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Gospel: Luke 7: 18-23

At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind. 
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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As we draw closer to the celebration of Christmas, and the days of the year grow darker, we honor the life of John of the Cross, a 16^th century mystic known for his writings about the soul’s journey to God. 

In nearly every journey, he says, one encounters some level of spiritual darkness… that feeling of God being absent. 

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It may happen when we lose a loved one. When stuck in quarantine. When under added amounts of stress. When battling temptation. Or when our prayer life runs dry.

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God doesn’t disappear in these moments; quite the opposite.

Sometimes God allows the darkness – the feeling of his absence- to settle in to test our spirit. To give us opportunities to reject temptation. To persevere in prayer. To wait patiently for his consolation to return.

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When has my prayer life run dry? Or when have I felt like God was absent?

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Saint John teaches us to never give up hope. When the well runs dry, double-down and re-commit yourself to the Lord.

As we read in scripture:

“God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10: 13).

Even the most difficult days can draw our soul closer to God. Sometimes it just boils down to perseverance, trusting God is present, even when we cannot feel his embrace.

Saint John of the Cross, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) anastpaul.com (2) reflectionsonthesacredliturgy.com (3) Prince of Peace Church

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Gospel: Matthew 21: 28 -32

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion? 
A man had two sons. 
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. 
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 
Which of the two did his father’s will?” 
They answered, “The first.” 
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you. 
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did. 
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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When the English author G.K. Chesterton was asked, “What is wrong with the world?” 

He replied, “I am.”

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Most of us would answer differently.

What’s wrong with the world?

Politics. Greed. Terrorism. Corruption. Racism. COVID. Wildfires. The flu.

Anything – and anyone – but me.

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Why would Chesterton, a devout Christian, say he’s part of what’s wrong with the world?

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He wasn’t taking personal responsibility for all of the world’s problems. But he was acknowledging the role he’s played in perpetuating them.

Like the first son in today’s Gospel, Chesterton admits to ignoring his conscience at times, to saying “no” to doing his Father’s will. 

Whether that meant clinging to a grudge; indulging in food or drink; being selfish; gossiping; or whatever his sins may have been.

But, like that first son, Chesterton also repented – and tried to be better. 

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That’s an important part of our Advent journeys – acknowledging those areas where we’ve fallen short. Or, you might say, have been part of the “problem.”

We acknowledge our shortcomings, repent, and strive to be better.

So, what’s wrong with the world?

At times, I am. But Advent is an appointed time for all of us to change.

What might that look like for me today?

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Image credits: (1) petesantucci.com, Chesterton (2) Orthodoxy, Chesterton (3) Journeywithus.asia

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Gospel: Luke 1: 39-47

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is the only Gospel where two women appear… and they’re both pregnant. It’s what we celebrate today, “motherhood.”

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We’ve all had mothers. Some of us are mothers. We celebrate them because you cannot be a mother to yourself. You’re always a mother in relation to someone else – offering life, protection, nourishment, and love.

Mary was the mother to Jesus. Elizabeth, the mother to John. And Our Lady of Guadalupe, a mother to Saint Juan Diego.

She appeared to him in his native Mexico over the course of 4 days in the year 1531. During these appearances, she said to him, “Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection?” 

Her message converted 8 million natives, and through the centuries, millions more. 

It’s why the Blessed Mother was featured on the cover of National Geographic Magazine a few years ago. They named her the most powerful woman in the world because of our universal Catholic devotion to her.

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Mary offers each of us what she offered Saint Juan Diego – the assurance of her prayers and the comfort of her embrace. Do we feel it?

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We turn to her today in hope, that she will intercede on our behalf before Jesus as we pray,  Hail Mary, full of grace…

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Image credits: (1) Our Lady of Guadalupe (2) Our Lady, cover of National Geographic (3) Our Lady Queen with Child Jesus, Etsy