First Reading: Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25 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: 9, 10, 11-12, 13-14 R. 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 7:18-23 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 Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in the life of the Church, and it really brings to the forefront of our minds how we should be preparing our hearts and minds for Christ at Christmas, but it can also be a great time for our own personal renewal. We're being invited into a deep silence right now. We should be clearing away the extra noise. And often I find that the extra noise that's loudest comes from myself. My own second guessing, doubts, and dreams. When we're busy and unfocused it's amazing how these unfounded thoughts can gain footholds in our thinking. We can convince ourselves of so much that may be far from the truth. Or we can become bogged down in negativity. In today's First Reading is a beautiful and clear calling from the Lord that He made our world to be a great, wondrous place for us to live in. He made it for us, and is calling us to live a full life. Since this is the start of a new year which we begin in silence and waiting, I want to take a closer look at what's holding me back from living the full life that God wants me to live. I want to root out the wounds and hurts that hold me back from truly loving others. I want God's truth to speak to lies that I cling to in my thinking. I want to make changes so that I can let go of sin. I want to confess and receive grace. This change can feel overwhelmingly difficult, where do I even begin? It begins in the quiet prayer of my heart. Turning my heart towards Jesus, asking him what He wants to heal and change in me, and waiting patiently for a response. Jesus came to give the blind sight, the deaf hearing, the dead new life. We just need to prepare our hearts for the miracle. [bctt tweet="I want to root out the wounds and hurts that hold me back from truly loving others."] What in my life is holding me back from living a full life? What needs to change? Let's find some silence today to examine our hearts and how we can let Jesus work miracles in our life. Christy Isinger is the mom to five lovely, loud children living in the Canadian wilds. You can find out more about her here.

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, 23 R. 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 A friend once told me that she had no regrets despite the crazy, wild ride she had taken in life. Wide-eyed, I sat and just blinked back at her. I had all kinds of regrets and ten years after our conversation I have even more! There are stories that make me blush and past incidents of anger, weakness, pride, and desire that I hope are never unearthed. Because of this bundle of shames that I carry around I am always wooed by the Psalmist's line "Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy and your faces will not blush with shame." This beautiful line often makes me slip into the temptation to regret even more. I think to myself, "If only I had been focused more on loving God and living virtuously I wouldn't have any reasons to blush with shame. I may still have moments of disappointment in myself, but the deep shame wouldn't be there." Yet in light of what Christ says in today's Gospel, I'm pretty sure I'm looking at it the wrong way. Like the tax collectors and prostitutes I know my sins. I have counted and recounted them. I know that in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and by Christ's sacrifice on the cross God has already forgiven me of these sins but I also know the effects of those sins linger. They linger in my own heart as I look at the way I have directly hurt and damaged people. And they linger in the broken bits of the lives that I have hurt. My friend knew that the poor and stupid choices she had made had brought her closer to the Font of Divine Mercy. She knew that in counting her sins she was able to see how much she needed Christ. And I have seen how she has taken that knowledge and rebuilt her life into one that truly lives out the Gospel message. I have tried—I am trying—to follow her lead. Let us look to Him with joy. Let us acknowledge our sins but instead of feeling shame, let us rejoice that He hears us, forgives us, and welcomes us into the Kingdom of Heaven, bundle-free. [bctt tweet="Let's rebuild our lives into one that truly lives out the Gospel message."] Are you carrying around a bundle of shames? If you haven't confessed them to a priest yet, make an appointment to do so. If you have, surrender them to God and trust that there is a place for you in His Kingdom. photo credit Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker and homemaker. She lives with her husband and five children in central Illinois. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross First Reading: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17A When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of a man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled: How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD. His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach; His king shall rise higher, and his royalty shall be exalted. Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9 R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27 When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” NAB Sometimes I feel like I need to stop watching the news. It's been one of those days, one of those weeks, where everything is painful—there just seems to be too much pain and suffering in the world, not enough goodness, not joy. I see pictures of little boys and girls—brown hair and big brown eyes, just like my little son—but their lives are shattered, their families destroyed; and thus not much like my little son at all. And I wonder about them and their mothers. Did they have favorite books and toys like we do? Do they still have little jokes and traditions throughout the day? Do they worry about saying I love you enough or getting one last kiss? How many mothers and little children with big brown eyes never got that last kiss? It is in times like these that I sometimes feel so far from God, but so close to his Mother. In those pictures, I see myself and my son and I see Mary and her son. The truth is that Mary and Jesus would have probably felt more alike to the people in these pictures than me in my comfortable, warm little home. t is Mary who could actually sympathize with them as the rock their babies to sleep out in the open, running for their lives. It is Mary who could actually sympathize with the fear and the sadness, the hunger and the pain. In them I see my life as it could be and I see her life as we know she and Saint Joseph fled to Egypt from King Herod—alone and all the while, literally, clinging to God as she prayed for food, shelter, and solace. And it's in those moments that I know it'd be wrong to turn off the news or shut the computer down for the night, because I need those big brown eyes to remind me of the parts of the Christmas story that I'd rather forget, the parts that aren't very similar to my own life at all. I need those images to remind me what it means to sacrifice. I need those images to remind me that in these dark nights of the world that we need to cling to the Christ Child even more. [bctt tweet="It is Mary who sympathizes with the fear and the sadness, the hunger and the pain."] We need to cling to God and love, protect and cherish Him just like that young mother did so many hundreds of years ago. We need to remember the solace and healing we can find in that embrace. We need to remember the little things that make that relationship so good and wonderful, we need to remember to tell Him we love Him just one more time as we walk out the door. photo by Edenn Yorks Molly Walter is a wife, mother and homemaker (with a pesky job outside the home). She shares about making the life she wants with the life she's been given over here.

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18A Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! 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. Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Gospel: Luke 3:10-18 The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. NAB Nothing brings out the anticipation, or the planner in me, like Mickey Mouse. Earlier this year, my brother and our families were gifted a trip to Disney World with my parents. For months, we researched places to stay, clothes to wear, characters to meet, places to dine and rides to experience. I’m pretty sure Pinterest almost shut down a few nights because I pinned so many things. And, to up the anticipation meter, we didn’t spill the beans to any of the grandchildren until the morning of the airplane flight. The anticipation in those two hours nearly broke them. They were filled with joy. You should’ve heard the chatter in the van ride to the airport. And, when we arrived in Florida, the joy was palpable. We couldn’t experience Disney fast enough for them. As we enter this third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, or “Rejoice Sunday,” I’m betting your anticipation of the Christmas season is at its tipping point. You’re getting close to selecting the gifts for the people you love, wrapping presents, making plans for the feast and decking the halls. And, if you’re like me, your Pinterest boards are full of so much Christmas beauty. Anticipation can be a beautiful, yet maddening thing. Just ask my kids who are spying the presents, wrapped beneath the tree. To fully experience the joy of Christmas, though, we must fill our weeks of anticipation with the spiritual fruits of our faith. Serve others. Pray for others. Give to others. It all comes down to these four questions: Are we preparing the internal manger? Have we paved our spiritual road to Bethlehem? Have we tempered our inn expectations to the barn reality? Are we wrapping the people we love in swaddling clothes stitched with prayer? You and I? We get comfortable with what we have and what we do. We act like the tax collectors and the soldiers, asking more of others than we ask of ourselves and throwing out judgment with nary a thought as to how it affects others. And every year, Christmas comes around and reminds us that all we have, all that we are and all that we do comes from one source—a tiny baby in a manger, who grew into a man, who saved us. So, prepare the feast, give joyfully and decorate your home with beauty. But don’t forget to do the same for your heart. After all, that’s what He desires most. [bctt tweet="Are we preparing the internal manger? Have we tempered our inn expectations to the barn reality?"] Today, choose one way to show God you're prayerfully anticipating his arrival. Maybe it's making an ornament for your Jesse tree, taking time to bake a treat for a friend or neighbor or spending five minutes in morning prayer. Or, maybe you just don't yell at your kids today. You laugh together, instead. photo by Edenn Yorks Kathryn Whitaker is married to Scott and together they have 6 awesome kids. She is a former public relations consultant turned freelance graphic designer who hails from the Lone Star state. You can find out more about her here.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe First Reading: Revelation 11:19A; 12:1-6, 10 God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.” Responsorial Psalm: Judith 13:18BCDE, 19 R. 