Jesus holds the universe together

link: Jesus holds the universe together 

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1: 16-17

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hubble_ultra_deep_field.jpg

attribution: NASA and the European Space Agency., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

lust vs. love

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14235107/Jimmy-Carter-shock-adultery-admission-Playboy-cost-presidency.html 

The media didn't get it. Neither did Playboy or those who "read" it. The same for many other people. 

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter knew the difference between lust and love. 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carter_LBJ_586.jpg 

attribution: Michael A. Schwarz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons

psalm 25:1

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dr-michael-d-evans/8658946465/

attribution: Dr. Michael D. Evans and flickr

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Each of us has a body and a soul. Our earthly body is finite. Our soul is our connection with God. 

Cherish your soul. Praise God. It connects us to our Creator--infinite and almighty God.

Praise the Lord my soul

"...may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and, ... by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls."

He was driving out a demon [that was] mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that [I] drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.”  

Luke 11: 14-26

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_Jesus_Heals_a_Mute_Possessed_Man_(J%C3%A9sus_gu%C3%A9rit_un_poss%C3%A9d%C3%A9_muet)_-_James_Tissot.jpg

James Tissot [No restrictions or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/The-Saints/prayers-to-st-michael.html 

image by Monica Argentina

St Michael Archangel | webcache.googleusercontent.com/search… | Flickr

To my fellow Christians: As Christians we are one body in Jesus Christ. We share one faith in Jesus Christ. We believe God's word--the bible. Catholic, Protestant, and nondenominational Christians all share the same faith--regardless of differences in religion. Religion for many is a matter of heritage. It doesn't matter. What does matter is our shared faith in the triune God.

https://flickr.com/photos/paullew/7330674922

attribution: Lawrence OP and flickr

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hope

 "Therefore, biblical hope is a reality and not a feeling. Biblical hope carries no doubt. Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises. Hope or confident assurance can be ours when we trust the words, “he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47, NKJV). Accepting that gift of eternal life means our hope is no longer filled with doubt but, rather, has at its sure foundation the whole of God’s Word, the entirety of God’s character, and the finished work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-hope.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtoy/613766/

attribution: Michael Toy and flickr

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Holy God, we praise Thy Name

Holy God, we praise Thy Name 

Holy God, we praise Thy name; 

Lord of all, we bow before Thee! 

All on earth Thy scepter claim, 

All in Heaven above adore Thee; 

Infinite Thy vast domain, 

Everlasting is Thy reign. 

Hark! the loud celestial hymn 

Angel choirs above are raising, 

Cherubim and seraphim, 

In unceasing chorus praising; 

Fill the heavens with sweet accord: 

Holy, holy, holy, Lord.

Holy God, we praise Thy Name

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holy_Trinity_Column_-_top.jpg

attribution: Jan Kameníček, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1 Samuel 30

1 Before David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had raided the Negeb and Ziklag. They stormed Ziklag, and set it on fire.

2 They took captive the women and all who were in the city, young and old, killing no one, and they herded them off when they left.

3 David and his men arrived at the city to find it burned to the ground and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive.

4 Then David and those who were with him wept aloud until they could weep no more.

5 David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, had also been carried off.

6 Now David found himself in great danger, for the soldiers spoke of stoning him, so bitter were they over the fate of their sons and daughters. David took courage in the LORD his God

7 and said to Abiathar, the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod!” When Abiathar brought him the ephod,

8 David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue these raiders? Can I overtake them?” The LORD answered him: Go in pursuit, for you will certainly overtake them and bring about a rescue.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/First_Book_of_Samuel_Chapter_18-1_%28Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media%29.jpg

attribution: Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When tragedy strikes, and all seems lost, do as David did. Trust in the Lord and call on Him. God will answer your prayers.

2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation

3 if indeed, when we have taken it off, we shall not be found naked.

4 For while we are in this tent we groan and are weighed down, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5 Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment.

6 So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

8 Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.

9 Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we are clearly apparent to God, and I hope we are also apparent to your consciousness.

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast of us, so that you may have something to say to those who boast of external appearance rather than of the heart.

