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1st 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:
Jude Siciliano, OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org> Sunday, November 30: “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. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Is 2:1-5).
I don’t watch much TV. Now that baseball
season is over, the set stands idle for a good part of the week. But last
Sunday, I watched some pro football. Aside from cringing every time someone
took a hit, I was taken aback by the advertising. In the hour or so I
watched the game, at least three-quarters of the ads were about some
horribly violent movie or TV series. Lots of shooting and things blowing up
and bloodied, mangled bodies. (And we wonder why there is so much violence
in our world!) I also watched a public television series this week on the
American Revolution, a documentary by Ken Burns. It is quite well done and
nowhere near as graphic as those ads, but the images of war still caused me
such heartache. What we see as entertaining…what we do to each other in the
name of power…this is a mystery I don’t think I will ever figure out. I pray
that my incarnate body will never be put to the test.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Monday, December 1: For over all, the LORD’s glory will be shelter and protection (Is 4:2-6). Several readings this week have to do with the universality of God’s mercy and love. God’s shelter and protection will be “over all.” In today’s gospel, people will come “from the east and the west.” As our world continues to shrink, we are circling the wagons, breaking up into even more insulated tribes; not just nations or regions or religions or ethnicities, but within congregations, communities, families. Such fragmentation can easily lead to the violence we spoke of yesterday. The most-oft used phrase in scripture is “Do not be afraid!” We claim to believe in God. What are we so afraid of? Provision: Imagine the fullness of God, a shelter for all. In response to a question about how he defined himself, the Dalai Lama answered: “I am one of the 7 billion human beings alive today. We each have a responsibility to think about humanity and the good of the world because it affects our own future. We weren’t born on this planet at this time to create problems but to bring about some benefit.” Imagine if we could all have such a simple view of ourselves, and a global, God’s-eye view of humanity! Consider how you define yourself. With what “tribe” do you align? Does your tribe exclude others who look or think or pray in a different way? Does it foment fear? Then consider how God defines you and how God defines that person you look at with disdain. Pray that “you may have strength to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth …so you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:18). Elaine H. Ireland ehireland@gmail.com. Tuesday, December 2: "The Spirit of the LORD rests upon him: of wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, knowledge and fear of the LORD…Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide” (Is:11:1-10). We live in a world where we can’t trust our eyes or ears. “Deep fakes” and AI-generated photos and words infect everything. It’s scary. We should never judge on appearances or hearsay anyway, but this advice is even more critical now. It takes wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and good counsel to avoid being swept away by falsehood. Relying on and delighting in God as our source of what is good and true can help us navigate these dangerous waters. Provision: Be patient. Don’t make rash judgments. Part of being wise and strong is being patient, waiting for the truth to emerge. “By their fruits you will know them.” Good fruit takes time to grow. We would all do well to slow down, to seek knowledge without judgment before we act or take a stand. Remember, the gifts “the shoot from Jesse’s stump” receives have nothing to do with power or riches. Pray today for wise and patient discerning eyes, ears, and hearts. Elaine H. Ireland ehireland@gmail.com. Wednesday, December 3: “You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes” (Ps 23). How many times have we heard or read this psalm? Most of us can recite it verbatim. And yet today, as I read these words, the Spirit poked me: “And what, Elaine, would Jesus have you do after he has honored you by spreading a table before you in the sight of your foes? Would he want you to gloat, to look upon these foes with satisfaction and disdain? No. Of course not. Jesus would have you invite them to sit at your table and partake of the feast!” Provision: Practice hospitality. We talked on Monday about how divided our world has become. We read yesterday from Isaiah “the wolf shall be the guest of the lamb.” I don’t know about you, but I surely cannot claim to be the lamb in this scenario, and I imagine that is true for all but the holiest among us. Find an opportunity to invite someone whose views are different than yours to coffee or lunch, not to debate or argue but to enjoy time together. Food is always a good mediator! (Watch this TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_lesser_take_the_other_to_lunch). Elaine H. Ireland ehireland@gmail.com. Thursday, December 4: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mt 7:21, 24-27). How many times have you, have I, lamented, “Oh, if I only knew God’s will for me!” You want simple? Here’s simple, expressed at one of the most dramatic examples of incarnational mysticism there is: the Transfiguration. “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” “LISTEN TO HIM!!!” (I sometimes imagine God finishes by whispering, “you meatheads!”) Provision: Listen to Jesus’ words. Act on them. No one had a microphone under Jesus’ nose to record him (so no one can do a “deepfake” either!) Our Christian faith tells us the evangelists were inspired by the Holy Spirit and referenced the Hebrew scriptures to express Jesus’ message. But one thing we notice about Jesus’ words: there’s not much in the way of dogma or doctrine. In fact, much of his message is expressed in deeds, not words: feeding, healing, consoling, enjoying hospitality, surrounding himself, not with the bigwigs and lawyers, but with the poor and marginalized. Loving enemies, praying to God in secret, showing mercy. No reason to make this complex. Doing God’s will is listening to Jesus’ words and rising each day to put those words into action. Pretty simple, I’d say!
