WAITING IN HOPE
These Advent Reflections
are offered
to the Glory of God,
in loving memory of
Sr. Patricia Forler, SSJD
and as a gift
to the extended
family of
the Sisterhood –
Associates, Oblates,
Companions
and many friends,
in thanksgiving
for our
Common Life
in Christ.
“We give thanks to God
and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you, ….”
Colossians 1: 3-4
Forward
Advent 2023
Waiting in Hope
When I was seven, my Irish grandmother brought me a souvenir from the Old Country, a small metal frame painted with a poem which I soon could say by heart, and like a fruitful lectio, it rises up in me when I need reminding.
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
“I should really like to know
why these anxious human beings
rush about and worry so.”
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
“Friend, I think that it must be
that they have no heavenly Father,
such as cares for you and me.”1
Though I didn’t know until recently, this conversation between birds is titled “Overheard in an Orchard”. Astute in their appraisal of the human condition, the curiosity of one precedes the pity of the other: clearly these humans have no Advocate – for had they, their lives would be unburdened.
There’s plenty in the world to cause distress, to send us rushing madly off in all directions weighed down with worry and fear, but we are called to live into the Hope that is ours.
Advent invites us into a time of expectant waiting by heralding the hope we long for. The coming of Emmanuel, whose very name means God-with-us, is echoed in this overheard conversation. Jesus came to teach us how to live and how to love – not from afar, but from right here, among us. St. Peter dares us to “always be ready to give an account for the hope that is in you”.2 This year marks the 10th year of these Advent messages and once again, each Oblate’s reflection can be read as a conversation overheard in the orchard of our daily lives.
Suggested readings are included with these entries. May they also be a source of hope in your daily devotions. As we journey on to Bethlehem, we welcome your company on the Way.
Frances Drolet-Smith
1Elizabeth Cheney. 1859
REFLECTIONS FOR 2023 WILL APPEAR DAILY STARTING ON December 3, 2023
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Monday, November 29, 2021
Isaiah 2:1-5Psalm 122Matthew 8:5-13 I love the Message translations of these readings and found myself highlighting the following: Come, let’s live in the light of
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-91 Thessalonians 3:9-13Luke 21:25-36 In Jan Richardson’s book, Through the Advent Door: Entering a Contemplative Christmas (2011), she says, “Advent seems
December 24, 2020
2 Samuel 7:1-6 Psalm 89: 1-4,19-29 Luke 1:67-79 Christmas Eve! Have you finished your shopping? What about the first Christmas Eve?
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Malachi 3:1-5 Psalm 25: 1-14 Luke 1: 57-66 Advent is a time of being still, of waiting, with anticipation and hope.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
1 Samuel 1:19-28 Psalm 113 Luke 1:46-56 Hannah and Mary rejoiced after receiving great blessings from God. Hannah, when she
Monday, December 21, 2020
Song of Songs 2:8-14 Psalm 33:1-5, 20-22 Luke 1:39-45 During this ‘new normal’ time, the readings for today may inspire ‘new normal’
Sunday, December 20, 2020
2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 Psalm 89:1-4,19-26 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 Psalm 71:1-8 Luke 1:5-25 We always look for little signs of hope in our lives and when
Friday December 18, 2020
Friday. December 18, 2020 Jeremiah 23:5-8 Psalm 72: 11-19 Matthew 1: 18-25 “…and they will call him “Immanuel” which means
Thursday December 17
Thursday, December 17, 2020 Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Psalm 72:1-8 Matthew 1:1-7,17 In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until
Wednesday December 16
Isaiah 45: 5-8,18-25 Psalm 85: 8-13 Luke 7: 19-23 For me, it has been a year of some darkness. Like
Tuesday, December 15
Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Psalm 34: 1-8, 15-22 Matthew 21: 28-32 The Parable of the Two Sons “What do you think?
Monday, December 14, 2020
Numbers 24: 2-7, 15-17a Psalm 25: 3-8 Matthew 21: 23-27 After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his cleansing
Sunday December 13, 2020
Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 The third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Sirach 48: 1-11 Psalm 80: 13, 14-18 Matthew 17: 9-13 Sometime in 2019 I decided that in 2020 I would
Friday, December 11, 2020
Isaiah 48: 17-19 Psalm 1 Matthew 11: 16-19 Yesterday’s reading from Matthew sets the context for today. The relationship of
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Isaiah 41: 13-20 Psalm 145: 1-4, 8-13 Matthew 11:7-15 In the verses prior to our gospel reading, John, speaking from
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Isaiah 40: 25-31 Psalm 103: 1-10 Matthew 11: 28-30 2020, the year of the pandemic. Terms like self-isolation, flatten
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Isaiah 40: 1-11 Psalm 96 Matthew 18:12-14 As I read today’s passages, I see a theme of new beginnings and
Monday, December 7, 2020
Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 85:8-13 Luke 5: 17-26 The man in the Gospel is named “friend” by Jesus because of the love and
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Latin 1156B, fol. 82r. Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2,8-13 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 Isaiah
Saturday , December 5, 2020
Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26 Psalm 147:1-12 Matthew 9:35-10:1,5-8 Recently, I tried an experiment, and cut the bottom off a celery stalk and the bottom
Friday , December 4, 2020
Isaiah 29:17-24 Psalm 27:1-6, 17-18 Matthew 9:27-31 In the last six months, “Believe in Jesus” has been the constant mantra for many Christians. In the advice given on
Thursday , December 3, 2020
Isaiah 26:1-6 Psalm 118:19-24 Matthew 7:21-27 We were sitting on the lawn on our fold-up chairs, six feet apart, eating Thai take-out and
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