13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are rational, it is for you.

14 For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.

15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.

17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

18 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/calvarysimpsonville/5069204628/

attribution: Calvary Simpsonville and flickr

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Romans 8: 18-28

18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

19 For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God;
20 for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that creation itself would be set from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
23 and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
26 In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.
28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ecristescu/22173995485

attribution: Eva Cristescu and flickr

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wisdom of God

Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. (Isaiah 64:3)

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among human beings, who knows what pertains to a person except the spirit of the person that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Now the natural person does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone. For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (Wisdom 9:13; Isaiah 40:13; Romans 11:34)

1 Corinthians 2: 6-16 

1 Corinthians 2:9 | Sapphire Dream Photography | Flickr

Hope in suffering

 https://www.crossway.org/articles/4-reasons-for-hope-in-suffering/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/titobalangue/5185648250/in/photostream/

attribution: Tito and Eva Marie Balangue and flickr

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God knows all

https://study.bible/lesson/894 

God's knowledge is infinite. The collective knowledge of human beings is infinitely small when compared to the infinite knowledge of God. 

That's where faith comes in. Like the father of the prodigal son, your holy and perfect Creator loves you unceasingly, wants you to love Him and your neighbor in return, and to be sorry for your sins.

We can get a small glimpse of God's perfect attributes through His holy word. 

"Be still and know that I am God". (Psalm 46:11, NABRE)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/myboogers/7319154314/

attribution: altonwoods and flickr

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second coming of Christ

https://biblical-christianity.com/what-happens-at-the-second-coming-of-christ 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14754361956/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

birth of Jesus

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,

7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 *“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Visit of the Shepherds

15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Luke 2: 1-20

* [2:14] On earth peace to those on whom his favor rests: the peace that results from the Christ event is for those whom God has favored with his grace. This reading is found in the oldest representatives of the Western and Alexandrian text traditions and is the preferred one; the Byzantine text tradition, on the other hand, reads: “on earth peace, good will toward men.” The peace of which Luke’s gospel speaks (Lk 2:14; 7:50; 8:48; 10:5–6; 19:38, 42; 24:36) is more than the absence of war of the pax Augusta; it also includes the security and well-being characteristic of peace in the Old Testament.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/titobalangue/6065315511/

attribution: Tito and Eva Marie Balangue and flickr

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grace

"See to it that no one be deprived of the Grace of God..." Hebrews 12:15

"God gives grace to those who hunger for His word that they may understand His will and have the strength to live according to it. Do you hunger for God's word?"

MEDITATION

"Do you know the love that conquers every fear, sin, and selfish desire? God renews His love for us each and every day. His love has the power to free us from every form of evil – selfishness, greed, anger, hatred, jealously and envy.

“What’s the distinctive feature of Jesus' life and the life of those transformed by His redeeming love?

“IT'S GRACE – treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated – with loving-kindness and mercy. Jesus is God's Grace incarnate. His love is unconditional and is wholly directed towards our good. God is good to all, the just and the unjust. His love embraces saint and sinner alike.

“That's why Jesus willingly went to the cross for our sake, to free us from the power of sin, ignorance, and prejudice. God's Grace sets us free from everything that would keep us from Him and His love.

“How can we possibly love as God loves and overcome evil with good?

“With God all things are possible. He gives Grace in abundance through the gift of the Holy Spirit, who converts our hearts and minds and teaches us how to live according to God’s truth and love.

“God assures us of His Grace and help to follow in His ways."

PRAYER

"Heaven Father, You are merciful, gracious and kind. May we never doubt Your love nor hesitate to seek You with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision we need to live as Your beloved sons and daughters and disciples of Jesus Christ our Savior."

https://www.flickr.com/photos/4thglryofgod/14430052851/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/4thglryofgod/14430052851/

attribution: Sharon Tate Soberon and flickr

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Advent Reflection for December 15 – Sunday of the Third Week of Advent Readings: Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Phil 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18

Advent Reflection for December 15 – Sunday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Phil 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18 

Invitation to Prayer: There is no better use of our mind and will, of our imagination, memory, and affections, and even our bodies, than prayer.