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Friday, December 5: “On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book” (Is 29:17-24). Have you ever seen videos of toddlers who have been deaf since birth or adults who have lost their hearing, receiving cochlear implants? The babies hear their parents’ voices for the first time; the adults hear music again. The overwhelming delight and emotion are so moving to watch. Those blessed with five physical senses take so much for granted. Those of us blessed with plenty often don’t take the time, like the poor, to “rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Many years ago, at Christmas time, I was helping to serve dinner for the poor in my city. As people were leaving, we gave each some toiletries that might last them a few days. One man smiled and said exuberantly to me, “Oh, I was praying for this! It is a miracle!” A small bag of toiletries! He looked around for a moment and said, “It is all a miracle.” Tears come to my eyes any time I recall this story. It humbles me and calls me to look around and see. Provision: Tap into your sense of wonder! Simple, incarnational miracles are everywhere if we but look! As you go about today, tap into wonder. Dispel any deafness, blindness, or numbness you feel. “For Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his to the Father through the features of men’s faces” (Gerard M. Hopkins).
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Saturday, December 6: “At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd….” Ask the master to send out laborers for the harvest” (Mt 9:35-10:8). God looks out upon the Israelites enslaved by tyrants, hearing their cries. Jesus, in the gospel scene, looks out over the poor and marginalized, the lost. I see Jesus looking out today, hearing the cries of those interned in squalid camps in my own country, many whose only “crime” is having darker skin than mine or coming from countries labeled as unacceptable—I will not quote the adjective used by our leadership—imprisoned by tyrants posing as government leaders and agents. Is your heart, like Jesus’, moved with pity? If not, perhaps it is time to pray that God will replace your heart of stone with one of flesh (Ez 36:26). Provision: “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” I don’t do enough to address the fear and horror playing out across my country. I have not taken a risk other than to pray and to write words like these, which some consider unpatriotic. Jesus is calling us as laborers to do something real. It is not enough to say or write words, or to issue “special messages” condemning what is happening to our sisters and brothers at the hands of our leadership. Amid this busy season that celebrates a babe born into poverty and forced to flee as a refugee into the very country that so long ago enslaved his ancestors, let us gather our courage to labor in God’s fields that cry out for freedom and mercy.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. - 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:
Jude Siciliano, OP - FrJude@JudeOP.org This Advent, we look for the intersection of simplicity and incarnational mysticism. Sunday, December 7: “There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD” (Is 11:1-10). What do you read in this verse? For me, it says when people know the Lord, they are not violent or evil. So, logic says, if individuals and nations still commit atrocities and violent acts, they do not know the Lord…even as they claim to be God’s “warriors!” “The way of the Lord, the way of peace they do not know and there is no justice where they go” (Is 59:8). Provision: Get to know God. Well, this is quite an assignment to start the week! In this same passage from Isaiah, militaristic language is used: he will strike and slay the ruthless and wicked. He will be armed for battle with band and belt. Yet look at the “weapons” this shoot from Jesse will use: words of peace, justice, faithfulness. “Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding and those who find fault shall receive instruction” (Is 29: 24)—doesn’t sound too warlike to me! Today, consider your image of God. Jesus Christ came to live among us to show us the true face of God. How real is that face for you?
