Come Lord Jesus Series: Monday Third Week Advent

 Come Lord Jesus Series

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Monday — Third Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations;

declare it to the distant lands:

Behold, our Saviour will come;

you need no longer fear.”  (cf. Jeremiah 31:10; Isaiah 35:4)

Reflection

As the third week of Advent unfolds, the tone of the liturgy shifts yet again. The call today is not simply to watch or to rejoice, but to listen: “Hear the word of the Lord.” Advent has been forming our desire, sharpening our sight, awakening joy — and now it asks for something very concrete: attentive hearing.

The invitation is addressed not only to Israel but to the nations. What God is doing is not hidden, private, or exclusive. The good news of Advent is meant to be spoken aloud, carried outward, declared “to the distant lands.” Salvation is not a secret to be guarded; it is a promise to be shared. And the message itself is beautifully simple: “Behold, our Saviour will come.”

Then comes the line that touches the heart most directly: “You need no longer fear.”
Advent is honest about fear. It does not pretend that fear disappears overnight. But it insists that fear does not get the final word. The coming of the Saviour reframes everything. Fear loses its grip when we realise we are not alone, not forgotten, not abandoned to our own strength.

Notice what the antiphon does not say. It does not say that all difficulties will immediately vanish. It does not promise a life free of struggle. Instead, it announces a presence — a Saviour who comes toward us, who enters the very places where fear lives, and who stays.

As we move closer to Christmas, Advent’s message becomes increasingly tender and direct. God does not shout us into courage; He draws near and says, quietly but firmly: Do not be afraid.

This is a word worth hearing again and again — especially in the busy, emotionally charged days leading up to Christmas. The Saviour comes not to add pressure, but to lift burdens. He comes not to judge our readiness, but to bring mercy, peace, and reassurance.

Practice for Today:

When anxiety or hurry arises throughout the day,  take these three steps
1. Stop: Stopping where you are and closing your eyes is crucial.

2. Pause and inhale and exhale  3 slow breaths and then 

3. pray: "Lord, You are coming. I do not need to fear today.”

Come, Lord Jesus.

 

 Collect Series

The Mass: Collect Series icon

The Collect for the 3rd Sunday of Advent Year A reads as follows:

O God who sees how your people 
faithfully await for the feast of the Lord's Nativity
enable us we pray to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always 
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with Him and the Holy Spirit, 
one God for ever and ever.

 
In making this prayer tangible for my life during the week, the following reflections questions emerged:

1. How will I faithfully await for the Lord's Nativity?
2. What are the joys of so great a salvation- what does this mean to me?
3. How do I celebrate these joys always?
4. What does solemn worship mean to me?
5. What might glad rejoicing  be like to me?
6. What will I do this week to maintain a spirit of waiting with joyful expectation?

 

Gospel Reflection

Theme: “Are You the One Who Is to Come?”

 

Setting the Scene

John the Baptist, now imprisoned, hears of Jesus’ deeds and sends his disciples to ask: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus responds not with a simple “yes,” but by pointing to His works: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive good news. These are the signs foretold by Isaiah of the Messiah’s mission.

Jesus then speaks to the crowd about John, affirming his greatness as the prophet who prepared the way, yet declaring that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

Gospel Reflection: Promises Unfolding

This passage draws us into the mystery of expectation and fulfilment. John, who boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God, now wrestles with doubt in prison. His question is honest: “Are you the one?” Advent is often marked by this same tension — longing for God’s promises, but waiting in the dark.

Jesus’ answer is profound: look at the signs. The Kingdom is breaking in. The works of mercy and healing reveal that God’s promises are being fulfilled, even if not in the way John imagined. The Messiah has come not as a warrior to overthrow Rome but as the Servant who restores, heals, and brings life.

For us, too, faith in Advent means recognising God’s presence in unexpected ways. The promise of joy does not mean freedom from hardship — John remains in prison — but the assurance that God’s Kingdom is truly here, even in the midst of struggle.

 

Personal Reflection

I hear John’s question echo in my own life: “Are You the one?” Sometimes I long for God to act more swiftly or more obviously. Yet Jesus points me to the signs of life and healing around me — small but real works of His Kingdom.

