Advent Reflections

Thursday, December 23, 2021 Malachi 3:1-5; Psalm 25: 1-14; Luke 1: 57-66 “All these things were talked about through the hill country of Judea”  Luke 1:65 (RSV)

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 1 Samuel 1:19-28; Psalm 113; Luke 1:46-56 This past year has been a year of giving thanks with sincere gratitude for both the

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Psalm 33:1-5, 20-22; Luke 1: 39-45 In our readings today, we are called to rejoice and give thanks. I am sure

Monday, December 20, 2021 Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24Luke 1: 26-38 Today’s Gospel reading from Luke is a good reminder that God can come to us at

Sunday, December 19, 2021 Micha 5: 2-5a,Luke 1: 39-45, 47-55,Hebrews 10:5-10 Mary’s visit to Elizabeth’s home (Luke 1: 39-45) could only be described as divine

Saturday, December 18, 2021Jeremiah 23:5-8, Psalm 72:11-19Matthew 1:18-25 There are three reversals in today’s Gospel reading, moments when the story is moving in one direction and

Friday, December 17, 2021 Genesis 49: 2, 8-10; Psalm 72:1-9; Matthew 1:1-7,17 All Our Relations In the passage from Matthew’s gospel, there is a list of Jesus’

Thursday, December 16, 2021 Isaiah 54:1-10; Psalm 30; Luke 7:19-23 Opening to the Blessing of Impermanence “The Only Constant in Life Is Change”- Heraclitus. This truth speaks

Isaiah 45: 5-8, 18-25Psalm 85: 8-13Luke 7:19-23 Psalm 85: 10   Grace and truth have met together; justice and peace have kissed each other. (Complete

Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13Psalm 34:1-8, 15-22Matthew 21:28-32 I was so happy and proud when I recently made my first profession to SSJD. 

Monday, December 13, 2021 Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a.  Psalm 25:3-8. Matthew 21:23-27 The way Jesus spoke ruffled many religious leaders.  People respected him, but he lacked the

Zephaniah 3:14-20Canticle 3 (Isaiah 12: 2-6)Philippians 4:4-7Luke 3:7-18 Singing is the expression of love in Zephaniah 3:14-20. God restores and the people sing! Songs of

Sirach 48:1-11Psalm 80:1-3, 14-18Matthew 17:9-13 God chose a solitary soul from the wilderness east of the Jordan to stand before Ahab and call Israel to

Isaiah 48:17-19Psalm 1Matthew 11:16-19 Matthew speaks to me about prejudice.  Both John and Jesus were rejected because they were different – based on the company

Isaiah 41: 13-20Psalm 145: 1-4, 8-13Matthew 11: 7-15 As we approach the season of Advent, we are invited to reflect upon how it is that

Isaiah 40:25-31 ‘Psalm 103 1-10Matthew 11:28-30 These texts speak powerfully to oppression, resiliency and hope.  For many years, First Nations in Canada have been calling

Isaiah 40:1-11Psalm 96       Matthew 18:12 -14 My sister and I were quite young when our mother read Bible stories to us as we tucked into our

Isaiah 35:1-10Psalm 85:8-13Luke 5:17-26 “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus…” Isaiah 35:1  When

Baruch 5:1-9Canticle 19 (Luke 1:68-79)Philippians 1:3-11Luke 3:1-6 There is, I think, a widespread “wilderness experience” in our culture.  Ours is a wilderness of chaos, competition,

Isaiah 30: 19 – 22, 23 – 26Psalm 147: 1-12Matthew 9:35 – 10: 1, 5 – 8 Remembering and recalling can be powerful actions in

Isaiah 29: 17-24Psalm 27: 1-6, 17-18Matthew 9: 27-31 The Season of Advent comes at the time of year in the northern hemisphere as we move

Isaiah 26:1-6Psalm 118:19-24Matthew 7:21-27 As I read the passages allocated for today’s reading, the words that come to me are hope and trust.  The psalm

Isaiah 25:6-9Psalm 23Matthew 15:29-39 Today’s readings are seeds of hope. Ruben Alvez states “Hope is hearing the melody of the future”.  Isaiah prophesied that the

Isaiah 11: 1-10Psalm 72: 1-8Luke 10: 21-24 As we continue to plod through the world pandemic, today’s readings, especially Isaiah, bring us fresh hope for