In the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist proclaims:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Over the next few days, we will offer some reflections on the Kingdom by Fr Martin Connor to help us to “Prepare the way of the Lord.”
Exhibit A
For today’s solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I decided to issue a challenge. Two challenges, actually. The first challenge is…
Can you identify which one of these depictions of the Immaculate Conception was painted by Murillo? More…
I must decrease
Who are you in today’s Gospel?
Three types of person appear on the scene in the Gospel reading for today (Matthew 3:1-12): The one who fearlessly proclaims Christ as Lord; the crowds who go out to see to see this man; the Pharisees and Sadducees who also go out to see him.
John is a strong and charismatic character, who draws a lot of attention to himself, although he’s fully aware that his mission is to do just the opposite.
He does not desire the attention he gets for himself (as Pharisees and Sadducees do). He identifies with his mission, which is to point us toward someone else far greater than himself.
Violet and Rose: The colors of Dawn; The colors of Advent
From St Patrick’s Prayer (I Arise Today)
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me. More…
St Nickolas Icon courtesy of Reinkat
There are days when a blogger gets a block and can’t come up with much to say. Then there are days when the blogger has so many ideas that he can’t think of how to put it all into one post. Happens to be the latter for me today. Of course, I don’t have to say it all. But, then again….
Good things always come in 3s, right? So here’s how I’m going to do it. More…
Joseph’s faith opens him up to the unexpected ways of God
“The grounds for belief and unbelief are same today as they were two thousand or ten thousand years ago.” If Joseph had lacked faith to trust God or humility to perceive the holiness of his spouse, he could have disbelieved in the miraculous origin of her Son as easily as any modern man; and any modern man who believes in God can accept the miracle as easily as Joseph did.” — C.S. Lewis
Great crowds came to him… They all ate and were satisfied
The Gospel reading in today’s Mass illustrates why we have Advent: Christ comes to us, because we need Him. He comes to us in mysterious ways in which we are spiritually healed, nourished, and restored to new life in Him.
From today’s Gospel: More…
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see”
My Advent song pick for today is Veni, Veni Emmanuel (Version by Mannheim Steamroller)
“A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom” — Isaiah 11:1
There’s nothing like Christmas music to set the tone and stir up our hearts for Christmas.
Nothing except Advent music, of course, because Advent hymns are designed specifically for the Season before Christmas that we’re in now.
I have many Advent tunes I like a lot. This one, however, has always been my favorite. More…
A reblog today to start of the Season of Advent — Many blessings to you all!
What is your favorite Advent Hymn?
Not that I know tuns and tuns of Advent Carols, but here are a few to vote on:
Veni, Veni Emmanuel:
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