Advent joy is not shallow cheerfulness but deep confidence that God is at work, even when I cannot yet see the whole picture. Like John, I am invited to trust that Jesus is indeed the One, and that His works speak louder than my doubts.

 

Gospel Reflection: Promises Unfolding

This passage draws us into the mystery of expectation and fulfilment. John, who boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God, now wrestles with doubt in prison. His question is honest: “Are you the one?” Advent is often marked by this same tension — longing for God’s promises, but waiting in the dark.

Jesus’ answer is profound: look at the signs. The Kingdom is breaking in. The works of mercy and healing reveal that God’s promises are being fulfilled, even if not in the way John imagined. The Messiah has come not as a warrior to overthrow Rome but as the Servant who restores, heals, and brings life.

For us, too, faith in Advent means recognising God’s presence in unexpected ways. The promise of joy does not mean freedom from hardship — John remains in prison — but the assurance that God’s Kingdom is truly here, even in the midst of struggle.

 

Questions for Reflection

1. Where do I find myself asking John’s question: “Are you the one?”
2. How do I recognise the signs of Christ’s Kingdom breaking into my life today?
3. What expectations of God might I need to let go of, so I can see His presence more clearly?
4. How does John’s honesty in doubt give me courage to bring my own questions to God?
5. What “works of mercy” can I practise this week to bear witness to Christ’s presence?

Gaudete Sunday: Rejoice!

Today is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin gaudete, meaning “rejoice.” The name comes from the Entrance Antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.”

On this Third Sunday of Advent, the Church invites us to pause in our waiting and recognise the joy that Christ is near. This is why the liturgical colour shifts from violet to rose. Rose vestments and the rose candle on the Advent wreath symbolise joy breaking into the penitential season, a reminder that Advent is not only about repentance but also about hope and glad expectation.

Gaudete Sunday also mirrors Laetare Sunday in Lent — another rose-coloured day that marks a moment of joy and encouragement in the midst of a penitential season. Both days call us to lift our eyes and rejoice that God’s promises are unfolding, even if not yet fully realised.

 

Advent Connection (Joy)

On Gaudete Sunday, we are invited to rejoice: “The Lord is near!” This joy is not based on circumstances — John remained in prison — but on recognising Christ at work. True joy flows from knowing that God’s promises are being fulfilled here and now. The signs of the Kingdom — healing, mercy, good news for the poor — are cause for rejoicing.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,
when doubts rise within me,
remind me of Your works of mercy and love.
Open my eyes to the signs of Your Kingdom,
and fill me with the deep joy of knowing You are the One.
Help me to rejoice in Your presence,
even in the midst of waiting and struggle.
Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Come Lord Jesus Series

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Third Sunday of Advent — Gaudete Sunday (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.

Indeed, the Lord is near.”

(cf. Philippians 4:4–5)

 

Reflection

Gaudete Sunday arrives like a sudden clearing in the sky. After weeks of watchfulness, longing, and patient attentiveness, the Church interrupts Advent’s gentle restraint with a command that is both startling and liberating: “Rejoice.” And then, as if to make sure we do not miss it: “Again I say, rejoice.” This is not a suggestion. It is a summons.

But Christian joy is not forced cheerfulness or surface happiness. St Paul writes these words from prison, reminding us that joy does not depend on circumstances being resolved. It depends on one unshakeable truth: “The Lord is near.” Not distant. Not delayed. Near.

Gaudete Sunday teaches us that joy is born from proximity. When God draws close, something within us begins to lift — even if life is still complex, even if questions remain unanswered. Joy, in Advent, is not the end of the journey; it is the sign that the journey is rightly oriented.

The rose vestments worn today are not a break from Advent, but a deepening of it. They signal that hope has matured into confidence. The waiting Church is now a rejoicing Church, because what she has longed for is already approaching. Christ is no longer just promised — He is at the door.

And yet, this joy is gentle. It does not rush. It allows space for rest — even for going back to bed when needed. Gaudete joy honours the whole person: body, soul, and spirit. It reminds us that rejoicing does not mean pushing harder, but trusting more deeply.

