Tag: Advent

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Minute Meditation – The Quiet Joy of Advent

The season of Advent can be overlooked in the run-up to Christmas, but if we take the time to recognize its hum beneath the busyness of shopping, baking, parties, and decorations, we discover the quiet joy it can bring, those moments apart from the giddiness (or the frustration) of December. Even people who work in ministry can get caught up in the preparations for the Advent and Christmas liturgies and lose sight of the deep joy of the season. Advent challenges us to step away from the hectic activity of the world, even if only for a short time each day. Pope Francis is the perfect guide through this season. Not one to shy away from a busy schedule, he has discovered the secret of balancing work with reflection, busyness with quiet contemplation, celebration with solitude, simplicity with the complexities of daily life. And what is at the heart of that secret? Making sure everything is rooted in Christ. The work we do (and the joy it can bring) emerges from a commitment to bringing the gift of God’s love to those we meet.

—from the book The Joy of Advent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis
by Diane M. Houdek

//Franciscan Media//

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Dynamic Catholic – 1st Sunday of Advent – Get Right to the Core

Get Right To The Core

What do you think is the most important thing you can do this Advent? Could it be searching for unique gifts, concocting the perfect eggnog, or decorating the most festive tree?

TODAY’S GOSPEL IS LUKE 21:25-28 & 34-36

While these activities certainly help make the season bright, the best thing you can do is to become a better-version-of-yourself. In a culture that makes Advent the most chaotic time of the year, it’s up to you to decide to walk away from the stress of the season and focus on what matters most.

Who would you become by December 25th if your first priority was to look for ways to humbly serve? Join Allen as he explores this question and shares a memory of how service not only helped him love others more deeply, but changed who he was at the core.