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Education for JusticeAdvent Reflections 2009 Theme: Preparing for the Prince of

Peace… Reconciling, Forgiving, Healing

About the Calendar: Using reconciliation as our lens, we shine a light on places in our own hearts and in our world where forgiveness, reconciliation and healing are needed. We take concrete steps to prepare for the ‘Prince of Peace’ and the indwelling of love.

“God...has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, Not counting their trespasses against them, And entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, Since God is making his appeal through us; We entreat you on behalf of Christ, Be reconciled to God.” - 2 Cor 5: 18

On Earth…..Peace

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…On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.

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Scripture Quote:On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his rootsa bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding.” Is 11:1-2

Reflection on Reconciliation:"Because sin has impacted the world in its totality, including its social institutions, and because Christ's salvation has come to all of life, Christians are called to struggle for the healing and wholeness of the world."

- Nicholas Wolterstorff Prayer:God of mercy and consolation, guide my effortsin seeking wisdom and understanding. Grantme the courage to reconcile the inner divisionsin my life and in so doing, contribute to healing the divisions in the world.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17Luke 10:21-24

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

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Repent

Scripture Quote:“The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of the people God will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.”

-Isaiah 25:8

Reflection on Reconciliation:“The gospel teaches us that only the power of God's love can change our hearts and make us triumph over the power of sin and division."

-Pope Benedict XVIPrayer:Remove the sting of regret from my heart.Open new space within me to hear anewyour call to forgive and extendforgiveness to others.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 25:6-10Psalm 23: 1-6Matthew 15:29-37

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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Heal regret

Scripture Quote:Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord.

-Psalm 118:19

Reflection on Reconciliation:"Only one thing is necessary: that the sinner at least leave the door of his or her heart ajar, the rest will be done by God. Everything begins and ends in God’s mercy." - Pope John Paul II

Prayer:I ask for the grace to be open, to set mydefenses and resistances aside. WhereI remain in darkness, show Your light.Where I am closed in on myself, grantme your boundless mercy.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 26:1-6Psalm 118:1,8,9,19-21, 25-27Matthew 7:21,24-27

Thursday December 3, 2009St. Francis Xavier, priest

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Open up

Scripture Quote:For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who arealert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, whoensnare his defender at the gate and leave the just man with an empty claim.

-Isaiah 29:20

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Only God's love, able to make brothers and sisters of people of all races and cultures, can heal the painful divisions, ideological conflict, economic unbalance, and violence which still oppresses humanity.”

-John Paul II, May 20, 2002Prayer:May your love release me from the insecurity of arrogance and the misuseof power. Heal those divisions that thwart the deeper communion I desire.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 29:17-24Psalm 27:1,4,13-14Matthew 9:27-31

Friday, December 4, 2009St. John of Damascus

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Be humble

Scripture Quote:Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation:“The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleansethe lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; withoutcost you are to give. – Matthew 10:6-8

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Original sin is the universal and socialized withdrawal from the mystery ofwhich we yet continue to draw all our meaning and value. Original sin is thesocialized truncation of human life, the systematic reduction of the child of mystery to the banal world of our own making.” – Sebastian Moore

Prayer:Help me resist the temptation towithdraw from life when things get difficult or life gets challenging. Help me restore my balance and equilibrium in You.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 30: 19-21,23-26Psalm 147: 1-6Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5-8

Saturday December 5, 2009

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Open your eyes

Scripture Quote:John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptismof repentance for the forgiveness of sins…Prepare the way of the Lord, makestraight his paths. Luke 3:1-6

Reflection on Reconciliation:"The Gospel teaches us that reconciliation, true reconciliation, can only be the fruit of conversion, a change of heart, a new way of thinking.”

-Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer:Take the crooked paths of my false startsand half-hearted efforts and show me howto walk in Your way. Heal the broken placesin my life. Restore my hope and joy.

