Advent with St. John Henry Newman
Reflections by Fr. Jason Smith, LC
I once forgot my glasses and had to read the Gospel at Mass without them. The letters blurred into an impressionist painting—Matthew by Monet. I leaned forward, squinted, and hoped divine clarity would kick in. It didn’t. I managed, mostly by memory.
St. John Henry Newman writes: “Before Christ came was the time of shadows; but when He came, He brought truth as well as grace… God revealed Himself visibly to Jacob, to Job, to Moses… to us He reveals Himself not visibly, but more wonderfully and truly.”
We all know what it feels like when life blurs—the future uncertain, the meaning of circumstances indistinct. We long for sharper vision, for faith that brings things back into focus.
Faith, like new lenses, doesn’t distort reality—it clarifies it. It helps us see what is truly there. Advent waiting is how God polishes the glasses of our hearts; one day, what once seemed vague or veiled will shimmer with meaning.
Let us pray, with eyes lifted and hearts awake: “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Reflect: Is there a part of your life right now that feels uncertain—a decision, a relationship, a direction for the future? How might you approach this space with greater faith and hope in this season of Advent waiting?
In this Advent series, Fr. Jason Smith draws from his personal experiences and St. John Henry Newman’s own Advent sermons, connecting themes like reverence, awe, and intimately encountering Christ in the simplicity and stillness of ordinary life. Pray with us on The Regnum Christi App, sign up to have each day’s reflection delivered to your inbox every morning, or follow the RC Spirituality Center on Instagram and Facebook.
Ordained in 2006, Fr. Jason has served as a Legionary priest throughout the US, primarily in New York and Michigan. His newest role has called him south, as the superior of the Houston community of the Legionaries of Christ.