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Monday, December 8: The LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?” He answered, "I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself” (Gen 3:9-15, 20). “I was afraid. I was naked. You know, the way you made me. Simple, unashamed, unencumbered, not needing to hide from you. You clothed my bones with flesh, beautiful naked flesh that allowed me to smell and taste and see and touch all the wonders of your creation. You breathed your Spirit into me…talk about an incarnational mystery! Why did you do that? You knew I’d mess up. You knew I’d make things so much more complex by striking out on my own. I’d like to somehow get back to that simple existence where I walk with you, free as the breeze that moves in the trees of your garden. Is there some way we can work together on this? Some way another incarnational mystery can come about?” Provision: Let the incarnational mystery come about in you. We don’t need to be perfect, pure, without sin. We just need to be willing to allow the mystery to come alive within us. Pray today for the grace to accept God’s gift.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Tuesday, December 9: "Comfort, give comfort to my people,” says your God…"All flesh is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. So then, the people is the grass. Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever” (Is 40:1-11). “Ah, excuse me, Mr. or Ms. Second Isaiah: This is how you comfort us?! Reminding us we wither and wilt like the grass?! Here today and gone tomorrow?!” As I prayed with this reading today, it came clear to me: this is what the term “incarnational mysticism” is really all about! We read tomorrow, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God!” We need not fear our transient nature. The God within, the Spirit that animates our earthly bodies is eternal. As Christians, this is the why and wherefore of the Incarnation. This is the reason “knowledge of the Lord” we spoke of on Sunday will lead us away from fear of death, and the violence that can bring, into the great comforting strength of the Word of God that stands forever. Provision: Take comfort. Give comfort. The holidays can be warm and nourishing for some, but bleak for others: people living in fear of deportation, the unemployed, those grieving lost loved ones, depressed, or addicted. If you are blessed to be warm—literally and figuratively—be a source of comfort to others less fortunate. Go beyond material donations if you can, and serve at a soup kitchen or visit a nursing home. These days, even a kind word or a smile can brighten someone’s day. If you are lonely or depressed, pray God will give you the comfort—the strength and courage—to reach out to a church or community support group. Seek help and allow others to care for and comfort you.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Wednesday, December 10: “He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the LORD will renew their strength” (Is 40:25-31). “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28-30). SIGH! If there is one thing we could all use right now, it is rest. When I reread things I’ve written in the past. I seem to have thought things could not get any more complex or difficult than they were at the time…but I am always proven wrong. The challenge I face is finding time to rest while not getting tired; reflecting, but not running away from the problems of the world. Is this a challenge for you, too? Provision: Rest…and encourage others to rest. Saturday’s reflection has to do with our children and our future. There are a lot of studies in the news these days about our young people, many who are weary; some staggering, some falling. As their elders, one small way we can turn our hearts back to our children is by modeling simple things that bring us rest. Not vacations that stress us out or over-the-top holiday preparations (I feel my adult children’s skeptical gaze right now!) Things like prayer, meditation, “unplugging,” agreeing to simplify or eliminate some time-worn (not time-honored) traditions. Be intentional today. Think about the coming weeks and how you can bring rest into your life and the lives of others.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. Thursday, December 11: “Since John the Baptist came, up to this present time, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and the violent are taking it by storm” (Mt 11:11-15, Jerusalem Bible translation). There is little consensus among Biblical scholars as to what Jesus is talking about when he says the kingdom has been subjected to violence by the violent. Some translations indicate it means the kingdom of heaven is forcing its way into humanity, but most I reference say the kingdom of heaven is under attack, assailed by violent powers trying to overtake it. A bit too close for comfort considering what is happening with nationalist Christian movements. Provision: Get to know Jesus (2). We go back to our reflection on Sunday. Violence and hatred are human flaws. They are never of God. Ethically, there is the theory and doctrine of “just war.” Those in roles of defending the innocent against those doing harm are absolved of guilt; Jesus even tells us there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another (although who is “innocent” and who is “doing harm” seem to be a matter of opinion these days, rather than a matter of ethics, morality, and truth). If you are interested in learning more about Jesus and nonviolence, books and essays by Fr. John Dear or theologian Walter Wink can be very enlightening.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com.
Friday, December 12:
“Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the
LORD! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling” “’There is nothing in the world that resembles God as much as silence’ (Meister Eckhart). In essence, Eckhart is saying this: Silence is a privileged entry into the realm of God and into eternal life…there is a huge silence inside each of us that beckons us into itself, and the recovery of our own silence can begin to teach us the language of heaven….Silence is a language that is infinitely deeper, more far-reaching, more understanding, more compassionate, and more eternal than any other language. …It’s the language of heaven and it’s already deep inside of us, beckoning us, inviting us to deeper intimacy with everything” (Ron Rolheiser, OMI, 2001, https://ronrolheiser.com/in-praise-of-silence/). Provision: Find time today to be silent. I mean really silent. I mean turning off the TV, phone, computer, ticking clocks, and anything else that beckons you with beeps and dings and other little noises. This means the kids, spouses, parents, whoever else beckons you with not-so-subtle noises! Put on headphones with no sound. See if you can work it for a whole half-hour. Gee! A whole half an hour to be silent, just breathing. We are mid-way through Advent. Give yourself an early Christmas gift of seeing and hearing and growing in intimacy with God in silence.
