Well into the Third Week of Advent friends and it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas out there. The stores are packed with people, airports are busier than ever and decorations and lights are everywhere. Christmas is almost here and we are already one day within the Octave of Christmas (anyone else recall the traditional O Antiphons?).

I pray you find some time today to pause and reflect in preparation for the tremendous joy and love that is soon to come in the baby of Christ Jesus.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Be sure to check out:

• Advent Week 1 – Hope
• Advent Week 2 – Faith
• Advent Week 3 – Joy
• Reflections on Advent – Hope
• Reflections on Advent – Faith

Father,
creator and redeemer of mankind,
you decreed, and your Word became man,
born of the Virgin Mary.
May we come to share the divinity of Christ,
who humbled Himself to share our human nature,
for He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen