Advent

Advent

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1^st SUNDAY OF ADVENT - A-

November 30, 2025

Isaiah 2: 1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13: 11-14; Matthew 24: 37-44

From today’s Gospel reading:

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know which day your Lord will come.”

Reflection:

In today’s gospel Jesus urges us to stay awake and ready for his coming. Not with fear but with awareness, living each day attentive to God’s presence in the ordinary moments of life.

So, we ask ourselves:

What in my life needs to be transformed into an instrument of peace?

How am I living each day alert to Christ’s presence?

What concrete steps of kindness, forgiveness, generosity can I take this Advent to reflect God’s light in my family, community or world?

Jude Siciliano, OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org>

Monday, November 1: The mountain of the LORD's house shall be established…All nations shall stream toward it…They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again (Is 2:1-5). “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Ps 122: 6).

Some of you may know I’ve been writing these reflections for 15 years, so there are times when I “recycle” ones that seem pertinent to the current day. Here’s something I wrote in 2012. Unfortunately, things are even worse now, with the awful addition of terrorist attacks. But our prayer remains the same:

“As I am writing this, violence between Israel and Palestine continues. By the time you read this, I pray a peaceful resolution has been found so the children of both countries can sleep without fear. It seems the world has grown weary of this ongoing conflict; it no longer gets the attention in prayer it needs and deserves. The situation is fraught with political and religious overtones. It’s easy to forget the victims of rocket attacks and shelling are most often the poor, the women and children, those who simply want to live their days in peace and quiet. I imagine Jesus weeping for Jerusalem now as he did before his passion, saying: ‘If this day, you only knew what makes for peace’ (Lk 19:42).

Provision—Pray for peace: Peace for Jerusalem cannot happen without peace for the entire region. Our political opinions shouldn’t keep us from praying for all of God’s children. God listens with both ears, and if we pray for one side and not the other, our prayer is incomplete. As the psalmist reminds us, “because of the house of the LORD our God, I will pray for your good.” Pray today for the good of everyone in this troubled part of our world” (Ireland, 2012).

Tuesday, December 2: “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, of counsel and of strength, of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD” (Ps 72).

The Hebrew translation reads, “his very breath [is] in the fear of the Lord.” Of course, we know “fear” in the Biblical sense means overwhelming awe, which I guess could easily turn frightening if we don’t trust the source of that fear or are in the business of doing things to betray that trust. This passage says that “this shoot from the stump of Jesse”—what Christians believe to be Jesus—will be blessed from the get-go, not needing to experience God’s love and mercy and power to know it at his depths, but being instilled with it in his being, the very source of his life and his delight!

Provision—Delight in the fear of the Lord! Most of us had to learn the meaning of this concept of fear of the Lord, and unfortunately, for many, it was more like the anxious and frightening sort of fear, something we needed to grow out of and accept. The second stage of this growth is letting go of our egos and need for control and actually delighting in the knowledge that our lives are in God’s hands. Unlike the immature faith we talked about Sunday, this kind of fear is empowering as we accept it with the unconditional love of the Lord. Do you delight in the awesomeness of the Lord? Are you amazed that so awesome a God knows and loves you? With your very breath, praise God!

Wednesday, December 3: “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. …Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life” (Ps 23).

We’ve all heard this psalm so many times, we may not realize it is entitled, “Lord, Shepherd and Host.” It is used frequently at funerals, so we might associate it with mourning. But have you ever tried to visualize some of the images this psalm inspires? I see in my mind’s eye two people walking together—one carrying a tall walking stick—heading into a dark, but lush valley. A stream of beautiful light—the light of goodness and kindness—follows in their wake, making a path behind them, illuminating the way for those who are to come. It is, for me, a warm and comforting image.

Provision—Look for the light in the words of scripture. You may be familiar with Lectio Divina, reading and reflecting on a scripture passage and meditating on a word or phrase that speaks to you. You can do this with images as well—Visio Divina—either using your imagination, like I described above, or an actual piece of artwork. Advent/Christmas is a great season to try this, given the wealth of artistic renditions of the Annunciation (Henry Ossawa Tanner’s is my favorite), the Visitation, the Nativity, and Epiphany. I encourage you not to dismiss this, saying you don’t have an imagination. Of course you do! It is God-given! Allow for silence and let your mind’s eye to wander. Look for the light.