To rejoice “in the Lord” is to let joy rest not on productivity, not on progress, not even on spiritual success — but on relationship. The Lord is near. That is enough.

Today, Advent gives us permission to smile, to breathe, to receive joy as grace rather than achievement. Joy does not cancel waiting; it sustains it.

So we rejoice — not because everything is finished,
but because God is close.

Some people believe that they do not have time to pray or that they are too busy.  The practices are for all of us to keep us focused  and renew our focus throughout the day.  It can be any 15 seconds you have... sitting at a traffic light, in a queue at the supermarket,  put the TV on silent during the advertisements ... all different times we can refocus. Find your time to stay focused this week.

Practice for Today:
Pause throughout the day, and pray slowly:
“Lord, You are near. I receive Your joy.”

Come Lord Jesus Series: Saturday Second Week of Advent- Feast of St Lucy.

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Saturday — Second Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“Come, O Lord, visit us in peace,

that we may rejoice before You with a blameless heart.”

(cf. Psalm 24:3; Psalm 85:8)

(Yes — this antiphon returns. The repetition is intentional and deeply Advental.)

Reflection

As the second week of Advent draws to a close, the Church places on our lips a prayer that gathers together everything we have been learning:
“Come, O Lord, visit us in peace.”

This is not the cry of urgency alone, nor the plea of desperation. It is the prayer of a people who are learning to trust the way God comes. Advent has been schooling our hearts in patience, attentiveness, and openness. We have heard again and again that the Lord will come — with light, with truth, with peace, with splendour — and now we ask Him to visit us, not simply to arrive, but to remain.

In Scripture, when God visits His people, something always changes. A visitation brings restoration, healing, re-ordering, and blessing. It is never rushed, never superficial. To ask the Lord to visit us in peace is to ask Him to enter the inner places of our lives — the places of restlessness, fatigue, quiet worry, and hidden longing — and to settle them gently in His presence.

The fruit of that visitation is beautifully named: “that we may rejoice before You.”
Advent joy is not loud or forced. It grows slowly as peace takes root. It arises when we stop resisting God’s nearness and allow ourselves to be met as we are. Rejoicing “before” the Lord suggests honesty and humility — standing in His presence without pretence, without fear, without needing to prove anything.

And then comes the phrase that can so easily be misunderstood: “with a blameless heart.”  This does not mean a flawless heart. In the language of Scripture, a blameless heart is a single heart — a heart turned toward God, seeking Him sincerely, even in weakness. Advent is not about perfection; it is about orientation. A blameless heart is one that keeps turning back to the Lord.

As Week Two ends, this antiphon becomes a prayer that gathers our desire:
Come, Lord.
Visit us.
Bring peace.
Awaken joy.
Unify our hearts.

Week Two of Advent — A Short Reflection & Review

Week Two of Advent has deepened our awareness of God’s nearness and God’s voice.  We have listened to prophets who spoke of light breaking into darkness, of God descending with splendour, of peace being bestowed, of hearts being enlightened, and of the Lord speaking in the joy of the heart. This week has invited us to move from simply waiting to listening, from watching the horizon to noticing what God is already doing within.

Advent’s work is often subtle. It unfolds quietly, shaping desire rather than demanding action. As this week ends, we are invited not to judge our progress, but to notice God’s presence.

Spiritual Review Question — Week Two:

Where have I noticed the Lord drawing closer this week?

What might He be asking me to release or simplify so that I can welcome Him more fully in the week ahead?

Let the answer come gently.
Advent is patient. God is near.

Feast of St Lucy — Light in the Darkness (13 December)

Today the Church also remembers St Lucy, whose very name means light. Celebrated in the heart of Advent, her feast is a quiet proclamation that God’s light cannot be extinguished — not by darkness, not by fear, not by suffering. The Entrance Antiphon is one for her feast not of Second Saturday of Advent.

