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  MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MEXICO!  Father Dan's Christmas Reflection ... 
Picture

Isaiah 9: 1-6
1 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.

2 You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils.
3 For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
The rod of their taskmaster,
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
4 For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for fire.
5 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
6 His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
By judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

IT'S TIME ...
Spiritual Reflections for ADVENT by Father Dan Leary

Picture
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.


1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT ~ November 27, 2022
Gospel  Mt 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples:
"As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.

(continued ...)


Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."


2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT ~ December 4, 2022

Gospel   Mt 3:1-12
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

(continued ...)

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.'
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."


3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT - December 11, 2022
First Reading Is 35:1-6a, 10
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!

(continued ...)


Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.


4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT - December 18, 2022
​Gospel Mt 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

Anima Christi Retreats, Inc.
PO Box 504
Dunkirk, MD 20754
​
CONTACT US

© 2012-2022 Anima Christi Retreats.  All rights reserved.

Father Dan Leary
Chaplain, Sisters of Mary
e-mail: fatherdan@animachristiretreats.org
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  • HOME
  • WHAT'S NEW
  • Stay-at-Home Retreats
  • Retreat Feedback - MALVERN JAN 2023
  • RECORDED RETREATS (2012-2023)
    • Malvern Women Jan 6-8, 2023
    • Malvern Women Oct 7-9, 2022
    • Malvern Men March 4-6, 2022
    • Malvern Women Oct 8-10, 2021
    • Malvern Men March 5-7, 2021
    • Malvern Men Feb 28-March 1, 2020
    • Loyola Women Feb 16-17, 2020
    • Malvern Women Oct 2019 AUDIO
    • Loyola Men Sept 1-2, 2019
    • Loyola Women Feb 17-18, 2019
    • Couples Night Feb 9, 2019
    • Malvern Women 2018 Follow-up
    • Loyola Men Sept 2018
    • Loyola Couples Retreat May 2018
    • Loyola Women Feb 18-19, 2018
    • Christ the King Glen Burnie, April 1, 2017
    • Loyola Women Feb 19-20, 2017
    • Loyola Men Sept 2016
    • Loyola Couples Retreat May 2016
    • Churches of Glen Burnie, April 9, 2016
    • Loyola Women February 14-15, 2016
    • Malvern Women 2015 Follow-up
    • Loyola Couples Retreat Sept. 2015
    • Loyola Couples Retreat Sept. 2014
    • St. Raphael's, Rockville, June 3, 2014
    • St. Matthias, Lanham April 26, 2014
    • Loyola Women Feb 16-17, 2014
    • Holy Family, Davidsonville Jan. 11, 2014
    • Loyola Women Feb 15-16, 2015
    • Malvern Women 2013 Follow-up
    • St. Joseph's, Largo May 11, 2013
    • Camp Maria, Feb. 17-18, 2013
    • Holy Family, Davidsonville Jan. 12, 2013
    • Malvern Women 2012 Follow-up
  • Prayers/Reflections
    • General
    • Beatitudes - October 2019
    • Lenten Mission 2018
    • What is Marian Consecration?
    • Writings of the Saints (.pdf format)
    • Prayers for the Pope
    • Prayer for Our Nation
    • Inspired by Venerable Conchita Cabrera
    • Inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta
    • Inspired by St. Faustina
    • Inspired by St. John Paul II
  • Catholic Resources
  • Chapel Prayer Intentions