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Readings of the Day:Baruch 5:1-9Psalm 126: 1-6Philippians 1:4-6,8-11Luke 3:1-6

Second Sunday of AdventSunday December 6, 2009

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Reconcile

Scripture Quote:Because of the crowd, the men went up on the roof and lowered the paralyticon a mat through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” -Luke 5:19-20

Reflection on Reconciliation:“In the end, the deepest question each of us faces is the question of where wewill point our lives, the question of direction. Sin as a direction-possibility andits blessed alternative of a direction pointed toward God: These alternatives are, in the end, what life is all about.” –Timothy O’Connell

Prayer:Sin is a disruption of the unity God desires.Remove the obstacles that prevent mefrom being a loving presence, a healingforce for peace.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 35:1-10Psalm 85: 9-14Luke 5:17-26

Monday, December 7, 2009St. Ambrose

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Persevere

Scripture Quote:In love, God destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accordwith the favor of God’s will, for the praise of the glory of God’s grace thatGod granted us in the beloved. – Ephesians 1:5-6

Reflection on Reconciliation:"God is calling us to acknowledge the power of God’s presence within us," to take as our own "the gift of his love and forgiveness, and to become messengers of that merciful love within our families and communities, at school and in the workplace, in every sector of social and political life.”

-Pope Benedict XVI, March 22, 2009 Prayer:Help me to live in Your presenceand witness to others the love and mercy You have shown me.

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Readings of the Day:Genesis 3: 9-15, 20Psalm 98:1-4Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday December 8, 2009Feast of the Immaculate Conception

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Ask for Grace

Scripture Quote:God pardons all your iniquities, God heals all your ills. God redeems your lifefrom destruction, God crowns you with kindness and compassion. – Psalm 103

Reflection on Reconciliation:"Biblically rooted reconciliation is not just personal, but encompasses theinterpersonal, the spiritual and the social. Within the scope of a ministry ofreconciliation is a broad range of formal and informal activities intended to overcome division and all forms and consequences of violence.“

-Miroslav VolfPrayer:Let me not be discouraged by myweaknesses but receive Your healinglove and rejoice in Your mercy. Heal alldivision, restore broken trust, end themisuse of force and the tendency toward violence.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 40: 25-31Psalm 103:1-4,8,10Matthew 11:28-30

Wednesday December 9, 2009St. Juan Diego

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Show compassion

Scripture Quote:I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13

Reflection on Reconciliation:Everywhere, where hatred, injustice and pain reign; where a lack of respect is seen toward the priceless gift of life and the dignity of humans; where the wave of terrorism grows and the culture of death holds sway -- there is needed the grace of Divine Mercy, which quiets the heart, creates peace, returns the sense of human dignity, and leads to justice.

-Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz Prayer:Help me to know when to hold on and when to let go. I trust in your guidinghand. Remove the fear that preventsme from extending the hand of forgivenessto others.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 41:13-20Psalm 145: 1, 9-13Matthew 11:11-15

Thursday, December 10, 2009

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Grasp reality

Scripture Quote:Blessed the one who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in theway of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the lawof the Lord and meditates on it day and night. – Psalm 1:1-2

Reflection on Reconciliation:“God’s passionate love for God’s people – for humanity – is a forgiving love. It is so great that it turns God against himself, God’s love against God’s justice…So great is God’s love for humanity that by becoming human God follows man even into death, and so reconciles justice and love.” – Pope Benedict XVI, DCE, 10Prayer:When it’s easier to wander down thepath of apathy, guide me to lovingconcern. When I am too discouragedto try again, restore my will.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 48:17-19Psalm 1:1-4,6Matthew 11:16-19

Friday, December 11, 2009St. Damascus I

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Reflect

Scripture Quote:“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” – Luke 1:38

Reflection on Reconciliation:“In the presence of God, nothing stands between God and us – we are forgiven.But we cannot feel God’s presence if anything is allowed to stand betweenourselves and others.” – Dag Hammarskjold

Prayer:In the sureness of your love make mylife a proclamation of your glory. Throughmy mistakes and failures, reveal yourpower. From petty grievances, free me.