Lucy lived in a time of persecution, and her witness was marked not by outward power but by interior clarity and courage. Tradition remembers her especially as a bearer of light — both physically and spiritually — someone whose faith remained radiant even when circumstances were harsh. In her, the Advent promise becomes flesh: “On that day there will be a great light.”

St Lucy reminds us that light is not something we generate for ourselves. It is something we receive and then carry. Her witness echoes the rhythm of Advent itself: Christ draws near, illuminates the heart, and then sends His light into the world through ordinary, faithful lives.

As we conclude this second week of Advent, St Lucy stands beside us as a companion and intercessor — encouraging us to trust the light already given, even when the path ahead feels dim. Her presence gently reinforces everything this week has taught us: God’s coming brings peace, clarity, and a light that endures.

.

Come Lord Jesus Series: Friday Second Week of Advent Year A

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Friday — Second Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“Behold, the Lord will descend with splendour

to visit His people with peace,

and He will bestow on them eternal life.”

(cf. Isaiah 30:19, 30)

Reflection

Today’s Entrance Antiphon invites us to behold a God who descends. Advent consistently reveals a God who does not remain distant or detached, but who bends toward His people with intention and love. The word descending is crucial. It tells us something essential about God’s way of acting: He comes down to meet us where we are. He does not wait for us to ascend through effort or worthiness. He draws near first.

And yet, Isaiah tells us that this descent is not hidden or hesitant — it is marked by splendour. Advent holds together two truths that seem contradictory but are inseparable: God comes humbly, and God comes gloriously. The splendour of His coming is not about spectacle or display; it is the quiet radiance of divine faithfulness, the beauty of a God who keeps His promises and acts for the good of His people.

The purpose of this descent is clear: “to visit His people with peace.”
In Scripture, a divine visitation is never a casual moment. When God visits, He restores order, heals what is wounded, gathers what is scattered, and settles what is restless. Peace here is not simply the absence of conflict. It is the deep, steady assurance that comes from knowing we are seen, known, and held by God. Advent peace is a gift — not something we manufacture, but something we receive.

Finally, the antiphon reaches beyond the present moment to the horizon of fulfilment: “He will bestow on them eternal life.”
Advent always stretches our vision. The Lord who comes to bring peace now also prepares us for life that does not end. Eternal life is not only a future promise; it begins here, in every moment when we allow God’s peace to take root in the heart.

Today’s antiphon reassures us that God’s coming brings wholeness — peace for today, hope for tomorrow, and life without end.

Practice for Today:

Pause throughout the day and pray:
“Lord, visit me with Your peace.
Help me to receive the life You are offering.”

Come Holy Spirit Series: Holy Spirit as The Breath of God

 Come Holy Spirit Series

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The Breath of God

Opening Reflection

There is something intimate and sacred about breath. It is the very first gift we receive when we enter the world—our first inhale marks the beginning of our earthly journey, and our final exhale marks its end. Breath is both unseen and essential, sustaining life quietly yet powerfully. So when the Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit as The Breath of God, it invites us into a profound mystery: the Spirit is not just close to us—He is within us, sustaining us from the inside out.

The Hebrew word ruach and the Greek word pneuma are both translated as “spirit,” but they also mean “breath” and “wind.” From the very beginning of creation, this image of the Spirit as the breath or wind of God is present and active. When we invoke the Holy Spirit as the Breath of God, we are calling on the One who animates, revives, inspires, and empowers—who breathes God’s very life into our hearts and lives.

Scriptural Foundations

The image of the Spirit as God’s breath runs deeply throughout both Old and New Testaments:

“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  Job 33:4

Here, Job affirms that his very life comes from the breath of the Almighty. Life is not merely biological—it is spiritual. Our souls are animated by God's own Spirit.

“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.”– Genesis 2:7

At creation, we were shaped from the dust, but we did not become truly alive until God breathed into us. The breath of God makes us more than flesh—it makes us persons capable of love, reason, relationship, and worship.

“Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”  John 20:22

In this stunning moment after the Resurrection, Jesus re-creates His disciples, just as God once breathed life into Adam. He imparts the Holy Spirit with a breath—an act of both power and tenderness, signifying the Spirit’s role in birthing a new creation.

“Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”  Ezekiel 37:9

In the famous vision of the valley of dry bones, the breath of God brings the dead to life. This passage is not just about physical resurrection but also about spiritual revival—God’s ability to breathe hope, vitality, and purpose into even the most lifeless of situations.

Theological Meaning

To call the Holy Spirit the Breath of God is to affirm that He is the very life-force of God working in creation, redemption, and sanctification. Breath is invisible but necessary. It is quiet but powerful. In the same way, the Spirit often works silently, beneath the surface, but His presence is what enables us to live fully in Christ.

The Church Fathers often reflected on this title. St. Basil the Great described the Spirit as the One who “animates all things and gives life.” St. Augustine noted that the Spirit, as breath, binds the Father and the Son in mutual love and unity—He is the Breath of Divine Love. Even the Nicene Creed affirms: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.”

Personal Reflection

Have you ever stopped to become aware of your breathing? In moments of anxiety, grief, or stress, breath can become shallow and laboured. Yet slowing down and breathing deeply can be a path to peace. This same principle applies to our spiritual lives. When we feel dry, weary, or distant from God, we are invited to breathe again—to invite the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh.

The Breath of God is not just something that gives life once. It renews us daily. It breathes hope into despair, strength into weakness, courage into fear. Every breath we take can become a prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, Breath of God, fill me anew.

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Breath of the Living God.
Breathe into me the life of the Father.
Where I am weary, bring strength.
Where I am dry, pour out refreshment.
Where I am restless, instil peace.
You who hovered over the waters of creation, hover now over the chaos of my life and bring new order and beauty.
Fill my lungs, my heart, my soul with Your presence.
Make me fully alive in Christ.
Amen.

 

Come Lord Jesus Series: Thursday Second Week of Advent

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Thursday Second Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“You, O Lord, are close,

and all Your ways are truth.

From of old I have known of Your decrees,

for You are eternal.”

(cf. Psalm 118:151–152)

Reflection

Today’s antiphon gently draws the heart back to one of Advent’s most consoling truths: “You, O Lord, are close.”
Advent is not simply about longing for God’s future coming; it is also about recognising His nearness now — in the ordinary, the quiet, the hidden corners of daily life. The psalmist does not say, “You will be close,” but You are close. Divine nearness is not a hope but a present reality.

“And all Your ways are truth.”
This confession steadies the heart. God’s ways are trustworthy even when they feel mysterious. There are moments when we cannot see the whole path, when the timing feels stretched or uncertain, when the future seems veiled. Yet Advent invites us to trust not what we see, but Who is guiding us. To say that His ways are truth is to say that God is incapable of deception; He cannot mislead or abandon.

“From of old I have known of Your decrees…”
The psalmist looks backward in order to move forward. Advent is a season that reconnects us with memory — the long history of God’s fidelity to His people. Every generation of Israel, every saint, every quiet believer has learned the same truth: God is faithful. Remembering this strengthens hope in the present. The God who acted before will act again.

And finally: “for You are eternal.”
This is the anchor of the entire prayer. God’s closeness, God’s truth, and God’s fidelity are not temporary. His love does not waver. His presence is not seasonal. His intentions do not change with circumstance. The eternal God draws near today, in the exact circumstances you face, with the same compassion and clarity He has shown throughout salvation history.

Advent slowly teaches the heart to rest in God’s nearness — to stop searching frantically for signs and to begin trusting more deeply in the One who is already beside us.

Practice for Today:
Pray softly, throughout the day:
“Lord, You are close. Help me to recognise Your nearness today.”

Pause and feel His closeness to you and praise and thank Him for His presence to you.

Come Lord Jesus Series: Wednesday second week Advent

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Advent Wreath  Come Lord Jesus series Icon.

Wednesday — Second Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“The Lord will come to save the nations,

and the Lord will make the glory of His voice heard

in the joy of your heart.”

(cf. Isaiah 30:19, 30)

Yes, this is  the same antiphon used on the Second Sunday of Advent, but as Advent moves along in our journey, so do we in our thoughts.