Reflection: In this week’s gospel, we encounter John the Baptist who is preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. John’s bold preaching resonates with the Advent themes of preparation and anticipation. The crowds come to him seeking guidance, asking, “What should we do?” John urges those who have much to give to those who have little, and those in positions of power to use their authority justly. These are not abstract suggestions, but concrete, everyday actions that reflect a turning away from selfishness and a turning toward justice, compassion, and love.

John’s message also underlines the radical nature of the salvation that Christ brings. When the people ask if he is the Messiah, John humbly acknowledges that he is not, but points to the one who is coming after him. He speaks of the Messiah’s powerful presence, describing how Jesus will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”. This prophetic image invites us to reflect on the transformative power of Christ who equips us with the grace to live as faithful disciples.
In the context of Advent, this passage invites us to ask ourselves: How are we preparing the way for Christ in our lives? Are we ready to open our hearts to the transformation He offers, or are we holding on to patterns of sin, selfishness, and complacency?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the people you have put into our lives that have helped make yourself known to us. Let us be willing messengers in proclaiming Your coming to those around us.

Closing: John the Baptist’s message is as relevant today as it was in his time. He calls us to live with integrity, to care for those in need, and to make room in our lives for the transformative presence of Christ. As we journey through Advent, let us reflect on the ways in which we can make our hearts ready for the Lord and embrace the joy and peace that His coming brings.
Sean Ferguson is a Development Officer with the Stewardship Department for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He and his wife Liz have been married for 3 years and live in Independence, KY. They met through campus ministry at the University of Dayton.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/15754509354/

attribution: Thomas Hawk and flickr

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hope

In a room there were four candles burning. The ambiance was so soft you could hear them talking.

The first one said, “I am PEACE; however, nobody can keep me lit. I believe I will go out.” The Peace candle’s flame rapidly diminished and went out completely.

The second candle said, “I am FAITH. Most of all, I am no longer indispensable, so it does not make any sense that I stay lit any longer.”  When it finished talking, a breeze softly blew on it and put it out.

Sadly, the third candle spoke in its turn. “I am LOVE. I just don’t have the strength to stay lit. People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.” Waiting no longer, its flame goes out as well.

Just then a child entered the room and saw that three of the candles were not burning. The child said, “Why are they not burning? They are supposed to stay lit till the end.” Saying this the child began to cry. 

Then the fourth candle said, “Don’t be sad and afraid; while I am still burning. we can re-light the other candles. I am HOPE!”

With shining eyes, the child took the candle with Hope’s flame and lit the other candles.

The flame of HOPE should never go out. Let us strive to maintain the glow of PEACE, FAITH, LOVE and HOPE in our lives.

- Author Unknown

four burning candles

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aharden/332323561/

attribution: Alex Harden and flickr

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Advent Reflection for December 10– Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent Readings: Isaiah 40: 1 – 11; PS 96: 1 – 2, 2 and 10ac, 11 – 12, 13; Matthew 18: 12 – 14

Invitation to Prayer: “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”

Reflection: I have always been awed by the book of Isaiah, written centuries before the birth of Christ.  As a teen, I recognized the connection between Isaiah and the Gospels, but I was left speechless when I realized how extensive the time lapse was between Isaiah’s prophecies and the birth of Jesus.  In today’s readings, we encounter reference to the Good Shepherd in the text of both Isaiah and Matthew, once again emphasizing the fulfillment of the Word in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah proclaims, “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.”  Being a shepherd in ancient times was a noble and humble profession.  A “good shepherd” took the time to tend to the sheep rather than watching them from afar.  There was a sense of relationship with the flock, and the wellbeing of every lamb was paramount.  A “good shepherd” would never forsake a single sheep.  This sense of intimacy and care parallels the role that Christ plays in our lives.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is there with us through our celebrations, challenges, and wounds.  When we turn to Him, he tends to us with loving compassion.  When we run from Him (as Matthew states), “will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?”  Christ is constantly reaching out to each and every one of us, and it is through our own free will that we choose to receive his sanctifying grace.