Thursday, December 4: “The LORD is God, and he has given us light” (Ps 118).

I live on the east coast of the United States, and the winter solstice—the day with the shortest amount of sunlight—is just two weeks away. It’s curious: when most of creation is hibernating, Christians are running around like mad, all so we can sing “Silent Night” on December 24! My husband always reminds me on the day after the solstice that the “days” are getting longer now. There is reason to hope!

Provision—Look for the light that shineth in the darkness! Indeed, there is reason to hope! The dark days of winter seem to drag on, which is why it’s important to focus on the true light God gives us. The light of our sun is humbled by the light of God’s Son! If you struggle at this time of year—and many people do—seek help from a trusted friend, minister, or counselor who can assist you in looking for light. If you have light to share with those in darkness, by all means share it, but do so without blinding them. Be patient and wait for the light within them to begin to emerge.

Friday, December 5: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."…"Do not be afraid, Mary” (Lk 1:26-38).

“The grace she held in fullness is as grace we hold…And peace that made its quietness in her was peace God gave…she had made a place for it “ (John Lynch from Woman Wrapped in Silence). What is your opinion? Do we hold the same grace that Mary held in fullness? What does that mean? That we too can be bearers of God? We believe Mary was graced, but as the above quote mentions, she made a place for that grace, that peace. And she made a choice to let go of any fear and trust God’s promise. Have we made a place for the grace to be Christ-bearers?

Provision—Look for the light of grace within: What if you were to ask God: Can I too be a bearer of Christ? What do you think God would say to you, you as one made in God’s image and likeness that he found to be very good? Even if you look within and see darkness, God sees the light of grace burning in you. By making a choice to accept the reality of this grace, we can then find peace, humility, and the courage to be Christ-bearers. Ask Mary today to help you believe in the light of grace within you.

Saturday, December 6: “The light of the moon will be like that of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days” (Is 30:19-21, 23-26).

Scholars say the “light of seven days” hearkens back to the story of creation. The cosmic image foretells the renewal of creation. Christians might liken this to the brilliant light in Revelations. So it’s intriguing to think when God did indeed come to earth to live among us, he did so under the cover of night. Not with a blazing sun to blind us, but a bright star to guide us. A

Provision—Look in the face of Jesus to find God’s light: In Exodus, God says, “no man shall look upon my face and live” (33:20). But, as promised through the prophets, God did show his face to us. Pray today looking at the face of Jesus and see the light we are to live by. “The face of Christ…shows us the one thing we need to know—the character of God” (P.C. Simpson).

2nd Sunday of Advent

- December 7, 2025

Isaiah 11: 1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15: 4-9; Matthew 3: 1-12

From today’s Isaiah reading:

“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,

and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”

Reflection:

Isaiah’s image of a stump might well describe the condition of our world today. The news this morning reported that 30,000 women and children have been killed in Gaza, and 1.2 million Gazans have become refugees. The “stump” could also describe some part of our own lives – the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, declining health, a broken relationship. A stump is something cut down, lifeless, and seemingly beyond renewal.

So, we ask ourselves:

·        Where in my life, or community, do I see only a “stump” – something that seems cut off, without hope?

·        What must I do to make room for the new growth God wants to live in the world ?

·        What would it look like for me today to live as a citizen of Isaiah’s “peaceable kingdom?”

Jude Siciliano, OP - FrJude@JudeOP.org

Monday, December 8: “A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it…. It is for those with a journey to make” (Is 35 1-10).

We talked last week about Visio Divina—imagining what a scene or description in Scripture might look like. I love these words from Isaiah. They conjure up a vision of the whole of humanity—everyone from all nations (and even foolish ones like me!)—streaming on a highway towards a great light. It’s interesting though: the highway I envision is not straight, but circular, sort of like a beltway around a city. I believe we journey to find ourselves back home. “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time” (T.S. Eliot).