Reflection

Today's antiphon returns us to the strong prophetic certainty of Isaiah: “The Lord will come to save the nations.” Advent’s message is never restricted or narrow; it is as wide as God’s heart. Salvation is not an idea, not a system, not a philosophy but rather it is a Person coming toward us, crossing every distance for the sake of love. And Isaiah makes it clear: this coming is not partial or selective. It is for the nations — for all peoples, all places, every heart.

And then the antiphon shifts from the cosmic to the deeply personal:
“the Lord will make the glory of His voice heard in the joy of your heart.”

There is something tender and astonishing here. God does not speak from a distance. He does not thunder into our lives as if we were strangers. His voice is meant to be heard within the heart — not as noise, not as pressure, but as joy. The glory of God’s voice is not fearsome; it is joyful, illuminating, and life-giving.

Think of the ways God speaks:

• through Scripture,  
• through stillness, 
• through gentle movements of conscience, 
• through unexpected clarity, through peace that settles quietly and 
• through the small stirrings of renewed desire

Advent teaches us to listen for these subtle visitations, the gentle infusions of joy that indicate God is near. His voice brings consolation, not confusion. It brings hope, not heaviness. When joy stirs — even slightly, we are tasting the glory of His voice.

This antiphon also reminds us that joy is not self-generated. It is received. It blossoms when God draws near, when His saving presence becomes real in the hidden places of the soul. In a world full of competing voices, God’s voice alone carries glory — and His glory awakens joy.

Where have you noticed joy this week?
Where might God be speaking through small signs you have overlooked?
Advent invites us not only to wait but to listen — and to recognise the voice that brings joy.

Practice for Today:
Before sleep or upon waking, pray slowly:
“Lord, let the glory of Your voice be heard in the joy of my heart.”

.

 

Come Lord Jesus Series: Tuesday Second Week of Advent Year A

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Tuesday — Second Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“Behold, the Lord will come,

and all His holy ones with Him;

and on that day there will be a great light.”

(cf. Zechariah 14:5,7)

This is the same antiphon used the previous Tuesday, because in Year A the liturgy applies it again in Week 2.

Reflection

Today’s antiphon begins with a single word that carries the entire spirit of Advent: Behold. Behold means not a mere look, but to see with intention. To behold is to stand alert, awake, and receptive to the movements of God. Advent is not only about time passing; it is about learning to see differently — to recognise traces of the Lord’s coming already unfolding in the present moment.

“The Lord will come.”  There is nothing tentative or uncertain here. Advent does not offer a possibility, but a certainty. God is not waiting for perfect conditions. He comes into human history — and into our personal histories as they are, bringing healing, illumination, and hope. The gift of Advent is the confidence that God’s arrival is not dependent on our strength but on His faithfulness.

Then Zechariah gives a striking vision: “and all His holy ones with Him.”
This is not the quiet humility of Bethlehem but a glimpse of the final revelation of glory. Advent always stretches us between the manger and the second coming, teaching us to hold smallness and splendour together. The Lord who once came hidden now promises a future coming in light, companionship, and majesty.

Finally: “on that day there will be a great light.”   This is the heart of the prophecy. The “great light” is not merely the end of physical darkness but the unveiling of truth. It is the moment when God’s presence clarifies what is confusing, warms what has grown cold, and illumines every shadowed part of the heart. Advent gently prepares us for this light by teaching us to welcome smaller rays of grace now.

Where do you need light today? Where has the inner landscape grown dim, uncertain, or cluttered with shadows?

Advent reassures us: the great light is coming — and even now, its dawn is beginning.

Practice for Today:

Light a candle- strike the match and sit with the lit candle (for whatever time you have- even one minute can make a difference) Notice and ask yourself:   
What do I feel after I light the candle? How do I feel  during my this time and at the end of my allotted time?

Sit quietly before a candle or a small light and pray:
“Lord, let Your great light touch this place in my life today.”

Give me Your grace  to understand Your Truth and help me illuminate one shadow today and bright it to Your rays of grace and light.

.Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Come Lord Jesus Series; Monday Second Week Advent ( The Immaculate Conception)

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 Feast of Immaculate Conception.

Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
For the sake of completeness in this Advent series, I have included both the liturgical reflection for today’s Marian feast and the Entrance Antiphon reflection for Monday of the Second Week of Advent (Year A).
May Mary’s purity and God’s saving promise deepen our longing for Christ who comes.

 PART I — Monday of the Second Week of Advent (Year A)

Entrance Antiphon:

“The Lord will come with might,

and He will enlighten the eyes of His servants.”

(cf. Isaiah 35:4–5)

Reflection

Today’s antiphon draws our hearts to a promise filled with strength and tenderness: “The Lord will come with might.” These words do not describe a God who overwhelms but a God who restores. The “might” of the Lord is not domination but the power to save, to lift up, to heal what is broken. Advent continually invites us to rediscover God’s strength not as force but as faithfulness.

The prophet continues: “He will enlighten the eyes of His servants.” This is Advent’s interior work — God transforming not only circumstances but perception. Very often it is our way of seeing that needs healing. The eyes of the heart can become dim through discouragement, distraction, or repeated disappointments. Advent is the season when God gently adjusts our spiritual sight, allowing us to recognise His presence where we once saw only darkness.

God’s enlightenment is not a sudden floodlight but the steady dawn. It may begin as a small clarity, a quiet reassurance, a shift in understanding. Little by little, He teaches us to see truthfully: ourselves, others, and the world through His light. This is why Advent is never merely about waiting; it is also about awakening.

“The Lord will come with might.”
For the tired, this is hope.
For the fearful, this is courage.
For the weary-eyed, this is new vision.

Today, the antiphon asks us to trust that God is at work even before we perceive it. His coming is certain. His light is faithful. And His strength is perfectly matched to our weakness.

Practice for Today:
Pray simply:
“Lord, enlighten my eyes. Let me see as You see.”

 PART II — Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Entrance Antiphon:

“I rejoice heartily in the Lord,

my soul rejoices in my God;

for He has clothed me with the robe of salvation

and wrapped me in a mantle of justice.”

(cf. Isaiah 61:10)

 

Be It done according to Your Word.

Reflection

On this radiant solemnity, the Church celebrates not an event in Mary’s life that she accomplished, but a gift she received: the grace of being conceived without sin, prepared from the first moment of her existence to bear Christ in perfect freedom. The Immaculate Conception is not about distance from humanity, but about God drawing humanity close — restoring in Mary what He desires for us all.

Isaiah’s text becomes Mary’s voice today: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord.”  Mary rejoices not in herself but in the gracious initiative of God. She is the living sign that salvation is always God’s work, not ours. Her immaculate conception reveals the breathtaking generosity of God, who prepares long before the moment of fulfilment, weaving grace into the very beginnings of salvation history.

“He has clothed me with the robe of salvation.”
Mary wears this robe not as a possession, but as a mission. Her purity is not a pedestal, but a pathway — the way God chooses to enter the world. Mary’s “yes” is only possible because God’s grace has already embraced her. Today is a reminder that everything fruitful in our lives begins with grace.

The “mantle of justice” signifies God’s fidelity. In Mary, the ancient promises to Israel find their flowering. She stands at the meeting point of longing and fulfilment — the daughter of Zion who becomes the Mother of the Savior. On this feast, Advent takes on a Marian tone: quiet readiness, humble openness, joyful expectancy.

Mary teaches us how to receive God: with trust rather than fear,
with openness rather than resistance,with joy rather than self-protection.

Her immaculate beginning becomes an invitation for our ongoing conversion — to let God purify our intentions, heal our memories, and clothe our hearts again in His grace.

Practice for Today:
Pray with Mary’s words:
“My soul rejoices in my God.”
Ask for the grace to welcome Christ with a heart made ready by God.

Come, Lord Jesus

 Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.

 

Come Lord Jesus Series: Second Sunday Advent Year A

 Come Lord Jesus Series.

Advent Wreath: Come Lord Jesus Series Icon

Second Sunday of Advent — Year A

Entrance Antiphon:

“O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations,

and the Lord will make the glory of His voice heard

in the joy of your heart.”