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com. 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, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons” (Sir 48:1-4, 9-11). This last phrase—turning the hearts of elders back toward their children—always gives me pause. With a few exceptions, I don’t see much that looks like our hearts are turning towards our children’s futures: cuts in education, food assistance, and medical research; discouraging preventative means of warding off childhood diseases, a job market that is becoming increasingly difficult, the lack of affordable housing, the dismantling of efforts to offset climate change, while at the same time, giving tax breaks to the rich. I don’t know. Maybe I am missing something. But I pray we come to realize that without turning our hearts back toward our children, we have no future. Provision: “Don’t look back. You’re not going that way.” Or, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62). Or, “See, I am making all things new!” (Rev 21:5). Or, "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (Phil 3:13-14). Or, Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you” (Prv 4:25). Or, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:18). “I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel” (Nm 24:17).
Elaine H. Ireland
ehireland@gmail.com.
- 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 Sunday, December 14: “Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: ‘Be strong, fear not! Here is your God’” (Is 35:1-6, 10). “The LORD sets captives free…. the LORD raises up those who were bowed down…the LORD protects strangers, but the way of the wicked he thwarts” (Ps 146). “Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord” (Jas 5:7-10). When John the Baptist heard of the works of Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus… “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Mt 11:2-11). I couldn’t decide which reading to reflect on, so I will try to pick up a thread that weaves these four together. Isaiah encourages those with weak knees and fearful hearts to be strong, to rely on the Lord. There are many people today who are frightened, scared to even go out of their houses to work or school each day. Good people. Moral people. People who want to believe the Lord sets captives free and protects strangers; they want to be patient, but right now, there is doubt, even for those like me who face no risks. We ask, “Are you the one who is to come?” “And if so, can your Spirit come upon us soon to free those who live in fear, to open the eyes of the blind, and to thwart the way of the wicked?” Provision: Don’t be blind! If you are unaware of the terror your neighbors and fellow citizens are facing right now, you need to pay closer attention. I have friends, American citizens born of American citizens of foreign descent who will not speak to cousins and friends in public in their shared language for fear some masked enforcers will swoop in and round them up. It is unspeakable that this is happening in the so-called “land of the free.” Many who access the website for these reflections are Roman Catholics, and the bishops are finally doing something. Go to this website sponsored by the USCCB: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/you-are-not-alone/ to see what your community or parish can do. It’s for anyone with a conscience, and I pray will speak to those Christians who choose to continue to be blind. © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. Monday, December 15: Jesus said, "Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" [The chief priests and elders] discussed this among themselves: “We do not know” (Mt 21:23-27). I wonder where the discussion would have gone if the chief priests and elders had answered with the truth: “He is a prophet, so it was both: human and heavenly!” How would Jesus respond? (I think Jesus would have been impressed! It’s an interesting and often enlightening prayer exercise to imagine how scripture stories might have played out.) Provision: Be a prophet. Prophets were and are flesh and blood humans inspired by the Spirit to speak out against sin and injustice. It is a call all Christians receive at baptism and affirmed in the rite of Confirmation. Too many of us are afraid to use our voices to call out the evil we see. We don’t want to be “trolled” or “doxxed” or worse. We don’t think it is our business. “Did you fail in a day of adversity, did your strength fall short? Did you fail to rescue those who were being dragged off… those tottering because you said, ‘We didn’t know about it?’ Surely, the Searcher of hearts knows and will repay all according to their deeds” (Prv 24:10-12). Pray today for the courage to be a prophet. Then, be one! © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. Tuesday, December 16: Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders ...”When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him" (Mt 21:28-32). In the musical Les Misérables, the main story line is the tension between the protagonist, Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert. Javert is obsessed with bringing Valjean to justice for violating parole for the crime of stealing bread to feed his nephew. Javert’s rigid worldview is that those who have broken the law cannot change, even though at one point, Valjean spares him his life. Javert eventually takes his own life rather than change his view about redemption. Could this be the way the chief priests and elders looked at things? Though they could quote Isaiah’s prophecies of redemption, they were not convinced when they saw sinners who had been baptized by John. Sinners were sinners, doomed to that fate by the actions of their ancestors or their own weakness. And it didn’t appear that these sinners’ lives had changed; they were still poor, after all. The elders were stuck in their rigid worldview. How about us? Do we believe redemption is possible? For others? For ourselves? Provision: Have faith in redemption: We can quote sayings about God’s mercy, but do we believe them? Do we think it is there for