Welcoming the Advent Season
Trusting in God’s providence, sharing in mutuality with people who are poor and marginalized, working in collaboration, and searching for truth in dialogue with others. -SLW Core Value #2, Living the Gospel
Trusting in God’s Providence, from Core SLW Value #2, is the message of the first Readings on the four Sundays of Advent. The prophet Isaiah had to deal with the slow movement of God in bringing the people back to their land after a period of exile.
The people wanted what was theirs before exile, but God works slowly and in small ways. This is also Paul’s problem and the answer is the same: Remain faithful for God is at work. The Gospels give us a look at how the slow movement of God is in the work of forming creation, all of it with us, into the reign of God.
And so we celebrate Advent and are reminded of the way God works in our world. The second part of Core SLW Value 2 gives us hints at how we can be part of the slow movement of God.
The Sisters of the Living Word and our Associates offer reflections on this season and our part in it. You are welcome to join us from week to week via email messages and on our website for our reflections on this season.
Written by Barbara Mass, SLW (Chicago, Illinois)
First Sunday of Advent Reflection
December 3, 2023
Isaiah 63:16, 17, 19 & 64:2 – 7
I Corinthians 1: 3 - 9
Mark 13: 33 – 37
“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands” (Isaiah 64:7)
We don’t know when the Master will come, thus we must be on guard, keeping watch for the moments of grace. And these moments are upon us now as God comes in the cry of the poor, the plea for food, the request for shelter...
How often God must weep for us. Our constant lust for power has trapped and corrupted us and damaged the human spirit. Only God knows the pain we have brought upon ourselves and others, our constant wanting to take our destiny into our own hands and hold it over others.
This Advent season, help us to look into our own hearts. Help us to stop comparing ourselves to others, stop asking ourselves whether we are better than, stronger than, or faster than the one who is standing beside us. How often do we stop and ask ourselves how we can help someone who is suffering or in need? Maybe by sharing our many gifts and blessings with people who are poor and working with marginalized communities to bring positive change to their situations. By sharing our time, listening to others, sharing a dialogue... we begin to understand the truth of our situations and this will help us to come together to find positive solutions.
Advent is a time for us to step back and look at the whole extent of what God has done for us. Each day of this season, maybe we need to wake up to the reality of our lives and say to God, “Thanks for life. Thanks for each day. Thanks for my destiny, forever! I know that everything I have is all yours, and today I’ll try to use whatever you have given me to increase the good around me, to use my money properly, to use my health thoroughly, to use my talents skillfully.”
So what is the Lord asking of us? It is so deep and so simple, and it brings peace, strength, and purpose to any day of our lives. Thank you, God! Everything I have is yours and I’ll try to use it well and share with others around me. I will work to find solutions to the many problems we face as a family of faith, a community of mutual support and love.
We appreciate this gift of life you have given each of us...
Come, Lord Jesus, come into our hearts.
You are the Master of our lives and we wait for your return.
Keep us ever vigilant, watching over our family, our community of brothers and sisters...
Written by Bobby Mills, ASLW (West Texas Associates of the Sisters of the Living Word)
November Sister Chat
This Thursday, November 30, 2023
at 12pm CT over Zoom
Click Here to Register for the November Sister Chat
Join us on this week on Thursday, November 30th at 12pm CT over Zoom as we speak with Sister Kristine Vorenkamp. We will be chatting with Sister Kris on her recent experience in Nogales with the KINO Border Initiative, and her journey beginning her studies to become an accredited Advocate Representative for those seeking naturalization.