Luke 10:23-24 

New International Version 

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” 

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120324.cfm  

By Don and Kathy Vore 

Advent has barely begun yet we began seeing holiday decorations and hearing Christmas carols sung before Thanksgiving.  Like many people, we felt this was too early – too early and too commercial.   

The closing lines of today’s Gospel are a vibrant reminder of what it is we anticipate each day this month.  We are encouraged to open our eyes and ears.  To be vigilant.  Those commercial decorations and sometimes tasteless songs are signs for us.  The words may not say it, the pictures may not show it, but they remind us that Christmas is coming.  And Christmas is more than an ordinary gift.  It is an extraordinary gift from the Lord our God.  The Gift of His Son, the Baby Jesus, our Savior.   

No matter how commercialized those jingles and advertising pictures are, they remind us of Who is coming.  When we open our eyes and ears, they are a call for us to pray each day of Advent.  To pray in gratitude and thanksgiving for the Gift of the Baby Jesus.  Will you open your eyes and ears this Advent? 

Don Vore, OFS, & Kathy Vore, OFS, are members of San Damiano Fraternity of the Order of Secular Franciscans.  They follow the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi: Living Gospel to Life and Life to Gospel.  They have been Living Stones of this Parish since 2012. 

Advent is a time when we try to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, our Lord and savior to celebrate his birthday at Christmas. We should try to have a special place in our heart and soul to receive him spiritually in prayer, when he touches us through those who are part of our life, and especially when we receive Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120224.cfm
By Sister Kathleen Keck

In the first reading today, the prophet Isaiah tells us that the Lord’s House shall be established on the highest mountain and all nations shall stream toward it. Let us now go rejoicing as we climb to the Lord’s house praying with great faith the centurion’s words, “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, only say the word and my soul will be healed” (Mt. 8:8).

How will you climb the Lord’s Mountain this Advent?

Sister Kathleen Keck has been a Franciscan sister of Allegheny, New York for 66 years. She taught 15 years the order’s black schools in the South before integration and served for 23 years in Bolivia South America as a missionary working in the back country with the poorest of the poor. For the past 21 years Sister Kathleen has been at St Anne working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as teaching Faith formation.