How does Advent move us to serve

our lords and masters, God’s poor?

How does Advent move us to serve

our lords and masters, God’s poor?

from Advent letter of G. Gregory Gay, C.M. Superior

General

Advent, 2012

from Advent letter of G. Gregory Gay, C.M. Superior

General

Advent, 2012

Advent can be a time that brings out our anxiety and

uncertainty.

Advent can be a time that brings out our anxiety and

uncertainty.

The Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent says: The Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent says:

11

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and nations will be in dismay... people will die of fright

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world.” (Lk.21:25)

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and nations will be in dismay... people will die of fright

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world.” (Lk.21:25)

WeekWeek

WarsNatural Disasters

PovertyHuman Miseries

Catastrophic ChallengesIgnorance and

Indifference towards God and Church

WarsNatural Disasters

PovertyHuman Miseries

Catastrophic ChallengesIgnorance and

Indifference towards God and Church

How did our founders respond?

How did our founders respond?

WeekWeek

11

Be vigilantPray

Meditate on the Word

Receive Jesus in the Eucharist

Make Jesus the center of your

lifeTrust in GodUndertake a

dynamic way of living the Gospel

Be vigilantPray

Meditate on the Word

Receive Jesus in the Eucharist

Make Jesus the center of your

lifeTrust in GodUndertake a

dynamic way of living the Gospel

WeekWeek

11

Advent is a time of awareness and anticipation.

Advent is a time of awareness and anticipation.

The Gospel for the second Sunday of Advent says:

The Gospel for the second Sunday of Advent says:

[John the Baptist proclaimed a] “baptism of repentance for the

forgiveness of sins... a voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare

the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.’” (Lk.3:2-3)

[John the Baptist proclaimed a] “baptism of repentance for the

forgiveness of sins... a voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare

the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.’” (Lk.3:2-3)

WeekWeek

22

BeginningsEndings

New Liturgical YearEnd of Calendar Year

Regrets About the Past YearAwareness of Our

Sinfulness

BeginningsEndings

New Liturgical YearEnd of Calendar Year

Regrets About the Past YearAwareness of Our

Sinfulness

How did our founders respond?

How did our founders respond?

WeekWeek

22

Rejoice that God is forever with us

Thank God for His forgivenessPractice self-

discipline; avoid self-indulgenceFocus on the

beauty of Scripture, hymns

Advance the reign of God on earth by serving Christ in the poor

Rejoice that God is forever with us

Thank God for His forgivenessPractice self-

discipline; avoid self-indulgenceFocus on the

beauty of Scripture, hymns

Advance the reign of God on earth by serving Christ in the poor

WeekWeek

22

Advent is a call to conversion to Christ and

our charism.

Advent is a call to conversion to Christ and

our charism. In the Gospel for the third Sunday of Advent, we hear that although the crowds varied from ordinary folk to tax collectors and soldiers, all had

the same question: “What should we do?” (Luke 3:10) John’s response

was simple and direct: Share all you have with the needy; do not collect more taxes than required; do not

extort or falsely accuse anyone; and be satisfied with your wages. (Luke

3:11-15)

In the Gospel for the third Sunday of Advent, we hear that although the crowds varied from ordinary folk to tax collectors and soldiers, all had

the same question: “What should we do?” (Luke 3:10) John’s response

was simple and direct: Share all you have with the needy; do not collect more taxes than required; do not

extort or falsely accuse anyone; and be satisfied with your wages. (Luke

3:11-15)

WeekWeek

33

Is conversion nothing more than a jump in the

Jordan, and then a fleeting feeling of relief?

Is following Christ all about esoteric spiritual exercises, or abstract religious doctrines?

Is conversion nothing more than a jump in the

Jordan, and then a fleeting feeling of relief?

Is following Christ all about esoteric spiritual exercises, or abstract religious doctrines?

How did our founders respond?

How did our founders respond?

WeekWeek

33

Open your heart for Jesus to

enter, and He will gently reveal new ways to live the Gospel truthsDecide: on whom and what do I set

my heart?Minister to

others as though they were Jesus

himselfBe “ambassadors

for Christ”

Open your heart for Jesus to

enter, and He will gently reveal new ways to live the Gospel truthsDecide: on whom and what do I set

my heart?Minister to

others as though they were Jesus

himselfBe “ambassadors

for Christ”

WeekWeek

33

Advent is a time for redemptive action. Advent is a time for redemptive action.

The Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Advent says: The Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Advent says:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…blessed are you who

believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

(Luke 1:39-45).

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…blessed are you who

believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

(Luke 1:39-45).

WeekWeek

44

Do we seek merely temporary relief for those

we serve?How do we handle life’s worries and anxieties?Do we continue anew

each year, regardless of our ordinariness, our age,

or our state in life?

Do we seek merely temporary relief for those

we serve?How do we handle life’s worries and anxieties?Do we continue anew

each year, regardless of our ordinariness, our age,

or our state in life?How did our founders

respond?How did our founders

respond?

WeekWeek

44

Be a missionary: share the Gospel,

communicate life to the poor.

Seek not only temporary relief but redemptive

changeRemember that ordinary people

in salvation history were

called by Godto play

extraordinary roles

Be a missionary: share the Gospel,

communicate life to the poor.

Seek not only temporary relief but redemptive

changeRemember that ordinary people

in salvation history were

called by Godto play

extraordinary roles

WeekWeek

44

May the Lord Jesus bless you abundantly in the Advent and

Christmas seasons

May the Lord Jesus bless you abundantly in the Advent and

Christmas seasons