In these final days of Advent, I keep returning to Mary’s song in Luke’s Gospel, the Magnificat, her great cry of joy and surrender. It is, in so many ways, the perfect Advent prayer. Before Jesus is born, before the shepherds arrive, before the world knows what God is doing, Mary stands in the quiet of her own hidden life and proclaims:
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In this Sunday’s Gospel, Joseph receives a dream that changes everything. He’s confused and afraid, caught in a situation he never expected. Yet in the quiet of sleep, God speaks: “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.” When Joseph wakes, he doesn’t overanalyze or second-guess. He trusts and he acts.
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The ancient hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel carries the longing of Israel and the longing of every human heart. It is a song of exile, of waiting, of yearning for God to break into the loneliness of our world. “Ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.”
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This third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, calls us to rejoice—not with shallow cheer, but with the deep gladness that comes from knowing Christ is near. The rose candle flickers with hope, reminding us that joy is not a passing feeling but a gift born of His presence.
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John the Baptist’s cry echoes through Advent: “Make straight his paths.” It is a summons not only to prepare for the Lord’s coming but to reform our lives so that nothing hinders His presence.
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Pause with me for a moment, can you imagine what it would be like to see nine million people turn to Christ in just ten years? To watch an entire culture shift from darkness to light, from human sacrifice to the worship of the God of love?
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This second week of Advent invites us to pause and breathe in the promise of peace. In a season often marked by hurry and noise, the Church gently calls us to remember that true peace is not the absence of struggle but the presence of God.
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This second week of Advent moves us from hope into peace. The candles we light on our Advent wreath remind us that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the deep assurance that flows from trusting God. Without hope prepared in our hearts, peace cannot take root. Hope steadies us; peace settles us.
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Advent is a season of waiting, but not of uncertainty. We wait anchored in hope—the hope that is not wishful thinking or fragile optimism, but the steady promise of God. Hope is the anchor that holds us fast when the waters of life grow restless, when shadows lengthen and the night feels long.
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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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Smitten With Goodness 