Provision: Slow down. Look for the Light on your journey. Highways do not always mean smooth sailing. There are potholes, traffic jams, and the ever-present road construction. There are exit ramps that can tempt us to try and find a quicker way. And, Lord knows, we sometimes get confusing messages from our GPS—even from our “God Positioning System!” One very important virtue we learn from Advent is patience, to wait for things to unfold. Patience is clearly a virtue we need to work on and teach in this era of immediate gratification. Regardless of what is on your agenda today, take a few moments to look for the Light around you. Set reminders on your phone or watch if you need to. Be purposeful. Stop what you are doing (unless you are driving 😉 and be grateful for the Light that surrounds you.

Tuesday, December 9: “Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.” (Zec 2:14-17)

Or, as we prepare for Christmas night: “Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! Joseph has finally gotten him to sleep!” The holy dwelling from which the Almighty God stirs is a rough hut. Often, we focus so much on Christ, the resurrected King, we overlook God who comes to us in the ordinary, everyday things of life. “The first thing we learn from Jesus' birth is that the Lord will not always be found where we expect to find him." (James F. Colaianni)

Today’s Provision: Look for the Light in the ordinary. Yesterday, we practiced stopping to look for the Light. See if you can commit to pay attention all day because God is hiding in plain view! This is a great habit to adopt; the more you do this, the more you will see God stirring from his holy dwelling, located right smack dab in the middle of our world and in the hearts of men and women everywhere.

Wednesday, December 10: Jesus [says to us]: "Come to me, all you 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” (Mt 11:28-30).

As I reflected on Jesus’ oft-repeated and comforting words, I thought about yesterday’s reflection. Jesus was born in the simplest, most humble of settings. Yes, the world into which he made his entrance was fraught with tension and violence, poverty and greed—much like our world today—but simplicity was key. I imagine Mary and Joseph continued that focus on simplicity throughout his upbringing, and I worry that kids today have no idea what simplicity means. When Jesus talks about his “yoke,” he means love (which for mere mortals is not always easy), but what if we think about simplicity as being part of that love. What does simple love look like today?

Provision: “Lighten up! (“Slow down,” “Pay attention:” I notice a theme developing!) Trying to live this provision is a luxury for many. Those holding down two and three jobs to keep food on the table while shuttling kids to and fro might shake their heads: Lightening up is not an option. But see if you can take some time this week to focus on doing something simply loving with your children, grandchildren, or significant others in your life. Something that doesn’t require money or “stuff.” Keep it simple. If weather permits, something in nature is always good. And remember, you too are “significant.” Do something simply loving for yourself!

Thursday, December 11: “Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and double-edged” (Is 41:13-20).

In the Catholic tradition, today is the feast day of St. John of the Cross. While Isaiah’s use of the words “worm” and “maggot” likely refers to Israel’s downtrodden state due to defeat and exile, I imagine John of the Cross felt that way about himself during his brutal nine months in a tiny cell, imprisoned and tortured by his brother monks. His writings about his spiritual journey, which include reflections on the dark night of the soul, are very challenging to read, but can be inspirational about emerging from darkness into the Light to be made new.

Provision: Use darkness to bring about Light. If you are struggling in spiritual darkness, please find a spiritual director, pastoral counselor, or a minister trained in spiritual consultation to help you make sense of this dark time. Growth always begins in darkness, but nourishment—some of which comes from the darkness itself—needs to be incorporated into our lives and reflected upon; otherwise, the darkness can become a prison. It takes faith, patience, hard work, and slow effort to escape that prison, exactly what John learned from his experience. This time of year can be hard for those in darkness, so don’t go it alone. “I will help you,” says the Lord.

Friday, December 12: “I… teach you what is for your good and lead you on the way you should go” (Is 48:17-19).

Those of us who are older might remember hearing something like this said by a parent or teacher: “You’ll do it if you know what’s good for you!” Parenting these days, thank goodness, is a lot less threatening and more like what I think God says to us in this passage. God is not warning us or causing us to fear. God is saying, “Come along. I will teach you; I will lead you.” God, as the perfect parent, indeed knows what is for our good!