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 “For nothing will be impossible for God.” On those good days, I believe it. My heart soars with confidence in Him. . . in hope. But those bad days. . . oh, those bad days will wreck you. Because those bad days will remind you. They will remind you that the impossible still seems, well, impossible. So much of me aches with wistful desire when I read today’s Gospel. I ache for the hope in it, for the beauty, for the fulfillment. I suppose it’s because part of me perpetually lives in those bad days, tangled tightly in a web of seemingly impossible circumstances. Day in and day out, I reach for those good days, for hope; but these arms of mine, they fall short. . . often. And it makes me wonder about Elizabeth, because I know her specific pain. I live her pain—the cyclical sorrow, the crushing defeats. I, too, am called barren, and I know how much it hurts. I wonder about her bouts with doubt or her tear-soaked pillows, her good days, and her bad days. I wonder if she gave up and screamed at the sky in a frustrated fury. I can only guess that her heart hurt like mine, because that’s what infertility does. It knocks the wind right out of you over and over again. But nothing is impossible for God, is it? It’s a scary thought, really. Because the moment you fully allow yourself to become consumed with that belief is the very moment you allow yourself to become vulnerable to disappointment. But the truth of the matter is that we never saw Elizabeth in the depths of her sorrow, when overcoming the impossible seemed so very, very. . . impossible. She must have had those bad days, too, when hope seemed an insurmountable task. [bctt tweet="Are you in the midst of one of those bad days when hope is an arduous undertaking?"] But there it is, right there in today’s reading—the impossible made possible. Isn’t it a beautiful reminder? So, if you’re in the midst of one of those bad days when hope is an arduous undertaking, seek out the vulnerability hope brings and remember that “nothing will be impossible for God.” photo credit Brittany Calavitta is an enthusiastic advocate for a good book, strong coffee, and a hopeful heart. She currently resides in Irvine, California with her hipster husband and overweight Chihuahua. You can 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. 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 When my oldest son was two, or two and a half, he would frantically want to eat the food that I was eating. God help us if and when I consumed the actual item of food he deeply achingly wanted. That chip was gone for good, and no amount of waving other chips in his face would alleviate his attachment to the one that got away. Yet moments before I had thoroughly put that chip away, I had offered t to him. He refused. It wasn't until he couldn't have it that he was beside himself. In today's Gospel, Christ must have experienced a little bit of this chip-mania Himself with the fickle crowds. John's way hadn't pleased them. Christ's way didn't pass muster either. Like children vacillating in their passionately misplaced views, the people of Israel were looking to be outraged, regardless of what it was that actually transpired. Christ finishes that "wisdom is vindicated by her works." Does this mean that what we do will rise above what people think about what we do? Perhaps our choices matter more than the reaction of those around us. Are you facing reprisal for being Catholic in the workplace? Do colleagues think it's weird you aren't living with your boyfriend or girlfriend? Do they think your number of kids is too high//low? Do they think going to Mass on Sunday instead of the game makes you the party pooper? Is that Rosary around your rear view mirror just too weird for your non-religious friends? What about the Scapular you wear? Keep doing your thing. You're vindicated by your works. Ultimately, closeness to God is choosing to be with Him, near Him, and of Him. Regardless of the popularity of our choice. Following God's commandments is the right thing to do. [bctt tweet="Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life."] If you're struggling as we all do with figuring out how to live according to the commandments, make an appointment with a priest you know or someone recommends as a great counselor. Talk with him about it. Find a small group in your parish. Don't be shy about asking for help and support to feel supported in your Catholic lifestyle. photo credit Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20 I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and double-edged, To thresh the mountains and crush them, to make the hills like chaff. When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off and the storm shall scatter them. But you shall rejoice in the LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel. The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain, their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open up rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the broad valleys; I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water. I will plant in the desert the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive; I will set in the wasteland the cypress, together with the plane tree and the pine, That all may see and know, observe and understand, That the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:1 AND 9, 10-11, 12-13AB R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness. I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness. Let them make known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness. Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15 Jesus said to the crowds: “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. