St. Augustines Advent Calendar 2025

  Pink Apple Blossom Tree, Kauai, Hawaii, July 2023 photo by Catherine Ball Is 48:17-19  Ps 1  Mt 11:16-19 In the secular world, the run-up to Christmas is an incredibly busy time. Gifts to buy, cards to write, baking to do, trees and houses to decorate.    For many, calendars are jam-packed with parties, concerts, road trips, school theme days, and all the other “normal” commitments of a 21st century life.    My calendar is no different. As I write this, I have constant notifications popping up on my phone; reminders for appointments, concerts, rehearsals, and so many other things that I need to hurry to get finished before the big day.  But Advent is meant to be about waiting, reflection, repentance, discernment. All things that are slow and take time. One of the assigned lectionary readings for today is Psalm 1:  Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked  or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company o...

  Is 41:13-20  Ps 145:1-4, 8-13  Mt 11:7-15 I love Advent.    As we know, it’s a time to remind ourselves who God is. And to remind ourselves what he has done for us, personally and collectively.    Today I’m reminded of the hope and assurance from God to His people by extending a promise of divine help through Jesus, our Redeemer. And when I feel small and weak, he has promised to transform us into mighty tools to overcome obstacles and bring life to barren places. How can we not be constantly blown away by the character of our God? Here I am, lying, meditating.    Percolating on the words of the scriptures, and I’m reminded of THE Word, the Word made flesh to live among us. A promise to restore. A promise to come. And a promise to never leave.    What an absolute gift.  Today, the father promises :   I hold you   I help you   I answer you   I will never abandon you    I fill the deserts with pool...

  Is 40: 25-31  Ps 103:1-10  Mt 11:28-30 The readings for today are beautiful. Truly. If you haven’t read them yet, take a moment to do so. These are passages that declare to us, over us: God’s justice for the oppressed; a soaring eagle-like disposition; strength for the weak and powerless; provision for the weary and burdened. I noted God is personal, faithful, intentional, capable, compassionate, sustaining, loving (not a conclusive list!) I have held these texts for several days now, wondering what else is there to say ? God is showing us what God is like. That’s enough, right?   But what if we are not feeling very eagle like? What if we feel more like dodo birds – heavy headed and lumbering in a human redemption story that feels on the verge of extinction. What if our words this season are – We have been waiting a long time Jesus, for you and your shalom. Are we fools for believing you did, you will ? This is liminal space.   Spiritual director, Gemma Ryan s...

  Kevin Carden Is 40:1-11  Ps 96  Mt 18:12-14 or Hos 14:1-7  Ps 103:6-14 Mk 1:1-11 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.   Matthew 18:12-14 December, and particularly the Christmas season, can be a very lonely time for some people. Many people, really. Maybe it’s because the year is coming to an end and bringing with it an inevitable sense of closure. Possibly it’s the failure to complete all those projects started during the year with the best of intentions, only to be replaced with more urgent matters or abandoned outright. Perhaps it’s the recognition that another year has been ticked off one’s life calendar...

    From Heart Song by Melissa Guenthner, Illustrations by Lorraine Shulba ©2024 Melissa Guenthner, used with permission   Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary   Is 35:1-10  Ps 85:8-13  Lk 5:17-26 or  Is 49:1b-3  Ps 139:1-12  Lk 1:34-38    I hope this Advent reflection finds you filled with hope and enjoying a moment of peace. My family spent time last weekend setting up our tree, reminiscing about the times and places we’ve collected various ornaments, and enjoying the extra cozy feeling of a living room decorated for Christmas. I have plans to make, commitments to keep and cookies to bake. I’ll admit that sometimes my attitude is more I have to than I get to do all of these things, but gratitude is a practice I’m working to cultivate. In a busy and joyful season, it can be easy to take things for granted. What happens when all of our carefully laid plans fall to pieces? Or harm befalls those we love? Or we feel hopeless that j...

  Todd Trapani Isaiah 11:1-10  Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19  Romans 15:4-13  Matthew 3:1-12 Have you already participated in an   Are you prepared for Christmas   conversation? In some traditions, the theme assigned to the second Sunday of Advent is   preparation , based on John the Baptist’s commission to   prepare the way of the Lord .     The   Are you ready ? conversations seem to me to end up boasting or commiserating about being overwhelmed by chores, events and obligations over the next several weeks. Much of our business over Advent is good, but certainly preparation involves something greater. The readings for today come from four distinct periods:    1. Psalm 72 is a blessing over King Solomon, the first son of David to sit on David’s throne in keeping with the promises made to King David (2 Sam. 7:1).    2. Just as David’s line of kings appears to be ending, Isaiah's prophecy promises a shoot will come from the...