Advent Reflections

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,

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;

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

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

Book of Hours, Visitation, Walters Manuscript W.267, fol. 38r  Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25 Psalm 71:1-8Luke 1: 5-25 There are few periods in a woman’s life

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:

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,

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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