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” NAB A shrill, curdling wail pierced the stillness of our post-bedtime solitude. From the boy's basement bedroom, a preschooler's siren sounded for the umpteenth time that night. "I'm going to lose it; he is killing me tonight!" I growled, swinging my legs over the side of the bed and stomping in the direction of the offending offspring. My husband said something as I disappeared down the carpeted stairs strewn with laundry and shoes, but I was too angry and too fast to catch what he'd said. Flinging open the door, I located the perpetrator and took a deep breath, preparing to launch into a punishing explanation of why he must.go.to.sleep. and what dire consequences will befall him if he chooses not to. But I didn't. Instead, I sank down to a crouch beside his teeny IKEA toddler bed and began rubbing his back. I watched his small shoulders heave with grief and exhaustion and my small grinch heart expanded ever so slightly, and through that crack, a little shot of grace was able to slip. Jesus, thank you for this little son. Praise you Jesus, for the gift of him. You are good, Lord, and you are our protection. You love us. Hold him in your arms and give him rest. I whispered prayers over him and marveled as his breathing slowed and his eyes closed. That was not from me, Lord. That had to have been You. I am the worm Jacob, the maggot, Israel. But the Lord is slow to anger and rich in kindness. When I pause, even for the briefest of moments, I can choose to cede that moment to Him and let that grace come pouring through, allowing Him to "grasp my right hand" and work miracles through me. Would that I stepped aside more often, letting Him who is slow to anger love my people better than I ever could on my own. [bctt tweet="I pray I step aside more often, and let Him who is slow to anger love my people."] Stop in the midst of the busy, building crescendo of Christmas preparation and sit down with someone you love—your spouse, your child, a sibling. Give them your full attention for 10 minutes, "wasting time" with them as Pope Francis has called us to do. Jenny Uebbing is a freelance writer and a blogger and editor for Catholic News Agency. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband Dave and their growing family. You can find out more about her thoughts on Catholicism, sex, politics and parenting here.

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. 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 One year and one day ago, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I knelt in the back of a small church I had not visited before. It wasn’t an impressive place. The decor featured purple carpeting, faded paint, and worn pews. But kneeling at the foot of a statue of Jesus before Mass, I noticed a fading index card taped to the prie-dieu. The verses from Matthew in today’s Gospel were handwritten on it. My long-term relationship was ending slowly and painfully, and I was a wreck. I knelt there with quiet tears in my eyes. My broken heart was clinging to so much, and here, Jesus was offering to take it all—my ending relationship, my fear of being judged, my need for approval, my attachment to material goods, my entitlement to so much. I could hand everything over. Everything that I was telling myself would make me happier and better. I needed to humble myself, to let my guard down before God. Kneeling in the back of that church, I knew the words of this Gospel were true. My life was breaking apart at the seams and leaving a large, empty space in my heart, but I could open that space to God and let Him fill it. I could be renewed in His mercy. I wrote in my journal that night: “I’m devastated, but that loss of comfort gives God a chance to break apart my preconceptions about what my life should be. Everything will be fine.” I knew my life wasn’t going to be the same. But it wasn’t because of what I was losing—my life changed because I let God in. My life changed because I traded the weight of this world for the burden of the next. In the year that has passed, my life has changed. As spiritual change worked in my heart, I’ve been strengthened through other change as well. I’ve been able to embrace things that once seemed risky or scary or crazy. I’ve struggled through weeks and months that seemed designed to pull me under, relying on the consolation that God will pull me out on the other side. He pulls me through, again and again. I sing with today’s Psalm joyfully: “He crowns you with kindness and compassion. O bless the Lord, my soul!” [bctt tweet="He pulls me through, again and again."] Let Christ lift the heavy burden from your shoulders. Take on the burden of holiness. Everything will be fine. photo by Edenn Yorks Brigid Hogan loves the view of the Washington Monument from her apartment, her standing desk, the Green Bay Packers, and a good mystery. She tolerates taking the Metro to the office, where she works as a communications consultant. You can find out more about her here.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception 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. 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 My dear sister, has anyone ever stopped to ask you, "How do you do it all?" Perhaps the person asking was wondering how you balance a hectic work schedule on top of family responsibilities or how you juggle volunteering for several organizations while caring for a sick parent. Whatever the reason for asking, he or she was intrigued by your story. As I reflected on the readings for today, and especially the Gospel, I couldn't stop asking myself, "How did Mary do it?" And by "it," I mean, how did this virgin woman who was betrothed accept the news that she was going to give birth to the Son of God? One word: grace. Today as we celebrate the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, we honor Mary and the fact that she was literally “full of grace” as she was born without sin. Grace, as the Catechism defines, is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life (CCC 1996). Because Mary's grace tank was filled to the brim, she was able to accept the Lord's plan for her life to be the mother of Jesus. In a similar way, when we receive graces through the Sacraments, we are given the help we need to carry out the individual mission the Lord has created for us. And so my challenge for you today is to fill yourself with grace. Partake in the Sacraments and let yourself be used as an instrument for the Lord to help glorify His name to others. [bctt tweet="Fill yourself with grace."] What actions can you take today to fill up with grace? Attend Mass or Reconciliation? Sit in Adoration? Pray the Rosary? photo by Jacqueline Kayleigh 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 drinking coffee. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Ambrose 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. 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.” It’s one of those Gospel stories you don't forget, this narrative of the man who wants to see Jesus so badly that he literally goes through the roof. Nothing—not crowds, not ceiling tiles, not his own paralysis—proves stronger than the desire to be as close to the Messiah as possible. It’s inspiring to me because, unlike this man and his friends, I don’t always challenge the obstacles in my path. Often, if there is something standing in the way of my plan, I slip into conflict-avoidance mode and simply change my plan. This isn’t always a bad thing; sometimes it’s actually the wiser call not to expend time and energy on something that doesn't matter much in the long haul. The trick becomes discerning which things are worth fighting for, and which are not. Which goals are worth the extra time and strenuous effort, the out-of-the-box strategizing, the risk that people will stop and stare? Which goals should I be willing to rip off the roof in order to achieve? Because some things in life really are worth fighting for. And when we know what those things are, we have a better sense of who we ourselves are. When I think of this story, I also find myself thinking about my own relationship with Christ. I think of the lengths this paralyzed man and his friends went to, simply in order to be near Jesus. Far from being annoyed at their persistence, Jesus recognizes and rewards their faith. He sees how much they want to be with Him, and it touches Him. I’d like to have the same level of faith, the same desire for communion with Christ. I hope I too would rip off the roof to be able to be with Jesus. But then I realize that, with the gift of my Catholic faith, I don’t have to. All I have to do is drive a few minutes to Mass, where Jesus comes to me. He does the hard work; my part is as simple as holding out my hand and opening my mouth to commune with Jesus in a way that is both intimate and profound. May we never let any obstacle keep us from that gift. [bctt tweet="I hope I too would rip off the roof to be able to be with Jesus."] What in your life are you willing to rip off the roof to achieve? photo by Edenn Yorks Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a mother, high school English teacher, and BBC period drama junkie. She is the author of Random MOMents of Grace: Experiencing God in the Adventures of Motherhood and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two boys, and about thirty thousand Legos. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9 Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Gospel: Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Last October I scooted out of the city and explored the Mississippi River bluffs of southeastern Minnesota with a friend. The trees were in their last surge of change, and I was aching for some old-fashioned outdoors time and the chance to stretch my legs. On the last day of our adventure we asked our host for suggestions of her favorite hikes in the area and she advised, much to my surprise, the local cemetery. "Take the long loop around." I was dubious, but into the car we hopped, parking on a quiet stretch of street across from the cemetery. As we walked through the cemetery's iron gates the weight of the visit settled on my heart: I had lost my own dad several months earlier. Visiting any cemetery brought me closer to a death that was sometimes painful to remember. It didn't take me long to realize that our host was right—the cemetery was absolutely stunning. Trees of 100 years shone with golds, ambers, and burgundies. The leaves crunched under our feet and my spirits started to rise as my friend and I walked and talked. Not long into our hike I saw a large headstone bearing my family name, "Schultz." What a funny coincidence, I thought. We circled the grounds one full time before curiosity got the better of me and I asked my friend if we could take a closer look at the Schultz family plot. "Evelyn Kelso Schultz," I read from one of the tombstones. In the inscription she left the words of the writer George Bernard Shaw: "I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live." I want to be thoroughly used up when I die . . . . Those words prompted me to ponder: Don't we want to: . . . give more, love more, be available more? . . . offer our shoulders more to those who are weeping, our ears more to those who need counsel? . . . share our homes more with those who crave hospitality, our joy more with those who have none? . . . be vulnerable with those who don't know how to be so? Don't we desire to . . . be so thoroughly used up at the end of our lives that there is only room for Him? If this is all true and good, then we must live as Saint Paul exhorts in his letter to the Philippians, believing that the Lord will continue the good work done in us until it is complete, so that our love may increase ever more and more. I don't know if that dear Evelyn was any relation, but I do believe that her words were meant for me. And on that autumn day I asked for her prayers for me, that I might be thoroughly used up, too. [bctt tweet="I ask that I might be thoroughly used up, too."] Pray for the opportunity to offer yourself today in a way that you never have before. photo by Edenn Yorks 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. She spends her free time reading, playing the mandolin, and proudly serving on the Board of Directors for Guiding Star Twin Cities. You can find out more about her here.

