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THE WEEKLY DIGEST
OF REGNUM CHRISTI
DAILY MEDITATIONS

Week of December 1-8, 2024

Sunday, December 1, 2024 – Advent Expectations

Monday, December 2, 2024 – Keep Hoping

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – God Chooses the Weak

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – Blessed, Broken, And Given

Thursday, December 5, 2024 – Hear, Act, and Trust

Friday, December 6, 2024 – The Christ-Light Is Coming

Saturday, December 7, 2024 – Christ, Our Good Shepherd

Sunday, December 8, 2024 – God Comes in Time

December 1, 2024 - Advent Expectations

First Sunday of Advent

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

Opening Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the beginning of this Advent season. Since Advent is a time of expectation, I know that I will have to remain vigilant and prayerful if I want to live it well. So once again I ask for your grace; teach me to look beyond this passing world to your imminent coming.

Encountering Christ:

1. Waiting: As we begin this season of waiting, it is not superfluous to ask ourselves what we are waiting for. Are we waiting for something, or perhaps for someone? Are we waiting at all, or have we dropped all expectations in disillusionment caused by past disappointments? Every child knows that Advent is a season of preparation, but what is often forgotten is that Advent also reminds us of Christ’s second coming at the end of time. That is why we have today’s Gospel, which invites us to put aside thoughts of Christmas for now and soberly reflect on our final days.

2. The Second Coming: Today’s Gospel can be mystifying, but the Catechism 671 might illuminate our hearts as we reflect on Jesus’ words: “Though already present in his Church, Christ’s reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled ‘with power and great glory’ by the King’s return to earth. This reign is still under attack by the evil powers, even though they have been defeated definitively by Christ’s Passover.” It is the constant teaching of the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ will come again at the end of time to preside over the Last Judgment. We await this second coming, or Advent of our King, with vigilance and confidence in his victory. If we live in love as God’s sons and daughters, we need not fear. We will be able to “stand erect and raise our heads because our redemption is at hand.” This truth is what fills the liturgical season of Advent with joy.

3. Waiting in Earnest: We know that this world is not perfect, that we live in a valley of tears. We are a pilgrim Church. But we do not wait alone. Our Lord accompanies us. CCC 671 continues: “Until everything is subject to him, ‘until there be realized new heavens and a new earth in which justice dwells, the pilgrim Church, in her sacraments and institutions, which belong to this present age, carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures which groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the sons of God.’ That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ’s return by saying to him: Maranatha! ‘Our Lord, come!’” Thanks be to God we have the sacraments—and especially the Eucharist—to nourish us for the journey to Heaven as we vigilantly await Jesus’ coming.

Conversing with Christ: Come, Lord Jesus; do not delay. Life without you is no life at all. We prepare our hearts for your coming at Christmas and your coming at the end of time. Accept our prayer today and send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to teach us to say “Maranatha!”

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take some time to reflect on, and then write down, my hopes and expectations for this Advent season.

For Further Reflection: Take up the Catechism and read 668-682, which constitute Article 7, entitled “From Thence He Will Come Again to Judge the Living and the Dead.”

December 2, 2024 - Keep Hoping

Monday of the First Week of Advent

Matthew 8:5-11

 

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

 

Opening Prayer: Lord God, increase my faith, hope, and love. I believe in you because you are Truth itself. I hope in you because I trust you and have confidence in the promises you have made. I love you because you have loved me first, and because you are so good and worthy of my love.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. Virtues: This Roman centurion begged a Jewish rabbi to heal his servant. He showed uncommon concern for his servant. He also demonstrated great faith, treating Jesus like a real person, not a talisman. He understood that Jesus’ power and authority came from God, and not through mere physical touch or magic words. He was able to stand before Jesus, assess the situation, and humbly make a suggestion. “You are the Lord; why not heal my servant immediately, right here?” We know how Jesus reacted; he was “amazed” at such faith. Thus, the centurion is a model for us of humility, faith, and love of neighbor.

 

2. Peripheries: The Roman centurion belonged to the invading army of the empire. His mere presence, “with soldiers subject to him,” was an affront to all Jews at the time. Yet, here he was, showing “amazing” faith in the Lord. Jesus promised that “many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Of course, we are hopeful we will see our loved ones one day in Heaven, but how ready are we to share the banquet table with acquaintances, strangers, and perhaps enemies?