Today’s Provision: Using Divine Light to discern. Looking for the Light when making important decisions is essential, but discerning God’s will is not just for the big stuff. The path we take is made up of mostly small steps that are easier to reverse if we take the time to contemplate where we are on our journey. Too often, autopilot takes over and we find ourselves somewhere we don’t want to be without knowing how we got there. Spend time today looking at your life in the Light. “Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life” (Ps 1).

Saturday, December 13: “You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD” (Sir. 48:1-4, 9-11).

This is an interesting book-end for this week. The message is similar to what we discussed Sunday: Elijah is destined to return and “put an end to wrath before the day of the Lord.” So, wrath and hatred and division have to end before God will return. In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Elijah has already come,” referring to John the Baptist. In Jesus’ time and in our time, it sure doesn’t look like wrath and hatred and division has ended; one could argue it continues to get worse. So how do we reconcile this? Some believe Elijah will come yet again with fire in his wake to destroy the wrathful. None of us knows for sure, but I believe that instead of the destruction of a raging fire, it is up to us, the hopeful, to kindle a slow, burning flame that is shared, one at a time, with those who live in darkness.

Provision: You are the Light of the world. You know, we say this, we sing this in a hymn…but do you really believe you are the Light of the world? For me, it is a very humbling designation and assignment. My light is always at risk of faltering, even leading me down the wrong path…which is why slowing down, keeping things simple, being on the look-out for Light in the ordinary, and discerning God’s Light are all so important! How can we learn to do this? “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.” Jesus paid attention, looking for the Light in others, even those behind tax collector’s desks, up in a sycamore, or at a Samaritan well. He calls us to be simple as children. He took time alone to pray and discern. Look at Jesus’ life. Learn.

3rd Sunday of Advent

- December 14, 2025

Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10; Psalm 146; James 5: 7-10; Matthew 11: 2-11

From today’s Gospel reading:

“You must be patient. Make your hearts firm because the coming of the Lord is near”

Reflection:

James gives us the image of a farmer who waits for the “precious fruit of the earth,” trusting that time, patience and God’s providence will bring growth. He reminds us at this Advent time to live in faith in what is unseen, “not yet.” He is inviting us to trust that time and God’s providence will bring growth.

So, we ask ourselves:

1. Where in my life am I being called to wait with faith rather than anxiety?

2. How can I “make my heart firm” through prayer, or service, during this Advent season?

3. In what way can I practice gentleness and patience with others as I prepare for the Lord’s coming.

Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121425.cfm

Jude Siciliano, OP - FrJude@JudeOP.org

Monday, December 15: “The days will come, says the LORD, when they shall no longer say, "As the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt"; but rather, "As the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north" (Jer 23:5-8).

As the Lord lives…The Lord continues to bring us forward out of the darkness of slavery and exile into the Light of Divine Love. God does this in individual lives. God does this in the lives of suffering communities. Our lifetimes are short, our vision limited to what we experience or can imagine. The promise of Light may not be fulfilled in our earthly sojourn. Faith calls for us to look far beyond our horizons and limitations, to not only accept the unknowing, but to rest in the peace of that unknowing.

Provision: Have faith in the promise of Light. God’s ways are not our ways, God’s thoughts, God’s time…we cognitively understand all that, but boy, it is so hard to accept sometimes. The psalmist says today God shall rescue the poor and the afflicted when we cry out, so might it be that our expectations of what rescue looks like may not be what God has in store for us? The promise of Light, the promise of peace are the foundations of our faith. As you pray today, express the trust you have in the welfare God has in mind for you.

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Tuesday, December 16: But the angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. … After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit” (Lk 1:5-25).

Here’s a great example of what we talked about yesterday. No one knows the ages of Zechariah and Elizabeth when Elizabeth conceives, but we can guess Zechariah has been praying for a child for many years. This is not something he decided to pray about just last week! In fact, we hear he gets silenced for being doubtful that this will really occur! But Elizabeth understands—God has granted their fervent prayer “at a time when he has seen fit.”