(cf. Isaiah 30:19, 30)

 

Reflection

Week Two invites us to become more attentive, more expectant, more willing to listen for God’s voice within the heart’s inner landscape.
Joy is not something we manufacture this week — it is something we receive as God draws near.

Advent’s second week begins with a stirring proclamation: “O people of Sion, behold— the Lord will come.”
The antiphon does not say He may come or He might come, but He will come. Certainty is the flavour of Isaiah’s promise. Advent is the season in which God renews His assurance that history is not drifting without purpose, and neither are we. The Lord is moving toward us with intention, promise, and saving love.

This week’s antiphon shifts the focus from waiting to beholding. To “behold” is more than to look. It is to notice, to pay attention, to become alert to divine movement. Advent teaches us that God is often closer than we realise, already at work in ways the inattentive eye could easily miss. The prophets call us to lift our gaze, widen our perception, and recognise grace breaking through the ordinary.

“The Lord will come to save the nations.”
Here, Advent becomes expansive. God’s saving work is not small or exclusive; it reaches to every people, every land, every heart. We are caught up into something far larger than ourselves — the desire of God to restore all creation. The child of Bethlehem will be the Savior of the world, and Isaiah wants us to sense the immensity of that promise.

And then, a beautiful shift inward:  “He will make the glory of His voice heard in the joy of your heart”. God’s coming is not only outward and historical; it is intimately personal. He does not merely speak from the heavens — He speaks into the heart. His glory is not thunder that intimidates but a voice that awakens joy. Joy is the fruit of God’s nearness; it rises quietly when His presence is welcomed.

Practice for Today:
Pray: “Lord, help me to behold Your coming. Make Your voice heard in the joy of my heart.”

 

Collect Series: Second Sunday Advent Year A

 Collect Series

The Mass; Collect Series Icon

COLLECT

 

The Collect of the Second Sunday of Advent Year A reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that nothing may hinder us from receiving Christ with joy)

Father of power and mercy

opening our hearts in welcome.

Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,

so that we may share His wisdom 

and become one with Him when He comes in glory

for He lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit 

One God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

 

1.            What are the things that are hindering us from receiving Christ with joy?

2.            What will I do about these hindrances to overcome them during this 2nd week of Advent?

3.            What parts of my life and my heart are closed or need to be expanded?

4.            What does sharing Christ's wisdom mean to me?

5.            How can I become one with God during this Advent season?

6.            What is my plan to achieve further spiritual growth for this liturgical year?

7.            How will I achieve my plan- each day, each week, each month?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 

In today's gospel we meet the challenging character of John the Baptist who is a man on a mission in his preaching- ' Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand'. He baptized with water and those who went to him confessed their sins.  Still, for those who came for show, he gave them a real mouthful!!!

The challenge for us in this gospel is to ask are we 

·    John the Baptist preaching 'prepare a way for the Lord' by the way we live, and to those we encounter in our workplace, families, friends and parishioners?

·     one of John's listeners prepared to act upon John's preaching:  'Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand' by receiving the sacrament of reconciliation?

·      a Pharisee or Sadducee attending reconciliation services in advent, because it is the place to be seen or with an 'I should attitude', but have no or little sincere desire to repent?

 The good news is that if we have not received the sacrament of reconciliation for a while- fear not. You will not get a mouthful like John the Baptist would give you. Jesus ( in the priest) will welcome you and help you confess sincerely and give you absolution.  There are  many resources which may help you understand this sacrament including 101 Inspirational Stories of the Sacrament of Reconcilation orPreparing for the Sacrament of Reconiliation: A Catholic Guide : Companion to 101 Inspirational Stories of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

 If you regularly receive the sacrament, keep up the good practice since to grow in the spiritual life means we need to be honest with ourselves and know that we are sinners, but loved and redeemed by God.

 

Advent is a time to prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight His paths. 

Let us make the most of our Advent season, so that we may see the salvation of God in our lives.   After all, a good priest helps us to prepare the way of the Lord and make our paths straight.

Let us prepare well and make straight His paths.