 

3. Expectations: What are we hoping for this Advent? Perhaps we have one overwhelmingly pressing need—“a servant lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully”—or perhaps there are many concerns in our heart. Do we bring these worries to God? Are we waiting for the coming of the Messiah, Our Lord, confident in his power to transform hearts? Or have we perhaps let our spirit grow weak, to the point of eliminating all expectations? Jesus is coming. He is Emmanuel, God with us, and he wants to renew our hearts this Christmas. Let us open the doors of our hearts to Baby Jesus.

 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am not afraid of letting you into my heart. You are the God who likes to be pleasantly surprised by the faith of your children. I believe in you; increase my faith and expectation this Advent!

 

Resolution: Since, like the centurion, I am an unworthy servant of the Lord, I will consider confessing my sins to a priest in the sacrament of Reconciliation sometime before Christmas.

 

For Further Reflection: Frank Sheed’s book To Know Christ Jesus is an excellent read about the life of Christ. The first seventy-five pages or so, which deal with Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus are particularly good.

 

Father Erik Burckel, LC, is a Legionary priest from southern Mississippi, currently teaching the International Formation Center in Rome, Italy. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 7, 2022. You can read his vocation story here.

December 3, 2024 - God Chooses the Weak

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

Luke 10:21-24

 

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

 

Opening Prayer: Lord, I believe in your abiding presence, I hope in your boundless mercy, and I love you for who you are. Strengthen my faith, hope, and love all the same, Lord, for you know how weak I am. Lord, grant me a spirit of humility and simplicity.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. God Chooses the Weak: If we read the passages in St. Luke’s Gospel that immediately precede this speech of Our Lord’s (Lk 10:1-13, 17-20), we see that Our Lord has gathered together seventy-two of his disciples, sending them out to preach repentance for the coming Kingdom. He sends them out with nothing—no sack, no money bag, not even sandals. He wants them to rely on his strength, not their own. They experience great success as a result—“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name…” (Lk 10:17). No matter how weak or unprepared we think we are, with Jesus we have everything we need to accomplish whatever he asks us to do.

 

2. Being One of the “Weak”: In our daily walk in the spiritual life, and in our apostolic endeavors, we can experience our weakness in many ways. These experiences can leave us frustrated, confused, and a little discouraged if we lose sight of who has sent us out and is walking with us. Bringing our weaknesses to God in prayer can feel like a “self-emptying” before God, deposing ourselves as ruler of our hearts. Once we do so, however, Christ reigns anew in us, and we are empowered to truly carry out his mission with confidence, having been reminded that, in the end, the mission doesn’t depend on us, but rather on him who sent us.

 

3. Christ’s Joy: Our Lord rejoices when the Father makes his power manifest to his childlike disciples, those who are simple enough to embrace the fullness of Jesus’s Gospel message. We can sometimes frustrate ourselves by overcomplicating the demands of the Christian life. Where in my own life do I need to renew my commitment to Christ with childlike simplicity?

 

Conversing with Christ: Lord, you know how weak I am. As I prepare my heart for your coming this Christmas, teach me to recognize my weakness so as to live in the truth. Be the king of my heart, Lord Jesus.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take special note of any feelings of frustration or discouragement and remind myself that you walk alongside me.

 

For Further Reflection: Listen to this Audrey Assad hymn Abide with Me. A sample: …Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness…

 

Brian Flanagan is a Regnum Christi member from Atlanta, Georgia.

December 4, 2024 - Blessed, Broken, And Given

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Matthew 15:29-37

 

At that time, Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,

and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets full.

 

Opening Prayer: My Jesus, help me to sit and listen as you teach me, just as the crowds did on the mountain in Galilee all those years ago. Open my ears, mind, and heart that I might receive your word deeply. Feed me with the Bread of Life that I may never be hungry again (Jn 6:35).

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. Superabundant Providence: The disciples collected seven loaves of bread and a few fish, but what was left at the end was exponential: seven baskets of leftovers, a basket for each loaf that was given. This is a wonderful demonstration of God’s superabundant providence. We give him what little we have and he gives it back to us in a much greater way. We sometimes resist giving God what we have because we think it is not enough. We hesitate even though we can recall the times when God has provided for us, often over and above what we needed. Why do we hold back?

 

2. Overflowing Abundance: Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The multiplication of the loaves is an example of how Jesus came to share his abundant life with each one of us. Jesus came to give us eternal life, but also to give us a full, rich life of freedom in him here and now. This is the abundant life of which he spoke. By coming to the faith and “abiding,” or living, in Christ (Jn 15:4), we have a share in God’s divine life of grace. We can imagine ourselves there on the mountain sitting with Jesus, passing around the basket full of fish and bread. Like King David in today’s psalm, we look around and see all the good things that God has given us and exclaim, “My cup overflows” (Ps 23:5).