Provision: Have faith in the promise of Light (2). Is there something for which you are praying? A healing of body, mind, or spirit, for yourself or someone else? For an end to violence and war? It may feel like God is not listening to your prayer. You might be discouraged or even blame yourself for God’s silence in the face of your plea. See if you can open up just a bit, ask for an increase in faith and the gift of peace. End each prayer with, “Thy will be done.” We don’t know God’s time, we don’t know what God has in store, but we pray for the strength to keep our eyes focused on the Light.

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 17: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” …Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her (Lk 1:26-38).

It seems to me angels in the Bible have a tendency to show up and make some big announcement and then depart. Not much in the way of instructions, not much guidance. Not many reappear to give further information (although in Samson’s case, the angel does come back but is pretty bristly). I wonder what it was like for Mary, alone after such an intense experience. Did she seek the counsel of her parents? I think she hastens to go to see Elizabeth not only because it is what a kinswoman should do, but to get out of town to try and make some sense of what was going on. To ponder.

Provision: Be aware of the Light. Most of the time, God and God’s messengers are far more subtle when they appear to us. In fact, most of us go through our lives unaware of the Divine Light and presence in our midst. I often talk about the importance of the nightly examen for this very reason. Let’s be more like Mary and ponder the experiences of our day. Get out of town and away on retreat if you need to. You might be surprised to learn you’ve been visited by an angel. And consider yourself blessed, regardless of whether or not you know what you are to do next!

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Thursday, December 18: “Hark! my lover–here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. …Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices” (Sg 2:8-14).

In my years of writing these reflections, I don’t believe I’ve ever written anything on this passage. In the Catholic lectionary, it’s an option for the OT reading today, and I betcha most lectors opt for the one from Zephaniah! The Song of Songs is erotic in the true sense of the word. It is a poem of deep, intimate love. If we want to understand it, then we need to be open to that deep, intimate love relationship with God. In my interpretation, I see God as strong and powerful and graceful in the world—like a leaping gazelle—and yet, as God approaches me, he does not force his way in. Someone literally gazing through windows and peering through lattices would have me calling the cops, but in this poetry, it implies that God is aware of my hesitancy, my shyness in the face of his power. God calls me lovely and invites me into the Light. And, as Zephaniah says, even sings songs joyfully because of me! WOW!

Provision: Accept God’s invitation. This kind of poetry is not for everyone. But the wonderful thing is that God comes to each of us where we are. Perhaps you are moved by intellectual treatises on the Divine; or, praying rote prayers brings you to a place of peace. Maybe listening to music or enjoying artwork is prayer for you. Just make sure that however you pray, you feel a stirring within and allow God to come close. Accept God’s invitation. Listen for God’s song to you!

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Friday, December 19: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk 1:46-56).

This is the “song” Mary sings about accepting God’s invitation. Note: the language, even though it springs from Hannah’s Song of Praise from 1 Sm 2, is not about some intellectual experience or even about peace. It does not portray Mary as shy and retiring! It is exuberant and lush and speaks of Mary’s soul and spirit. It is a song of deep, intimate love.

Provision: Allow God’s Spirit to overshadow you. Mary is overshadowed and is empowered by God to live her call. She is truly in love with God. Sometimes, we hide inside, away from the “windows and lattices” for fear of what God’s call will mean for us. Remember that if God calls us to something, God will always empower us to do his will. The idea of allowing something to “overshadow” us might be intimidating, and yet true discernment, true growth need some dark to develop. In God’s darkness, there is always a Light nearby. Don’t be afraid.

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Saturday, December 20: “ I am sending my messenger …And suddenly there will come the Lord whom you seek, the messenger of the covenant whom you desire….But who will endure the day of his coming?” (Mal 3:1-4, 23-24).

We talked Wednesday about the Annunciation, when a messenger angel comes to Mary. The image of this event as portrayed in art is either simple or regal, but always lovely and peaceful. This reading is used each Advent with the story of the birth of John the Baptist, again a lovely tale of delighted neighbors and happy parents. The drama of enduring “the refiner’s fire” or “the fuller’s lye” does not appear anywhere. That all comes later, as they live out their calls.

