It was a busy day of planning, baking Christmas cookies, and preparing the guest room for family that will soon be visiting at this most joyful time of the year, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122024.cfm

By Hayni Blue

Later that afternoon after a much-needed rest and a pot of hot lemon/ginger tea, I took some time for reflection on today’s reading. Luke 1:38 stood out, Mary said “behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word”.

Mary set aside her plans when God made clear to her His plan for her life! She may not have understood it or even liked it at that moment. I don’t know and yet she fully trusted and accepted God’s word and plans for her.

Perhaps this Advent season we can take a few moments and come into His presence and linger with Him in prayer, let our mind be open, and allow God to the time and space to speak to us. We know our greatest friend is waiting for us. He’s always present.

Hayni Blue, among other things, leads the St. Monica Society which meets on the first Tuesday of each month to pray for unbelievers and those who have fallen away from their faith. You are welcome to join them any month.

Today’s readings share many parallels; they both recount how God sent an angel to announce the good news of the conception of a child to women of advanced age.

Readings for today: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121924.cfm  

By Jose Torres, Jr. 

Today’s readings share many parallels; they both recount how God sent an angel to announce the good news of the conception of a child to women of advanced age. Both future children (Samson and John the Baptist) were consecrated to God from the womb and would grow up to deliver the people of Israel out of their current situation to an improved relationship with God. 

Where they differ is how the news was received. When God speaks to us, we can respond in one of two ways. We can respond like Manoah’s wife, unquestioning and with complete trust. She embodied today’s responsorial response: “My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!” Or we can respond like Zachariah, untrusting and with doubt. Because he did not believe in the angel’s words, he was stricken mute, unable to share the good news with anyone. Either way, God’s promises to us “will be fulfilled at their proper time” (Lk. 1:20).  

This Advent, let us be like Manoah’s wife, who trusted completely in God’s promise; the promise that He would send a savior to redeem the world by His birth! 

Jose Torres Jr. has attended St. Anne for 5 years after relocating from New Jersey by way of St. Louis. He and his family attend the 10am Mass. He is a Sacristan and is in the process of discerning a call to the Deaconate.