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. 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 9:35-10:1, 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 Nothing that I have is my own. All that I have has been given to me, from the moment of my first breath until the day I draw my last. All is His, and all is on loan. I forget this over and over again, springing out of bed each morning (or stumbling to the coffeemaker, as it were) with my!big!plans! already churning in my brain and then suddenly, a stomach ache. Somebody is spilling something. An urgent text message from a struggling friend. An email from work. My time is not my own. But oh, how I fight this. And I think "if only I had x or y, I could surely get z done today." But too often I forget to consult the One who should be directing my path, the One who has loaned me the time on this earth and the family within these four walls. Lord, Don't you see how much I could get done if I didn't have to stop and wipe this nose or sit down and feed that mouth? If he would only sleep through the night, I'd have enough energy to perform at the highest level. And on and on. But He gently reminds me, without cost you have received, without cost you are to give. When I receive the day and all its uncertainties and frustrations as coming from the hands of my good Father, suddenly the universe shifts on its axis, and I can see that if walking in His will means accepting this moment, and this one, and also this one . . . it changes everything. The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. I want to contribute to that abundant harvest Lord, I long to serve You. Then feed my sheep. These sheep. The ones who look like you and share your last name. Once they're taken care of, once I've seen you can be faithful in small matters—which are, after all, the most important—I might give you more to do. But first? Serve them. Without cost you have received, and without cost you are to give. [bctt tweet="Without cost you have received, and without cost you are to give."] Look at the lost sheep in your own family, in your own little community of influence. This is your mission field. Love them today, wholeheartedly, without counting the cost. Especially the one (and you know there's always one!) who is the hardest to love. photo by Edenn Yorks Jenny Uebbing is a freelance writer and a blogger and editor for Catholic News Agency. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband Dave and their growing family. You can find out more about her thoughts on Catholicism, sex, politics and parenting 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. 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 Hi there. Would you do me a favor? Would you take a moment to silence your mind and heart, and think about the one thing you need most from the Lord today? What is it that is weighing on your spirit? How can He lessen your burden today? Where do you need Him to show up today? Because, He'd like to know. I know, I know, most of us feel like we're constantly asking Jesus for things and that we need to be way more grateful for what we already have. Which is true. BUT. The Good Lord also wants us to ask Him for what we need, and, like the two blind men, we shouldn't be hesitant or ashamed to make our needs known. You see, when we come to the feet of Jesus with sincere hearts and present our petitions to Him, we are expressing our faith in Him as God. The blind men were given what they asked for on the condition that they had the faith that Jesus can do anything. They knew that Jesus could actually do the impossible that they were asking of Him. How happy that must make His Heart, then, when we come to Him humbly, proclaim our trust in "the Son of David", and say, "Yes, Lord, I believe You can do this." Now, don't get me wrong. There are plenty of people with the best intentions and the biggest faith who don't always get want they ask for. I'm not trying to sell some golden ticket. God ultimately knows what's best for us and sometimes we ask for things that aren't in our best interest. What I think the biggest lesson from today's Gospel is that Jesus truly gives a care about us. Every little bit of us. Every hair on our head and every tiny worry in our hearts. He wants to show up for us. He wants to move for us. He wants to show Himself as the Messiah of our life. [bctt tweet="He wants to show up for us. He wants to move for us."] So what do you need most from Him today, sister? Don't be afraid to ask, because He cares for you. He wants to know. He's always right there to listen. And Jesus can do anything. photo by Edenn Yorks 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 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, 25-27 R. 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 I remember being on a retreat in high school. Listening to a powerful talk on the passion of Our Lord. Hearing how the scourge had ripped into his flesh. How the nails had pierced his wrists. How Jesus—the real, no kidding Son. of. God.