Editor’s note: The Catholic News Herald offers these Advent reflections courtesy of Catholic Relief Services. These Advent reflections, activities and prayers invite us to prepare our hearts to welcome Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), into our world at Christmas.
These weekly reflections, based on the Gospel readings for each Sunday in Advent, connect the journey that brought Mary and Joseph to the stable with the journey of all those communities around the world that continue to encounter poverty.
At www.crs.org: More resources for your Advent journey, including videos, prayers and even a “digital Advent retreat”
LIGHT THE ADVENT WREATH
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit … Come Lord Jesus, be our light! May we learn to recognize You in our daily lives.
READ THE GOSPEL
Second Sunday of Advent (Cycle C) Luke 3:1-6:
“The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.”
REFLECT WITH A STORY
Today’s Gospel is very specific. We are told the names of the ruling leaders of the government and the church, leaders like Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. And we hear the names of the lands over which they ruled: Judea, Galilee and Abilene.
At first glance, all this information may feel unnecessary, even a bit overwhelming. It seems to take forever before we meet our main character, John the Baptist. Why all this information?
The Gospel is specific because God is specific. God works through the people, places and situations in our everyday lives. Each moment is a new opportunity to meet God – and God wants to be present to us in those very specific moments.
For Ana Maria Piedrahita – the founder of Sapia, an artisan group in Bogota, Colombia – God was at work in orange peels. In Colombia, where oranges grow in abundance and fresh-squeezed orange juice is very popular, many vendors have to pay someone to get rid of all those extra peels.
While Ana Maria was traveling, she saw a box made out of old orange peels. This inspired her to use orange peels to make fun, useful items. Ana Maria began gathering up all the orange peels she could find and turned them into jewelry and figurines. Soon her business grew and she was employing other people!
What began as a problem – too many orange peels! – now provides people with a way to earn money and support their families. Ana Maria’s story reminds us to take a deeper look at the ordinary events of our daily lives and to see God at work within them.
PRAY
God of all people, help us to see
You in each moment of our day.
May we always remember that You come to us in the people, places and things we encounter. Amen.
REFLECT
Think about your own life: your family, your school, your work and your friends. How is God trying to talk to you?
ACT
This week, try to find the “orange peels” in your life. Pay attention to God’s presence in one person or situation.
GIVE
Instead of buying your family or friends toys for Christmas, why not give them an ethically produced gift made by someone like Ana Maria? Visit ethicaltrade.crs.org.
LIGHT THE ADVENT WREATH
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit … Come Lord Jesus, transform our lives! Open our hearts and minds to experience joy as we serve our neighbors in need.
READ THE GOSPEL
Third Sunday of Advent (Cycle C) Luke 3:10-18:
“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.”
REFLECT WITH A STORY
John the Baptist answers a familiar question in this week’s Gospel: “What should we do?”
How many of us ask ourselves this question when we see members of our global family living in poverty?
John provides a very simple answer. He tells us, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.” But John the Baptist does not stop there. In fact, as different people in the crowd question him – tax collectors, soldiers and more – he gives answers that are specific to each person. John recognizes that each of us has unique gifts to give – and unique needs based on where we are in our lives.
In the Holy Land, not far from where the angel Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, a group of artisans carve beautiful nativity scenes out of olive wood. This is how Nawal Gharib provides for her family. The work she does is important – not just because it helps pay for food and other supplies, but because it allows her to share her God-given gifts with others.
Not so long ago, her workshop was dangerous. It was hard to breathe and see, which meant she and her fellow workers often got sick.
Now their workshop is healthy, clean and safe. “This is the best Christmas gift we have ever received,” says Nawal, with a big smile on her face. “Now we are working in a better place, a healthier place.”
What did she need? A safe place to work. Now Nawal and her family are able to ask the question, like the people asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
PRAY
Jesus Christ, fill us with Your joy as we serve our brothers and sisters in need. May the joy You bring inspire us to care for each other as one human family. Amen.
REFLECT
How can I serve those in need in my community?
ACT
This week, choose some toys or household items – make sure they’re in good condition – and give them to a family in need.
Share what you have with others! Give a Catholic Relief Services Gift of Hope to a family in need this Christmas. Visit crs.org/gift-tree.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Many people looking at their February calendars are doing a double-take with Ash Wednesday falling on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.
The two days, steeped in tradition, don't have too much in common beyond their religious roots. Valentine's Day, named after St. Valentine, a third-century martyr, is all about romance with its emphasis on cards, candy, flowers and nice dinners, where Ash Wednesday takes a more somber tone as the start of 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving of Lent.
Ash Wednesday also is one of two days, along with Good Friday, that are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholic adults -- meaning no eating meat and eating only one full meal and two smaller meals. In other words, not a day for consuming candy hearts, chocolate cakes or fancy steak dinners.
And for those who wonder if Catholic bishops might grant a dispensation from the day's fasting requirements, as they sometimes have with the no meat rule when St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday in Lent, they should probably think again.
Bishop Peter Jugis is not issuing a dispensation from the Ash Wednesday fast due to the Valentine’s Day holiday. He suggested that people celebrate Valentine’s Day the day before (Feb. 13 – Mardi Gras), or enjoy a nice fish dinner together on Valentine’s Day.
Researchers at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, or CARA, based at Georgetown University, point out that the two days will overlap again in 2029 and that in 2096, Ash Wednesday will occur on Leap Day – Feb.29 for the first time in the Church's history.
Despite the rarity of this year's Ash Wednesday date, an article on the CARA website notes that it is unlikely the U.S. bishops would give an Ash Wednesday dispensation as some of them have on St. Patrick's Day mainly because not much is known about St. Valentine. It points out that he is said to have been killed at the command of Emperor Claudius in the year 278 for marrying Christians at a time when the emperor was trying to recruit single men for the army.
Not only are there few details of the saint, there are also mixed accounts of possibly three different martyrs named Valentine that share a Feb. 14 feast day. The confusion and lack of details led the church to remove the liturgical feast of St. Valentine from the general church calendar in the late 1960s.
Instead, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, brothers known as the "Apostles of the Slavs" for their work in spreading the Gospel throughout Eastern Europe in the ninth century, have the Feb. 14 feast day spot on the church calendar, although this year their day is superseded by Ash Wednesday.
These brothers – who developed an alphabet and translated the bible and other works in a Slavic language – have just as much to say about love on a day when that is celebrated because of their emphasis on communication, which is so key to relationships, said Father Leo Patalinghug, who has a cooking show on the Eternal Word Television Network called "Savoring our Faith."
The priest, who knows a thing or two about making a good Lenten meal, and also writes and talks about couples keeping their relationships strong by celebrating with good meals once a month, sees no conflict in the Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day overlap. Instead, he views it as a great teaching moment.
"Love is not just sweets and chocolates," said the priest who wrote the 2012 cookbook: "Spicing Up Married Life" which includes recipes, prayers and conversation topics. "You can have chocolate cake anytime," he added.
As he sees it, the bigger lesson is to think about "going without and where that will lead you."
"So often people treat love like fast food when love – and all things of God – take time," he added.
He said this Valentine's Day couples have the "perfect day to start Lent and to have that discussion of what love means." And, they can also have a modest meal that is delicious.
Overall, it's "absolutely a win-win," he noted because couples can have a "Lent appropriate menu" essentially infused with the day's reminder "to know humbly we are from dust."
— Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service