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Readings of the Day:Zechariah 2: 14-17 or Revelation 11:12, 12:1-6,10Judith 13: 18-19Luke 1:26-38

Saturday, December 12, 2009Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Proclaim

Scripture Quote:The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them inreply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.And whoever has food should do likewise.” Luke 3:10-11

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Caritas transcends justice and completes it in the logic of giving and forgiving.The earthly city is promoted not merely by relationships of rights and duties, but to an even greater and more fundamental extent by relationships of gratuitousness, mercy and communion. Caritas always manifests God's lovein human relationships as well, it gives theological and salvific value to allcommitment for justice in the world.” – Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 6

Prayer:Help me to listen attentively to theprophets in my life. Disturb what istoo complacent in me and move my heart to action.

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Readings of the Day:Zephaniah 3:14-18Isaiah 12:2-6Philippians 4:4-7Luke 3:10-18

Third Sunday of AdventSunday, December 13, 2009

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Commit

Scripture Quote:Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides thehumble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. – Psalm 25:8-9

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Nothing in our lives is outside the realm of God’s judgment and mercy. By hiding parts of our story, not only from our own consciousness but also fromGod’s eye, we claim a divine role for ourselves; we become judges of our own past and limit mercy to our own fears. Thus we disconnect ourselves from ourown suffering but also from God’s suffering for us.” – Henri Nouwen

Prayer:Help me to walk humbly with myhuman limitations. Grant me Your grace to guide and direct my path andteach me Your ways.

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Readings of the Day:Numbers 24:7, 15-17Psalm 25: 4-9Matthew 21:23-27

Monday, December 14, 2009St. John of the Cross

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Listen

Scripture Quote:The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from theearth. When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all theirdistress he rescues them. – Psalm 34:17-18

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Forgive me, most gracious Lord, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world.” – F.B. Meyer

Prayer:Help me to listen deeply and toquiet the distractions that stealmy attention and energy from You.May I listen today at a depth that freesothers from the burdens they carryand bring your healing love.

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Readings of the Day:Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13Psalm 34:2-3,6-7,17-19, 23Matthew 21:28-32

Tuesday December 15, 2009

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Confront injustice

Scripture Quote:Let justice descent, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justicealso spring up! I, the Lord, have created this. – Isaiah 45:8

Reflection on Reconciliation:"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting humanity’s sins against them. And God has committed to us the message of reconciliation." -2 Cor 5:18Prayer:Send a gentle rain into those parchedplaces yearning to see a new start.Help me move beyond past regretsand start anew.

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Readings of the Day:Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25Psalm 85:9-14Luke 7:18-23

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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Bloom

Scripture Quote:The mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice. He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor. Justiceshall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. May herule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

–Psalm 72:3-4,7-8Reflection on Reconciliation:"Living by the truth takes time, effort and perseverance: it has to begin in our own hearts, in the small daily sacrifices required if we are to be faithful to God's law, in the little acts by which we demonstrate that we love our neighbors, all our neighbors, regardless of race, ethnicity or language, and by our readiness to work with them to build together on foundations that will endure.” – Pope Benedict XVIPrayer:Show me the truth that can free mefrom all that holds me back from loving more deeply and more freely.

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Readings of the Day:Genesis 49:2, 8-10Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17Matthew 1:1-17

Thursday, December 17, 2009

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Live by truth

Scripture Quote:O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflictedwhen he has no one to help him. -Psalm 72

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Suffering is the human struggle with and against pain. It is the experienceof the breakdown of our systems of meaning and our stories about ourselves,and the struggle to restore those senses of safety and selfhood. Suffering onlybecomes redemptive when we struggle against these corroding powers andrebuild ourselves in spite of the pain we are experiencing.” – Robert Schreiter

Prayer:In times when we feel lost in our ownfrailty and affliction, restore our hope and remind us that our deepest communion and hope for healing is found in You.