—had suffered unimaginably and died in disgrace . . . for ME, because he loved me more than I could ever understand. When the chance came to stand up and say I believed, I didn’t hesitate. I believed. I did. And I said so. Right there in front of a room full of teenagers. But that was just about as far as it went. I went around for a week or two with a heart on fire for Jesus, but with nothing to feed the flames . . . they soon went out. I was buffeted, and soon collapsed. For many years, I would have told you I was “Catholic” but you couldn’t have seen it in my life. It wasn’t until ten years later, when my “Lord, Lord” was finally accompanied by prayer and study and formation and action and the sacraments that it meant anything at all. Don’t get me wrong, to proclaim oneself a Christian is no small thing. Throughout history, from the distant past to the painfully recent present, to claim Christianity has been a bold (and dangerous) thing to do. It could get one fed to lions, or deposed as queen, or teased at school. There is power in faith, in words, in calling upon the Lord. But it is not enough. I may believe, with all my being, that water is good and important and necessary for my survival, but if my belief in the efficacy of water does not translate into action, what good is it? If I believe in water but will not drink . . . I will die. If I love God, it requires more than just saying so. It requires radical changes in my life. I cannot read the word of God, and nod in agreement, but just keep right on living my life the way I always have. I cannot believe in the Catholic Church but ignore her teachings. A faith built on nothing but feelings is weak, and will soon collapse. But a faith fed with study and prayer and the sacraments, and strengthened with obedience and good works will weather the storm. [bctt tweet="A faith fed with study and prayer will weather the storm."] How are you feeding your faith? How are you moving beyond feelings to a lasting sense of integrating your faith into your life? photo by Edenn Yorks Kendra Tierney lives in Los Angeles, CA where her interests include blogging, homeschooling, looking after her eight children, and fixing up a hundred year old tumbledown mansion. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 25:-10A On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6 R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Gospel: Matthew 15:29-37 At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. NAB Did you know that there were 400 years of prophetic silence between the last words of the Old Testament and the moment of Jesus’ birth? The crowds in the Gospel reading had been waiting on His help for three days, and they were at the point of collapsing. Can you imagine what it felt like to wait 400 years to hear the voice of God again, to know that He was coming to your rescue? I am not very good at waiting when I begin to feel faint, shaky in my walk with Jesus, hungry to know His love, or sick from my own sin and in need of healing. Three days? Four hundred years? No, Lord, I need you and I need you now. Yet how often do I at once declare my desperate need for him and express the hesitant doubt of the disciples? How often do I beg to be fed but then look at Him and say, “But how can it ever be enough to satisfy all my needs?” See, the disciples looked out at the weary and waiting crowd and thought Jesus was asking them to have enough to meet their needs. When in reality, He was asking them to trust Him—to believe that because He was the Messiah, it was completely in His reach to provide all that the gathered crowd needed using the small offering of His disciples as the seed of a miracle. Are you carrying the seed of a miracle in your heart pocket, looking at Jesus with tired and desperate eyes and begging Him to rescue you, yet doubtful that He can do anything with the little you have to give him? Advent is the time that we allow our hearts to enter into the desperation of that 400 years of tired, hungry, broken waiting and beg God to come and save us. Perhaps Advent can also be the time when we open our hands and offer Jesus the little we have, our miracle seed, and let Him use it to feed and water a weary, waiting world. Mary carried a miracle seed in her womb with expectant faith. The disciples carried one in baskets of bread and offered it in curious hope. Perhaps you too can carry yours right to the waiting manger and offer it as a gift of love to the coming King who has already satisfied all your needs. [bctt tweet="Perhaps Advent can also be the time when we open our hands and offer Jesus the little we have."] Do you have a seed you can place near your family nativity scene or where you will see it often this Advent? Place it somewhere as a daily reminder this Advent that your waiting hope is a meager offering that can grow a miracle of redemption. photo by Edenn Yorks Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks before and after the birth of a child. Find out more about her here.

