When I was younger, the lack of any sort of stable Advent traditions was a point of pride. I’ve spent many a Christmas eve camping out on the floor of the Miami airport during a 5-hour layover playing cards with my siblings, waiting to spend Christmas with family in the Caribbean. But, on the risk… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – December 15, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2013 (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Lectionary: 7 (New American Bible Translation) Gaudete! – Rejoice! Rejoice! This is Gaudete Sunday,the Sunday of rejoicing of God’s people. This is the day we start to light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. The tone of the season of… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – December 8, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] Second Sunday of Advent – Year A (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Sunday December 8, 2013 (NAB Translation) Lectionary: 4 We are now in the second Sunday of Advent, and this week we hear some more of the warnings of the coming of the Lord, but this time, the readings focus more on hope. Reading 1… [Read More]
Empty Waiting
Wait. Just wait. It is this word that characterizes the Advent season – waiting. We wait for, we anticipate, we long for the coming of the Christ Child. That’s what ” advent” means: the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. So during advent, we’re celebrating waiting for the arrival of Christ. The season of Advent has been… [Read More]
I Need Advent Because I am a Sinner
On the outside, sometimes it can look like I have it all together. The truth is that my life would fall apart if it wasn’t for Jesus. Even if all the external and material things were the same, I would be missing part of the only part of my life that really gives me peace…. [Read More]
Beginning Advent With A Challenge
This year, the number of days in this holiday season are the shortest it possibly can be. 27 days. Just 27 days separate Thanksgiving and Christmas. Perhaps, As a result this begins to explain how and why retailers have combated the unusually short shopping window by putting out Christmas merchandise even earlier than normal. Completely… [Read More]
Making Room
Yesterday at mass we heard one of the infancy narratives, the one from Matthew (at Tuesday daily mass – right now it’s Wednesday night!). We’re getting closer and closer to end of the Advent season and the start of Christmas, so we’re starting to hear more about Christ’s birth. On Christmas (well, at the Midnight Mass),… [Read More]
A Little Advent Scripture Study
Advent is a time of preparation for receiving Jesus into the world and into our hearts. My first Advent challenge to you is to sit down, ponder and meditate on the scriptural account of Jesus’ arrival in the world as your time allows. There are many wonderful resources for Scripture study, but for anyone seeking… [Read More]
Parenting the Popular Kid
Whether we admit it to ourselves or not, we all want to be popular. Well, popular in the sense that all of us want to be loved, recognized, accepted and appreciated. Our oldest son began middle school this year and it has been a {ahem} transition. Yes, there are glimpses of a little boy left… [Read More]
A Real Baby
“No, he was a REAL baby!” my six year old daughter insists, eye brows lifted as she explains to her four year old sister. “It’s not a just story!” My four year old’s blue eyes are wide as she looks off out the window, pondering. Jesus was a real baby. Even as an adult, I… [Read More]
Don’t Ignore Advent
I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining. I believe in Love even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God even when he is silent. We’re 15 days away from Christmas. We are in a time of preparation, both of the celebration of the birth of Jesus of many years ago… [Read More]
Music of the Season – Advent Volume I and II [EP Review]
The majority of world is confused thinking it’s Christmas already, but we’re still in the season of Advent. In fact, we just started. While it’s not the same penitential season as lent, Advent provides a great opportunity for prayer, fasting, and preparation. In today’s world, it take a lot of effort and intention to prepare… [Read More]
He humbled Himself
As soon as Thanksgiving ends and the consumer world starts promoting and selling Christmas in earnest, I feel like I immediately start to hear from the Catholic media sphere the repeated mantra warning us against the spirit of materialism: Focus on the reason for the season, don’t get stressed out over Christmas shopping and buying stuff, don’t… [Read More]
Life is Not an Emergency: Preparing for Advent
Several months ago, a friend gave me the book, “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. Admittedly, it’s not the kind of book you can just breeze through in one sitting. It’s a hardcover meant to be enjoyed, over the course of many a couch sitting, preferably with a hot cup of tea. Precisely the kind… [Read More]
Keeping Advent Holy
Ahhhh, it’s almost December! What a wonderful time of year! We have SO many plans to make it an amazing time for our family! And we have so much to do! We get down décor from the attic. We put together a tree. We start making Christmas lists. The office Christmas party is marked the… [Read More]
Perfectly Imperfect
Pinterest is a dream come true for the aspiring perfectionist. If you have not encountered pinterest yet, it is a virtual and endless pin board where people can post and save photos of projects and ideas. (Be prepared to stay up until 4 am creating your pin boards, by the way). I was browsing the… [Read More]
All Sins Must Go!
I hope these final days of Advent are giving you a chance to slow down and make your final preparation—physically and spiritually—for Christmas. While receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is not technically required during Advent (ref. Canon 988), it is a very laudable practice and a tangible way to prepare spiritually for the Christmas season…. [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast: December 4, 2011 Readings and Reflections
[powerpress] December 4, 2011 – Second Sunday of Advent Skip to 4:25 minute mark to go to reflection. First Reading Isiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14 Second Reading 2 Peter 3:8-14 Gospel Mark 1:1-8 Reflection done by Cristobal Almanza – @SoulPainter Theme song – Ignite – Soundwave soundwave.cc Feedback Line Number: (512) 200-ACNM (2266) feedback@austincnm.com http://www.austincnm.com
Be a New You: Advent and Renewal
Here at ACNM, we’re quite excited about Advent. And we all should be! I love Advent because it is a promise, and similtaneously a promise fulfilled. Christ is coming. Christ has come, and Christ will come again, and we’re so grateful of that fact that the Church celebrates it every year with joy and anticipation. Rita’s… [Read More]
The Advent of Black Friday Shopping
Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but it is deeply based in Christian tradition. We give thanks only because there is someone that gives us the blessings we receive. It is a wonderful day that gives us an opportunity to gather with our loved ones and be grateful. The day after Thanksgiving Day has become known… [Read More]