everyone? Criminals who find the light in prison? The drug addict who winds up back on the streets? Ourselves, when we make the same mistake over and over? Pray to believe in the words you preach as true. © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. Wednesday, December 17: “May his name be forever. As long as the sun may his name bear seed. And may all nations be blessed through him, call him happy” (Ps 72, Hebrew Translation, Robert Alter). Jewish scholars see this as a royal psalm rather than a messianic prediction, the last psalm composed by David for his son, Solomon. Earthly king, heavenly king… it really doesn’t matter. All the beautiful imagery—mountains bearing peace for all peoples and nations, just treatment for the lowly, flourishing for the just person, abundant nourishment—we pray this to be the beneficence of all servant leaders, human and divine. And we pray that this peaceful, bountiful world is what would make kings and leaders happy, delighted to see those they lead live in harmony. Provision: What makes Jesus happy? Have you ever read about the Gross National Happiness Index in the country of Bhutan? (https://bhutanstudies.org.bt/gross-national-happiness/) It’s been a focus of the kings of Bhutan since the 1970’s, and became an important measurement tool in 2008. I imagine the pillars of sustainable/equitable socio-economic development; environmental conservation; preservation/promotion of culture; and, good governance would please Jesus to no end. I’m sure he would see these as the will of his father. Would it be that all countries could care about these things for the entirety of their populations! Let’s each of us think about how to incorporate these pillars in our daily lives. We might start to make a difference! © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. Thursday, December 18: “The days will come 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 from all the lands to which I banished them; they shall again live on their own land’” (Jer 23:5-8). The last verses of this passage (the promise of a new King, “a righteous shoot to David”) were likely added during Israel’s exile in Babylon to provide hope to the people. They would no longer have to reach all the way back to their exodus from Egypt to see God’s salvation; that one day, they would look back upon their return from this exile to recognize God’s saving hand once again. It was to remind them that God was still with them, still active, still making things new, a good message for us as well as Christmas seasons come and go. This is not about commemorating an event some 2,000 years ago. We joyfully celebrate God’s presence alive and active with us every single day. Provision: Celebrate the Incarnation every day! This is not to say that holding onto and cherishing the memory of God’s saving grace is a bad thing. It is particularly important during difficult times to remember the ways God has supported us in the past. But if we are always looking back, it can keep us from seeing the grace right under our noses, especially if that grace is wrapped in a package that is difficult to open. As you go about your day today, look for the signs of the Incarnation present in the people and things you experience. Celebrate! © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. Friday, December 19: In the days of Herod, there was a priest named Zechariah; his wife was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, but they had no child; Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years (Lk 1:5-25).
Provision: Use your imagination to pray with
this story. Put yourself in the
Spirit’s presence and read the whole passage from Luke. Then: Picture Zechariah,
walking slowly on the dirt roads towards Jerusalem from Hebron, a trip of about
20 miles. It is an honor to serve as a priest, but he must leave his wife behind
for two weeks. He is old and tired. The world is in disarray and sin abounds in
Herod’s kingdom; he is discouraged by what he sees happening. Yet, he perseveres
and is granted the grace to offer prayers for the people. When Gabriel appears,
he is fearful and doubtful. (Think of times that you have been tired and
discouraged by the state of the world around you. Reflect on times you have had
doubts and fears about how God is present in the world, or about what God is
asking of you.) Picture Elizabeth waving goodbye to her husband at the city gate, sending him off with blessings and prayer. She returns to her empty house alone, and as she walks, she is aware of the eyes of others watching her. She delights in the sound of families and children, and yet she is so lonely, deep in her soul. Tears burn in her eyes as she sits quietly to pray. (Reflect on times when you have felt lonely, unsure of yourself, wondering why God has denied you the gifts you so fervently pray for, the times perhaps when you felt God was unfair, or felt a pang of envy over someone else’s gifts.)
Now picture the two of them, hopeful, joyful but silent, in seclusion, giving themselves time and space to prepare for this wondrous gift God has given them. (Sit in silence in hope and joy, preparing for the wondrous gift God gives to us!) © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. Saturday, December 20: “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:26-38). Provision: Pray “Let it be done to me.” “Let the Word that was in the beginning with God become flesh from my flesh. Let the Word, I pray, be to me, not as a word spoken only to pass away, but conceived and clothed in flesh, not in air, that he may remain with us. Let him be, not only to be heard with the ears, but to be seen with the eyes, touched with the hands, and borne on the shoulders. Let the Word be in me, not as a word written and silent, but incarnate and living” (St. Bernard of Clairvaux, from “In Defense of Humility” from Watch for the Light). © 2025, Elaine H. Ireland Contact ehireland@gmail.com. - December 21, 2025Isaiah 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;
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.
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