 

3. Eucharist, Source of Life: When we pay attention to the meals or feasts in the Gospels, many of them point to the Eucharist. In the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to the people. Notice that the bread was specifically broken, which indicates dying. This is key to how it was multiplied. Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24). The bread that was blessed, broken, and given is a biblical “type” of Eucharist. These are the same words that Matthew used to describe how Jesus instituted the Eucharist (Mt 26:26). This is how the disciples on the road to Emmaus finally recognized him after his Resurrection: “And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.” (Lk 24:30-31). The Eucharist communicates Christ’s life, which is both abundant and eternal. One way to remain in Christ and receive life, both abundantly in this life and eternally, is to receive the Eucharist: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn 6:56).

 

Conversing with Christ: My Jesus, thank you for providing for me both when I have offered you my gifts and even when I have not. I am sorry for the times when I have held something back from you. Thank you for coming to give me a share in your abundant life. Help me abide in you by making my heart a place for you to abide in me.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace, I will consider what things I might be holding back from you and offer those things to you, trusting in your tender mercy.

 

For Further Reflection: Learn more about the ancient Church of the Multiplication (called Tabgha) in Galilee. It is said to be built on the site where Jesus blessed, broke, and gave the multiplied loaves to the crowds.

 

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at www.word-life-light.com.

December 5, 2024 - Hear, Act, and Trust

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven. Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

 

Opening Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit; help me to hear your word. Plant it deep in my heart so that it takes root and grows up to bear good fruits for your glory.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. Lip Service: Those who say “Lord, Lord” but do not align their actions with God’s will only pay lip service to Christ. Some might profess to be Christian, for example, but not act in a Christian way. Or they might pray to ask for God’s guidance but then not follow up and act in accordance with what they have discerned to be God’s will for them. We can ask ourselves in what way we have paid lip service to Christ instead of aligning our actions with our words. Are we truly living our faith in an authentic way? Practicing obedience to God counteracts a habit of paying lip service because it requires listening to God and then doing what he asks of us instead of doing what we want to do. “Blessed indeed are the obedient, for God will never permit them to go astray” (St. Francis de Sales).

 

2. Listen and Act: This Gospel directs us to hear Jesus’ word of truth and respond with genuine action. St. James exhorts us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas 1:22). First, we must hear the word and then allow it to penetrate our hearts in order to respond to it. Before we hear the Gospel proclaimed at Mass, we trace a cross on our foreheads, lips, and hearts. This should remind us to listen to the word intently, consider it with our minds (forehead), and let it seep down like water into our hearts (heart) so that we can sincerely proclaim and profess the Gospel in our daily lives (lips).

 

3. Self-Deception: Take a moment to imagine a house built on sand and how it would look after a storm. Those who deceive themselves by paying lip service to Christ are building their houses on sand. When the storms of life come, they will be blown around with no rock of security to hold onto. They will be shaken and have no peace. They trust only in themselves. Conversely, those who hear the word and act in accordance with it are wise and dwell in security: “I keep the Lord always before me; with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken” (Ps 16:8). They place their trust in the Lord and so can have peace, even amid a storm.

 

Conversing with Christ: My Jesus, I adore and praise you because you are the word of truth. I’m sorry for the times that I hear what you want me to do but do not take prompt action. I’m also sorry for the times when I have merely paid lip service to my faith and not fully trusted in God the Father’s holy will. I give you thanks for the opportunity you have given me to cooperate with your grace by being an instrument of God’s will in the world. Please help me to actively hear your word and allow it to grow in my heart in order to bear the good fruit of works of mercy and charity.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will prayerfully discern what your will for me is and make a plan to carry it out.

 

For Further Reflection: Here is a video from Ascension Presents: Do All Good People Go To Heaven?

 

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at www.word-life-light.com.

December 6, 2024 - The Christ-Light Is Coming

Friday of the First Week of Advent

Matthew 9:27-31

 

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

 

Opening Prayer: Christ, be my light. Open my eyes to see you when I am blind and open my ears to hear your word when I am deaf to the truth. Help me to hear and see clearly by walking in your light. Guide me out of darkness and into the light.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. This Present Darkness: All around us the world tells us it is already Christmas. But as Catholics, we know that we are still at the beginning of Advent. Jesus is yet to come, and when he does there will be rejoicing, celebration, and light. Isaiah prophesied, “out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see” (Isa 29:18). It is a mistake to overlook the gloom and darkness that Christ was born into and which he dispelled. We must recognize that disorder, sin, evil, and death ruled the world after the fall of man and before Christ’s Incarnation. “This present darkness” (Eph 6:12) continues to press upon the world, seeking the ruin of souls. We can overcome the darkness only by recognizing it and then allowing Christ to be our light as we attempt to banish this darkness for his glory.