As humans with limited capacity for love, we often forsake one another and sometimes ourselves.  Perhaps we simply lose patience with a family member, or maybe we write someone off as a lost cause, but in Christ, there are no lost causes.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, seeks out every lost sheep.  During this Advent season, as we take time to quiet ourselves and connect with Christ, let us take pause to strive for the perfect love of the Good Shepherd- an unconditional love that does not forsake God’s creation.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd, who tenderly cares for each of us, never forsaking a single soul.  We are in awe of Your boundless love, which reaches out to us in all our joys and struggles.  Help us to recognize Your presence in our lives, and to open our hearts to receive Your grace.  As we journey through this Advent season, teach us to love as You love—unconditionally and without end. May we seek out the lost and show the compassion You offer to all. Thank You for always tending to us with care and mercy. Amen.

Closing: Who in my life have I forsaken?  Have I ever forsaken myself?  What can I do this Advent Season to open my heart to the abundant love of Christ?

Noelle Collis-DeVito is the English Curriculum Research Assistant for the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at the University of Dayton.  She just completed her Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry with a Certificate in Disability and Ministry and is excited to put her skills to use in her work creating curriculum for adult faith formation and adaptive resources for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  She serves on the Council on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and is on the Board for the Respect Life Fund for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  She also serves as the advisor for Flyers for Life at the University of Dayton.

https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/advent-reflections-2024

https://www.flickr.com/photos/turatti/19610166041

attribution: jaci XIII and flickr

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the LORD's prayer

FATHER in Heaven, 

YOU alone are the HOLY ONE. 

YOUR kingdom come, 

YOUR will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven.

Thank YOU for giving us food 

for our bodies and for our souls.

Please forgive our sins,

as YOU forgive sins of others.

Please help us to avoid temptation,

and please deliver us from evil.

For YOURS is the kingdom 

and the power and the glory

forever and ever.

Amen

https://www.praywithme.com/the-lords-prayer.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg

attribution: Carl Bloch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Advent Reflection for Sunday, December 8 – The Second Sunday of Advent Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6, Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11, Luke 3:1-6

Advent Reflection for Sunday, December 8 – The Second Sunday of Advent
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6, Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11, Luke 3:1-6

Invitation to Prayer: Come, God of peace. prepare our troubled and burdened hearts to receive you more this day.

Reflection: Advent often flies by for me. Four weeks doesn’t seem like a lot of time to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Mary carried Jesus in the womb for nine months, literally allowing herself to be transformed from the inside out for the coming of Christ. Yet we condense that time to an intentional and intense four weeks of preparation. Last week we reflected on Hope that only comes from God, this week, we focus on the Peace that only comes from God. 

I love this first sentence we hear from God today to prepare us for His peace, “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever.” Our world is so broken right now. We live in constant stress and fear that life can often seem miserable. But that is not the story God wants to tell us. God’s story is not one of misery and woe, rather it is one of victory and peace.

As a child, one of my chores was pulling the weeds in the flowerbed in front of our home, and I hated it! It was the worst thing in the world for my adolescent self because it took forever and was so boring. Yet, in the weeding of the flowerbed, the path to our home looked inviting to my friends and family. People felt welcomed and invited to a beautiful and peaceful space. Today, my life can be quite chaotic. I keep a full schedule and hold high expectations to perform to the best of my ability. Because of that, I can get bogged down in the stresses of life and feel anxious and worried about many things. Today, I’m reminded in these readings to slow down and prepare the flowerbed of my heart for the coming of Christ. I must intentionally make time to pull the weeds from my heart that make me anxious and worried so that the flowers of peace may rest there instead.

Today, as we sit with these readings, my hope and prayer for you is the same as St. Paul’s for the Philippians, “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.”

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, help us to slow down and weed our hearts of all the things that rob the peace you have bestowed on us.

Closing: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Alex Bodenschatz served as a NET Missionary from 2018-2020 and now works with NET as the Easter Regional Recruiter.

https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/advent-reflections-2024

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cotallo-nonocot/8220983596/

attribution: Jose Antonio Catalio

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