I’ve made some really stupid decisions in my life. My house might look like the wise man’s house, but my foundation has been that of the fool. I’ve relied so often on my own desires and understanding; I’ve not been able to withstand storms because of it. As I grew in my faith, I started to realize that I needed to be humble and accept that I can’t do it alone. I need to stand on solid ground, and that ground needs to be Christ. A friend pointed out that maybe instead of praying for all my wants, I should start asking that my desire would be for God’s will. At first I didn’t get the difference, but the more I thought about it, I realized how radically different that perspective was. It was such a shift for me in my prayer, and a challenging one because it required a different kind of obedience on my part. Even though I often failed at meeting them, I did not find it hard to accept the commandments of God, the guidelines set forth by the Church, or even those boundaries set forth by my own vocation in life. But God wanted a deeper intimacy with me; one where my will was more closely aligned to His. So when big changes in life approached, and I wasn’t completely sure which way to walk I would pray, “God, help me want what you want for me.” Sometimes His will was easy to accept, and other times it wasn’t so easy, but that simple prayer had softened my heart to whatever He might have in store for me. [bctt tweet="God, help me want what you want for me."] God is calling us deeper into His will. So when those storms come, and the floods rush over us, and the winds howl and shake us, we will not collapse in total ruin. We might need some patching up as weak points are brought to light by a storm, but our foundation will be firm and steadfast, so long as we stand upon Christ. Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle First Reading: Romans 10:9-18 Brothers and sisters: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us? Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. NAB I was raised in the ministry of chair folding. Saint Andrew was an expert in this ministry. When I was young, my parents led the prayer group at church. We were often at our parish setting up chairs and executing the mundane tasks needed to make the ministries at our church happen. These are the jobs in the ministry of chair folding. My father coined the phrase. It is the ministry of the unseen—it does not involve being noticed, heard, or acclaimed and instead involves setting up and taking down chairs, decorating sanctuaries, organizing logistics, doing paperwork, and loving one’s neighbor in the simplest of ways. It is the hard and humble ministry of the unnoticed. Today’s feast celebrates a man who knew what it was like to go unnoticed. Throughout his life, Saint Andrew played second fiddle to his dynamic and well-known brother Simon Peter. Peter was an incredible teacher. He was the first Pope. He resurrected Tabitha. Everyone remembers Peter, few remember Andrew—he is often only referred to as Peter’s brother. However, without Andrew, there is no way to know who would have introduced Peter to Jesus. (Jonh 1:40) While Peter was busy using his gifts in a public way, Andrew was off to the side, humbly under the radar, talking to people, folding chairs, wrapping microphone cables, washing dishes, asking about people’s lives, stuffing name tags, making ministry happen. He did whatever needed to be done to help people come to know the Messiah. Andrew was open-hearted, always humbly loving those around him. He was the one who knew about the boy’s lunch in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. (John 6:8) He was the one Philip deferred to when the Greeks wanted to meet Jesus (John 12:21) because he knew how to bring people to Christ. His heart was fixed on it. Nothing else mattered to him. He shows us how to be the one who is not esteemed or acclaimed with dazzling humility and astonishing grace. If you feel as though you are e’er the woman playing second fiddle, constantly unnoticed, consistently unappreciated, today is your day, because today is Saint Andrew’s day. How beautiful are the feet of those who cook the food, sew prayer blankets, iron purificators, and fill coffee pots. The ministry of chair folding brings the good news to many, indeed. [bctt tweet="The ministry of chair folding brings the good news to many, indeed. // @emwilss"] Thank a "Saint Andrew" figure in your life today—someone in your family, in your parish, in your workplace—for their humble heart of service in bringing people to know Jesus. Emily Wilson-Hussem planned her whole life to become a sports reporter but turned out to be a Catholic musician and speaker at the hand of God. She lives out of her suitcase and travels across the world speaking to people of all ages. The heart of her ministry is offering encouragement to women in search of their true identity, and she loves every second of it. She is the author of I Choose the Sky. You can find out more about her here.