Advent begins with hope—the quiet, steady light that faith ignites in the darkness. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is the assurance that God’s word is enough. In this season, we remember that Christ came as a child, vulnerable yet victorious, and we wait with confidence that He will come again. Faith gives birth to hope, and hope sustains us in prayer, even when the world feels uncertain.
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When we think of beauty, we imagine light, harmony, and wholeness—whether in a mountain, a flower, a melody, or a person. True beauty has no distortion, no stain to mar its perfection. On this feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate Mary as the masterpiece of God’s creation. Her soul was formed without the shadow of sin, radiant with the fullness of grace, designed by the same Creator who painted sunsets and jeweled the skies.
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On this second Sunday of Advent we see repentance as our hope. John’s cry in the wilderness is not meant to frighten us into obedience. His call to repentance is an invitation to prepare our hearts for the One who heals and perfects our humanity. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And as the Catechism reminds us, “the Kingdom of God means Christ himself” (CCC 2816).
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“In those days before the flood, the people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” (Mt 24:38)
We can almost picture it, Noah building a massive ark on dry land, while everyone around him carried on with ordinary routines—eating, drinking, marrying—indifferent to the strange sign rising before their eyes. Their vision was flat, one-dimensional, absorbed only in the present moment.
Continue reading “Advent Calls Us To More”
“Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope.”
—Pope Benedict XVI
Hope begins not in our striving but in remembering. As we light the first candle on our Advent wreath this week. We are called back to the tender truth that God entered our world as a child, fragile, dependent, and utterly human. This memory heals because it reminds us that God is not distant from our daily lives but has chosen to dwell within us.
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“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…” (Eph 5:8)
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph 5:14)
Advent is a season of awakening—not only to the light, but also to the truth that darkness has shaped us. Saint Paul reminds us that we were once darkness, yet now we are light in the Lord. Hope does not erase the night; it transforms it.
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“It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Rom 13:11)
Advent begins with a summons: awake. Saint Paul’s words stir us from the slumber of routine and distraction, reminding us that the Lord’s coming is not a distant dream but a near and living reality. Salvation is closer than we imagine, and hope is not deferred—it is dawning.
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The deepest struggle in marriage is not money, miscommunication, or even differences in personality—it is hardness of heart. When our hearts grow hard, we stop listening, stop forgiving, and let the sorrowful mysteries of life overwhelm us. Instead of turning toward one another, we retreat into silence or resentment.
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Do you need the grace of courage?
In Luke 16:1–8, Jesus tells a surprising parable: a dishonest steward is praised—not for his cheating, but for his resolve. Faced with crisis, he examines his situation, acknowledges his weakness, and acts decisively. Jesus invites us to do the same—not in cunning, but in spiritual courage.
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The season of Advent invites us into a sacred rhythm of waiting, expectation, and discovery. It is more than a countdown to Christmas-it is a time to pause, reflect, and rediscover the deeper meaning woven into these weeks of preparation. In that spirit, I’m delighted to share the Hinges of Hope Advent Retreat guided by Fr. Hung Pham, SJ. This retreat offers a space to gather with friends from across the globe, to breathe deeply, to ponder our deepest hopes, and to reflect on how the “doors” of our lives might open wider to grace, to love, and to one another. You’re warmly invited to register here for the ZOOM session and step into this journey of reflection.
As we begin Advent, I offer you the following meditation on Holy Doors, a journey through the door of Christ.
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Smitten With Goodness 