3rd Sunday of Advent

Our readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent are:

1. Zephaniah 3: 14-18a
2. Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6
3. Philippians 4: 4-7
4. Luke 3: 10-18

1. Rejoicing over me?
• Ignatius of Loyola had a profound sense of the gaze of God upon him, and began each time of prayer just making himself more in touch with and conscious of that gaze.
• When you see two young lovers gazing at each other, do you think that each brings about a change in the other with just that gaze?
• Why do you think that sometimes a look can convey more than words?
• If God were to try to convey His gaze at you in words, what would those words be?
• Do you think that those words change in response to what you do, how you behave, who you are becoming?
2. The messiah is among you
• You've probably heard this story, but I like it anyway.  Years ago a monastery was slowly coming apart.  Petty jealousies and meaningless squabbles were becoming more and more of an issue, and the abbot was near his wit's end trying to get the monks to rise above such pettiness.  Finally, he sought a wise old man rumored to be deep in the surrounding woods, found him and explained his plight.  The wise old man said, "you must go back to your monastery, and take one fellow monk into your confidence.  Tell them that the Messiah is among you, and tell them they they can tell no more than one person this great truth, and then it must never be brought up again in conversation.  That person that they tell may in their turn tell just one other person."  The abbot was credulous, but tried it.  Soon, all of the monks began to defer to one another, see each other's faults and foibles in a different, more charitable light, and they began to listen to each other more.  Soon they became known as a group with a strong charism for hospitality and love, and new novices were pledging to the monastery in record numbers.  But the abbot was worried that he had kindled all of this based on a lie.  So he went back to the old man and related all that had happened, and asked "what am I to do now?  I know the Messiah is not among us."  The old man said "how are you to know that?" and "does it really make a difference if He is not?"
• Is the God of our fathers among us?
• How is that God most evident?
• How can we be more aware of that Presence?
3. Perfect peace
• What does perfect peace mean?
• If someone told you that they were in perfect peace, regardless of the circumstances, what would you conclude?
• Does peace of mind even make sense in this day and age?
4. Next time I won't bother asking
• This is one of the few places where we are given specific direction about how to live.
• Do you think that God has specific direction like this for all of us?
• All in all, how does God direct your life?
• Do you wish He could be a little more direct?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What do I really believe about God's love for me?
2. Am I willing to accept God's salvation in all of its abundance?
3. What am I anxious about today?
4. What am I willing to share with those in need?

Shalom!