Provision: Have faith in the promise of Light (3). Let us all pray as we end this season of waiting for the strength and courage of faith to be Light-bearers for a people, a world in darkness. The road can be difficult. We might be called to live through some painful times. Our testament, our witness to faith in the promise of Light may be challenged, but in these times of challenge, remember we all are gifted with the Spirit to bring Christ alive into the world.

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

4th Sunday of Advent

- December 21, 2025

Isaiah 7: 10-14; Psalm 24; Romans 1: 1-7; Matthew 1: 18-24

From today’s Gospel reading:

“Therefore, the Lord will give you this sign;
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.”

Reflection:

As we draw close to Christmas, Isaiah’s prophecy calls us trust. Like Ahaz, we may be tempted to rely on our own strength. or worldly solutions. Yet God invites us to lean instead on divine presence, even when we cannot fully understand. In Jesus, our Emmanuel, God comes quietly and humbly through Mary’s faith and the Spirit’s power.

So, we ask ourselves:

1. What fears, or uncertainties, make it difficult for me to trust God’s promise?

2. How do I recognize the signs of “Emanuel’ – God-with-us, in my daily life?

3. How can I, like Mary, offer my own “yes” to God’s will as Christmas approaches?

Jude Siciliano, OP - FrJude@JudeOP.org

Monday, December 22: “And suddenly there will come to the temple, the LORD whom you seek… But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? (Mal 3:1-4, 23-24). When they came to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah…, but his mother said, “No. He will be called John” (Lk 1:57-66).

These passages address one of my favorite subjects: expectations. “Who can stand when he appears?” Who is willing to stand at the entrance of a smelly stable in the middle of a cold winter night? Who the heck thinks “the Lord we seek” will be a vulnerable baby born outside Jerusalem? Oh, and I just love the relatives and neighbors who are ready to give Elizabeth’s baby a name they think is appropriate! “Sorry, say she and Zachariah, “We and the Lord have other plans.”

Provision: What were you…what are you expecting? A good follow-up to yesterday’s reflection. It can be our expectations that cause us disappointment. We expect others…and God…to work according to OUR plans. In Buddhism, this is one aspect of “beginner’s mind:” Don’t assume to know the answers. Be present to the Lord in your midst.

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Tuesday, December 23: When King David settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies he said, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” (2 Sm 7:1-5; 8-12, 14, 16).

David feels ashamed that he is living in a great palace, while God is out back in a tent! (Although read Exodus:25-27 to see how elaborate that tent is!) David talks to Nathan about building God a permanent residence, but Nathan relates God’s words, “I have been with you wherever you went.” Over the centuries, elaborate temples were built to honor God, only to be plundered and destroyed. Tonight, we celebrate God coming to be with us where we are. And where does God arrive? In a dirty stable, amid the animals, in a manger, a feeding trough … food for the world who came to live among us in the realities of human existence, a living temple that cannot be destroyed.

Provision: Look for God where you will find God. “Leave this chanting and singing… Whom do you worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple? … God is where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathbreaker is breaking stones. God is with them in sun and in shower, and God’s garment is covered with dust. Put off your holy mantle, and like God, come down on the dusty soil! Deliverance! Where is this deliverance to be found? Our Master has taken upon him the bonds of creation, bound with us all forever. Come out of your meditations and leave aside your flowers and incense! What harm is there if your clothes become tattered and stained? Meet and stand by God in toil and in the sweat of your brow.” (“You are There,” by Rabindranath Tagore, adapted from The Heart of God, p. 26-27). (Note: In sharing this poem, I, by no means, dismiss the essential need for times of quiet prayer and devotion. To do our work in the world, we need intimacy with God, just as Jesus had when he sought time alone in the mountains to be with God. But Jesus lived, and lives still “on the dusty soil” we trod. This is Incarnation.)

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 24: "A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us” (Ps 97).