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Readings of the Day:Jeremiah 23: 5-8Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19Matthew 1:18-25

Friday, December 18, 2009

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Be attentive

Scripture Quote:I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD; O God, I will tell of your singularjustice. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. -Psalm 71: 16-17

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Put aside your hatred and animosity. Take pains to refrain from sharp words.If they escape your lips, do not be ashamed to let your lips produce the remedy,since they have caused the wounds. Pardon one another so that later on youwill not remember the injury.” – Francis of Paola -15th Century

Prayer:Today, help me to use only thosewords that can lift someone’s spiritsor soothe someone’s pain. Let me bethe first to extend an olive branch to others.

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Readings of the Day:Judges 13:2-7, 24-25Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17Luke 1:5-25

Saturday December 19, 2009

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Learn

Scripture Quote:Lord, make us turn to you ; let us see your face and we shall besaved. You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove away the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground; it took root and filled the land.-Psalm 80: 8-10

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32

Prayer:Forgive me for the times I have beencareless, lacking respect for all you havecreated. Open my eyes to the beautythat surrounds me so that I may livewith grounded in gratitude.

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Readings of the Day:Micah 5:1-4Psalm 80: 2-3,15-6,18-19Hebrews 10:5-10Luke 1:39-45

Fourth Sunday of AdventSunday December 20, 2009

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BeTender

Scripture Quote:

Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord your God is in your midsta mighty savior; God will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you inGod’s love. -Zephaniah 3:

Reflection on Reconciliation:“No matter how far we have wandered, no matter how much damage we haveinflicted on ourselves, God still loves us and still wants what is good for us.That’s why God never lets us be fulfilled by anything other than God. That’s why God continues to offer us forgiveness.” – Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk

Prayer:When I am discouraged and weigheddown, restore my vision and show mehow to draw on Your strengthRenew me in Your love.

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Readings of the Day:Song of Songs 2:8-14Zephaniah 3:14-18Psalm 33:2-3,11-12,20-21Luke 1:39-45

Monday, December 21, 2009

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Take heart

Scripture Quote:God has mercy on those who fear God in every generation. God has shownthe strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. God hascast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. – Luke1:

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Sin is an unused, unfashionable word, but the facts of life (including my own)as I look at them –the betrayals, the forgetfulness, the selfishness, the ego-centricity –are but the history of humankind written small. There is only oneanswer to such a vision: It must be accepted. I must simply turn it over tonothing short of grace.” – Joseph Sittler, Theologian

Prayer:Show me the way to bring peace, tobe still, to trust in Your grace. Turn over those places of betrayal, selfishnessand sin and prepare a space for peace.

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Readings of the Day:1 Samuel 1:24-281 Samuel 2:1,4-8Luke 1:46-56

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

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Show mercy

Scripture Quote:Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keephis covenant and his decrees. -Psalm 25

Reflection on Reconciliation:“Forgiveness and compassion hold hands like sisters and call forth a strengththat relies one on the other. Our actions and behavior are influenced by oursecurity or lack of it, our frustrations, and usually our compulsions. To under-stand that we each do the best with the maturity we have enables us to alloweach other our inevitable “mistakes” and to practice the art of true forgiveness.”-Noela EvansPrayer:Open my hands and release my gripon fear, insecurity or control. Show me the path of compassion and love.

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Readings of the Day:Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24Psalm 25:4-5,8-10, 14Luke 1:57-66

Wednesday, December 23, 2009St. John of Kanty

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Seek humility

Scripture Quote:In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shallbreak upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and theshadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” -Luke 1:78-80

Reflection on Reconciliation:“The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with thehouse of Israel… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their heartsI will be their God, and they shall be my people…for I will forgive their iniquity,and remember their sin no more.” – Jeremiah 31:31,34

Prayer:Break through the darkness in my lifeand in our world. Let Your lightcast out all fear. Let justice and peacebe born anew in me.

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Readings of the Day:2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16Psalm 89: 2-5, 27, 29Luke 1:67-79

Thursday, December 24, 2009Christmas Eve

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Wait

Thursday, December 25,

2009Christmas

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