Second Week of Advent
DECEMBER 7: Second Sunday of Advent
READ John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” (Matthew 3: 1-3)
REFLECT These words were proclaimed by John the Baptist to announce the coming of Jesus. We might wonder where God is in the craziness and complexities of life. He is there. In fact, God can even write straight with crooked lines.
PRAY Jesus, Emmanuel, You are always with me. Help me stay the course toward You even when the path might be rough and winding. Amen.
DO Before every journey today, no matter where it is to (church, store, mailbox, backyard, etc.), say a prayer asking God to protect you on the path.
DECEMBER 8: Immaculate Conception of the BVM
READHail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. (Luke 1:28)
REFLECTJesus’ mother was conceived free from Original Sin. She is “full of grace” and is a model to us of how God desires us to live and to act. Jesus gave us His mother as our mother, too, so she may protect and intercede for us.
PRAYJesus, I entrust myself to Your mother, Mary. Thank You for giving Your mother to me. Amen.
DO Whenever you feel stressed out or frustrated during the day, pray the Hail Mary.
DECEMBER 9: Tuesday, Second Week of Advent
READ Like a shepherd, He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers the lambs, Carrying them in His bosom, and leading the ewes with care. (Isaiah 40:10-11)
REFLECT Jesus is truly the Good Shepherd Who feeds us with His body and blood, and sustains us with His grace. We are totally dependent upon God. Without Him we are unable to do anything. Everything good in our lives comes from God Who is our Good Shepherd.
PRAYJesus, Good Shepherd, You protect us and listen to our cries for help. Help us to trust in You and Your protection. Give us the grace to always seek after You when happy and when sorrowful. Amen.
DO What specific ways can I prepare the way of the Lord, of announcing the good news of Jesus’ reign?
DECEMBER 10: Wednesday, Second Week of Advent
READ Come to Me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
REFLECT When we place our hope in God, we are strengthened. The more we give ourselves to God and the more that we place our trust in Him, the more we are transformed in God’s grace.
PRAY Jesus, Good Shepherd, increase my hope in You. You desire my happiness. Your plan is better than my own. Help me to choose Your will over my own. Amen.
DO Be extra aware of the people in your life who may be struggling with hope this season.
DECEMBER 11: Thursday, Second Week of Advent
READ I am the LORD, your God, Who grasp your right hand; Fear not, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)
REFLECT God has the strength to pull us through any trial. He does not always remove our trials. He does not test us beyond our strength. God allows us to experience suffering as a share in His passion and cross, so that we can share in His resurrection.
PRAYJesus, Morning Star, You are the source of all my hope. Do not let me give in to a spirit of fear, but let me always rest in Your love and strength. Amen.
DO Pray a decade of the Rosary today, meditating on Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth.
DECEMBER 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
READSing! Rejoice! O daughter Zion! I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. (Zechariah 2:14-15)
REFLECT After Our Lady’s apparition to Saint Juan Diego at the hill of Tepeyac, millions came to believe in Jesus the Son of Mary and Son of God. The prophet Zechariah reminds us that God truly dwells with us. Just as Mary prepared for Jesus’ coming, she continues to help us receive Jesus each day of our life.
PRAYJesus, Emmanuel, You are my light and my life. I invite You into my relationships, my conversations, and my work. I entrust them to You. Sanctify them. Amen.
DO Smile, even when you don’t feel like it.
DECEMBER 13: Memorial of Saint Lucy
READ The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. (Matthew 25: 25:1-4)
REFLECT Saint Lucy was a young woman who was martyred in the fourth century because of her desire to dedicate herself entirely to the Lord. She is the patron saint of the blind and her name means “light.” Do I make Jesus the most important person in my life? Do I invite Jesus into each one of my relationships?
PRAYJesus, let me have Your love and Your grace. They are sufficient for me. Amen.
DO Ask the Lord to increase your love for Him.
First Week of Advent
November 30: First Sunday of Advent
READ It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13: 11-12)
REFLECT As we prepare for the coming of Jesus this Advent, let us take a moment to identify the habits which Jesus wants us to grow in and which habits He wants us to move away from.
PRAY Jesus, Morning Star, prepare my heart to receive You this Christmas, so that my soul can be Your dwelling place. Amen.
DO Getting ready for Christmas can be a little stressful. What can you simplify that will help you keep focused on the meaning of the season?
DECEMBER 1: Monday of the First Week of Advent
READ Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:8)
REFLECT Advent is when we make ourselves ready to receive God in every way He comes to us. The first step of this preparation is repentance, acknowledging our sins and trusting in God’s mercy and forgiveness.
PRAY Jesus, Morning Star, give me the grace of repentance so I can turn away from my selfishness and open myself to receive Your mercy and peace. Amen.
DO As you decorate your home for Christmas, be sure to include a nativity set.
DECEMBER 2: Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
READ For the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)
REFLECT Isaiah tells us that Jesus the Messiah will give us the knowledge of God, so that we can love God more perfectly. We cannot love what we do not know. God revealed Himself perfectly through His Son Jesus to give us His own love which is eternal life.
PRAY Jesus, Emmanuel, grant to our world, our nation, our communities, and our families knowledge of You so that the whole world may come to know You and to love You perfectly. Amen.
DO Peace with others comes from peace with God. Make your plan today of where and when you will make peace with God through the Sacrament of Penance in preparation for Christmas.
DECEMBER 3: Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier
READ On this mountain God will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, He will destroy death forever. He will wipe away the tears from all faces. (Isaiah 25: 7-8)
REFLECT The mountain of the Lord is where God is present. God is most fully present to us in the person of Jesus, who will end all division in our relationships and whose grace allows us to live forever.
PRAY Jesus, Emanuel, increase in me a deeper love and devotion to Your perfect presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. May my reception of Holy Communion unite me closer to You and to Your people. Amen.
DO There’s two today. First, make a plan to donate something to a food bank this Advent. Second, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for Adoration in the Good Shepherd Chapel from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Plan to make a visit tomorrow.
DECEMBER 4: Thursday of the First Week of Advent
READ Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city He brings down. (Isaiah 26:4-5)
REFLECT Do I ever doubt God’s love for me? Do I place my trust in God in everything I do? Are there any areas in my life in which I think that God does not have the power to transform?
PRAY Jesus, I trust in You. I trust that You will take care of me. Amen.
DO Find a copy of the Morning Offering. This prayer is said at the start of the day. Place it by your bedside and pray it every morning before you get out of bed.
DECEMBER 5: Friday of the First Week of Advent
READ When Jesus entered the house, the blind men approached Him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then He touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” (Matthew 9:27-29)
REFLECT What blinds me? Who or what do I miss seeing? Who or what do I avoid seeing?
PRAY Jesus, Prince of Peace, You give me Your infinite mercy. Open my eyes so I can extend Your mercy to every person that I meet. Amen.
DO Contact someone you have not seen in a while.
DECEMBER 6: Memorial of Saint Nicholas
READ Jesus said, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matthew 37-38)
REFLECT Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children. Through his intercession for our children, may they open their hearts to listen to God’s voice and to respond to whatever vocation He is calling them to.
PRAY Jesus, Emanuel, You are calling forth priests and sisters from among us. May those chosen hear Your call and respond with courage and conviction. Amen.
DO Think about people you think might have a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life. Pray for them by name asking God to make clear to them His plan for their lives.