Given our theme of “Embracing Starlight,” I’d like to share an excerpt of my Christmas reflection from 2010:

Provision: “There is one provision that led us here we might have taken for granted, something we didn’t need to work for or even pray about. An “undeserved light” available to each of us every day…the guiding light of the Christmas Star.

So, eat, drink, and be merry. But when all the carols have been sung and the decorations are being put away, keep one little star ornament out this year. Hang it where it can be noticed. Let it be a reminder that our Advent journey is indeed our life’s journey, so we need to stay awake and aware. But if the road gets rough and our provisions dwindle, remember—the Star is always there to light your way and guide you home. Christmas blessings to you all!”

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Thursday, December 25: They cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city and began to stone him (Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59).

Forgive my irreverence, but the following came to mind: I imagine I am back in Catholic grade school, taking our bows after the Nativity Pageant, when Sister “whisper-yells” to us, “All of you—Mary, Joseph, angels, sheep—exit the stage! We’ve got to set up for Stephen’s stoning!” (Sorry, but God must have a sense of humor—how else can we explain God’s patience with us!) I thought maybe there was something more pleasant to use from the Common Lectionary, but alas, we all get to experience “the day after!” But if we truly believe the Incarnation is not a season, but a lived reality, we also believe God’s presence on earth is not all stars and carols but is deep in the messiness and darkness of life.

Provision: “Finding God in all things.” This is a basic tenet of Ignatian Spirituality. The late Jesuit, David Fleming describes it this way: “Most people say, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.” Ignatius says, ‘When I believe it, I will see it.’”

This is very hard at times. How do we look at the evils in Syria, the Israeli/Arab conflict, the sick, the poor, the dying all over the world, the scapegoating of immigrants and still see God? Perhaps, we see God in how we and others are moved to make a difference. Remember, the Incarnation is now. What will you do to bring the light of God into the darkness?

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Friday, December 26: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb” (Jn 20:1-8).

Who are the “they” Mary of Magdala is referring to? The Romans? Jewish elders? Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea? Tomb robbers? The gardener? If we go back to our reflection on Sunday, we remember the “we/they,” “us/them” is a recipe for conflict. I’m not questioning Mary’s panicked concerns and assumptions. “They” had to be somebody! The idea that “they” could be divine Love, a Love that defeats death never crossed her mind.

Provision: In the realm of divine Love, there is no “us and them.” It is hard to put away our tribal instincts. Those instincts are part of our animal nature and the need to defend ourselves. And yet, we know we are also divine in our nature, and our task on this earth is to have our “God-spark” overcome the need for self-preservation, to allow Love to defeat fear and death. Reflect today on who or what you consider “them.” Really give it some thought and be honest. We all do this, so don’t beat yourself up. See if you can make a conscious effort to continue to be aware, so the next time you encounter one of “them,” you’ll be ready with a smile and a kind word!

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.

Saturday, December 27: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more” (Jer 31:15, as cited in Mt 2:13-18).

“Al-Ram identified with Ramah in Benjamin, a town mentioned multiple times in the Bible. Al-Ram (Arabic: الرّام) …is a Palestinian town which lies northeast of Jerusalem, just outside the city's municipal border” (Wikipedia and validated sources). This took my breath away. While we can’t know for sure the actual location of Ramah, it is close to the very place where Jewish and Palestinian mothers weep today, inconsolable for their children who are no more.

(Quoting from my reflection from December 28, 2023): Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. It’s a despicable story and we may be tempted to ignore it. Just like the stories in the news now: hundreds of thousands of children dying of starvation; tens of thousands of poor children sold as prostitutes and slaves; the 2,500 children killed (in 2021) by gun violence in the US. …Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.” Conversely then, the indictment of society is found in what it does to its children.

Provision: Save the children. Herod’s slaughter continues. Research local programs [to aid families caught in the web of violence]. Contribute to charities that show a strong commitment to child health and welfare. Don’t be afraid to speak out against violence and guns. …And pray, pray, pray, not just for the unborn, but for children living every day under the specter of death. Let’s start focusing on our collective future instead of on just our own.

© 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com.