Advent Reflections

2 Samuel 7: 1-16 Psalm 89: 1-4,19-29 Luke 1: 67-69 It must be my faith heritage and its respect for the Word, but I can’t seem to read just the

Diptych: Four Scenes from the Life of Christ14th century Detroit Institute of Arts Malachi 3: 1-5 Psalm 25: 1-14 Luke 1: 57-66 On the eve, before the eve of the

MagnificatSt Mary Magdalene Church Trimdon Village Bridget Jones design 1 Samuel 1:19-28 Luke 1:46-56 Psalm 113 Mary has received a visit from a messenger angel; God has touched the core

Circle of Antoine Le Moiturier Frenchca. 1450On view at The Met Fifth Avenue metmuseum.org The relief includes the unusual subject of Joseph warming the infant Jesus’ clothes at a fire.

Harry Egotak (1925-2009 Ulukhaktok) Birth of Jesus (c. 1962) Printmaker Harry Egotak, Stonecut 50.9 x 76.3 cm Inuit Art Foundation Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24 Luke 1:26-38 In Denise Levertov’s, Annunciation (1989), she says,

Portfolio of Illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg published in the Catholic Worker from 1949 to 1982 – Number ii Psalm72: 11-19 Matthew 1: 18-25 eremiah 23: 5-8 Our hope and joy

Saint John Resting on the Bosom of Christ 1300–1320 The Cleveland Museum of ArtOn view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, Oct 16, 2025 – Mar 29, 2026

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Psalm 34:1-8, 15-22 Matthew 21:28-32 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me”. Psalm 34:4Today’s readings describe crying for help, seeking refuge, offering repentance, accepting correction and

Christmas Tree Cluster X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: Clow, M.; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare and K. Arcand Numbers 24: 2–7, 15–17a Psalm 25:3–8Matthew. 21:23–27 From the beginning of human life on earth,

Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146: 4-9 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11: 2-11 I can recall the excitement of our children for Christmas, as we started to fill the Advent calendar, knowing that

Sirach 48:1-11 Psalm 80:1-3, 14-18 Matthew 17:9-13 The gentle hush of winter’s approach settles over December, a season when anticipation and memories intermingle around the glow of Advent. As the

National Gallery of Art. Leaf from a Choir Book (Antiphonary) 1450 Isaiah 48:17-19 Psalm 1Matthew 11:16-19 We anticipate good things and bad things. In our complicated, troubled world, anticipation, sadly,

Isaiah 41:13-20 Psalm 145: 1-4, 8-13 Matthew 11:7-15 At the beginning of Matthew 11, we read that John the Baptist is in prison. John has sent his disciples to ask

Dum Spiro/ While I Breathe, I Hope Seeking the Dove David W. Opheim  Isaiah 40:25-31 Psalm 103:1-10 Matthew 11:28-30 Many are praying and longing for peace. We have prayed passionately and frequently

Isaiah 40: 1-11 Psalm 96Matthew 18:12- 14 To anticipate is to realize beforehand, to foretaste or foresee. Anticipation is about intuition or prescience as well as expectation and hope. It

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Stained Glass in Medieval Europe, German 1444 Isaiah 35: 1-10 Psalm 85: 8-13 Luke 5: 17-26 Mary’s time was fast approaching when the words of the

Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-8 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 As we move into the second week of Advent, the theme is “peace”. But as I read the readings for today, it

Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26 Psalm 147:1-12 Matthew 9:35-10:1,5-8 What a powerful and humbling message I found in these two lessons and the psalm. In reading the lessons, my thoughts immediately went to

Isaiah 29:17-24 Psalm 27:1-6, 17-18 Matthew 9:27-31 Today’s readings are full of hope, of reassurance – of anticipation. One dictionary defines anticipation as “an emotion involving pleasure or anxiety in

Isaiah 26:1-6 Psalm 118:19-24 Matthew 7:21-27 I have been a Christian since my baptism when I was a very young child. Not until I was in my twenties did the