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 19:8-11 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 It began with a phone call: "Honey," my husband said, "I applied for a job in Alabama." I immediately laughed at the absurd notion of moving thousands of miles from home. But as the interview process intensified and a job offer proved imminent, my husband asserted: "I really believe God is calling us to move." The thought terrified me. I'd grown quite attached, thankyouverymuch, to my people and my place. I could leave clothing, furniture—even the little house we'd brought our babies home to—but family and friends? The place where I was born and raised? Why? Why would God ask me to do something so painful? Anything but this, Lord, I pleaded. Except, deep inside the still, small place where God whispered to my restless heart, I knew leaving was His will: Follow Me. If only I could say I was like Simon, Andrew, James, and John and followed Christ's call with heroic trust, faith, and detachment. I was more . . . reluctant. Thankfully, God is good even when my attitude isn't, and eventually, I dropped my security net of all things safe and familiar and began accepting our new reality. As my will slowly conformed to God's greater plan, extraordinary things began to happen. I began to uncover the self that had been bogged down and hidden by the comfortable complacency of the familiar. I had a baby—our beloved, surprise son—and rekindled my vocation as wife and mother. I reclaimed my voice as a writer and uplifter. We met beautiful people—kindred spirits—with whom I will remain connected for the rest of my life. I learned that God's plan, even when shrouded beneath challenging circumstances, was neither a mistake nor an accident. He alone knew I must leave my safety net behind in order to accept His love more fully and follow Him more intentionally. God reminded me that we are not made for comfort, as Pope Benedict XVI said, but for greatness—His greatness. What is God asking you to leave behind, my friend, to more closely follow His way? It might not be your community; perhaps it's an attitude, or a habit, or unforgiveness, or expectations of yourself or others, or the status quo. [bctt tweet="God reminded me that we are not made for comfort..."] Dear Lord Jesus, help me see what I am holding onto that is keeping me from hearing Your call. Give me courage to trust that Your plan for my life is no accident, that I may follow You in spirit and truth. Amen. photo by Edenn Yorks Heather Renshaw is a speaker, writer, and uplifter on a mission to love and serve God with her husband and five children in the unchurched Pacific NW. You can learn more abut her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot ; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day. R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way. R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction. R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” NAB I just love the holiday season, especially Christmas! About mid-September I begin to look forward to all the delights of the season, such as the smell of Christmas trees and the sight of twinkling lights. I love the sound of Christmas carols, the taste of hot cocoa on a cold evening and the feeling that people, in general, are a little kinder, more generous, and filled with Christmas cheer. However, before I get too sentimental, today’s reading is a sober reminder that while the joys of the season are good, there is a deeper meaning to it. It is especially fitting that we reflect on this as we begin this Advent season. I don’t know about you, but there have been far too many Advents where I start out of the gate strong with a long list of things that will make this the best Advent ever. I make promises not to get caught up in the commercialism and busyness of the season and instead prepare my heart for the coming of the Christ Child. But somehow, as the weeks pass by the “anxieties of daily life” take over and I’m stressing like a mad woman as it gets closer to December 25th. Can you relate? Maybe some holiday stress is inevitable, but Our Lord’s words keep echoing in my mind. Be prepared. Be vigilant. So what can we do this Advent season to prepare our hearts for God? How can we be vigilant to not let the anxieties of the season choke us? Let’s simplify. Instead of a long spiritual To Do list pick one thing that is easy enough for you to actually accomplish but meaningful enough to turn your heart back to God. Maybe go to one extra weekday Mass or pray the rosary (or a decade) or add a daily 5-minute midday prayer for a spiritual boost. Then choose one of two stressful Christmas customs that you will skip this Advent. The world won’t end if you don’t send out Christmas cards or if you buy cookies instead of baking them or if you cut your Christmas shopping list in half. God’s desire is for your heart to be humble and open to receive your Savior. In the end, that is all that really matters. [bctt tweet="While the joys of the season are good, there is a deeper meaning to it."] Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you should do (or not do) to make this Advent a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. photo by Edenn Yorks 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.