 

2. Jesus, The Light: Jesus is the light of the world (Jn 9:5). Whenever we encounter the truth we encounter Christ. Whenever we turn from darkness it is toward the light of Christ. Throughout Advent we pray for Christ, the Light, to come to us. We pray for darkness to depart from us so that we may see. Humanity is represented here in the two blind men. Their blindness indicates the sin and darkness that enveloped the world after the fall of man. When Christ came to the world, he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone” (Isa 9:1). Maranatha!

 

3. Approach the Light: Many people are plagued with darkness in their hearts as we weather the pandemic and political and economic turmoil. For some, the holiday season alone raises anxieties surrounding family and relationships. Anger and unforgiveness can cloud our vision, making us spiritually blind. Whatever it is, we courageously hold it up to the Christ-light. With great confidence, we approach Christ and allow him to enter into that darkness, and he will overcome it (Jn 1:5). Maybe not in an instant, but with his gentle warmth and love, it will be overcome. Let’s ask Jesus to gently guide us away from the encroaching darkness into the way he has prepared for us: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path” (Ps 119:105).

 

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you are my Way, my Truth, and my Light (Jn 14:6). You are my light and my salvation. I know that I do not need to be afraid, angry, or overcome with sadness (cf. Ps 27:1). I am sorry for the times when I have hidden the darkness in my heart from you and not allowed you to heal and overcome it. I thank you for all the times when you have been victorious over the darkness both inside and around me. Help me to hold up your light whenever I encounter the darkness.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will light a candle, either at my church or at home, and I will ask you to dispel the darkness in my heart and in the hearts of my loved ones.

 

For Further Reflection: Read this poem by St. John Henry Newman, The Pillar of the Cloud, which begins, “Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom. Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home—Lead Thou me on!”

 

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at www.word-life-light.com.

December 7, 2024 - Christ, Our Good Shepherd

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

 

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

 

Opening Prayer: Jesus, thank you for shepherding me yourself. Help me to hear your voice in your word and follow it always.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. The Lost Sheep: Let’s take a moment to imagine Jesus looking over the crowd with pity. He looked at his people and saw despair, confusion, sinfulness, and want. He saw no one leading them in the right direction. They were spiritually wandering aimlessly: “We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way” (Isa 53:6). Sheep that stray away from the fold can get lost or hurt, or die easily: “They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts” (Ezek 34:5). Jesus fulfilled Ezekiel’s prophecy of the Good Shepherd: “For thus says the Lord God: Look! I myself will search for my sheep and examine them. As a shepherd examines his flock while he himself is among his scattered sheep, so will I examine my sheep. I will deliver them from every place where they were scattered on the day of dark clouds” (Ezek 34:11-12). Jesus himself seeks out the lost, hurt, and blind. He binds them up and heals them himself.

 

2. God with Us: The false religion of Deism teaches that there is a creator, but that he does not care for the earth or its people. He simply created the universe, set creation in motion, and now leaves us to fend for ourselves. No, God will not abandon or forsake us. God has been here for us for all time. He leads us in all circumstances: “It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut 31:8). He is our Good Shepherd. He leads, feeds, protects, guides, and teaches us himself: “The Lord will give you bread in adversity and water in affliction. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, and your ears shall hear a word behind you: ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ when you would turn to the right or the left” (Isa 30:20-21). He is with us in the Eucharist, spiritually and physically present for us at every sacrifice of the Mass and in every Catholic tabernacle. His name is Emmanuel, God with us (Mt 1:23, Isa 7:14).

 

3. He Still Shepherds Us: Jesus also ensured that his sheep would be cared for after his time on earth was over. First, he gave his authority to the Apostles, empowering them to drive out demons, heal, and even raise the dead (Mt 10:1). Later he gave them authority to forgive sins, an even larger share in his plan for salvation (Jn 20:22). This authority of the Apostles was transmitted down through the centuries to our bishops today. There is a clear line of apostolic succession from St. Peter to Pope Francis. The authority of Christ is passed down through these ordained men from age to age, ensuring that we will not be left comfortless (Jn 14:18). We have the guidance of the Church to shepherd us. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who pours forth from Christ and God the Father to comfort and teach us in all things (Jn 14:26). Christ himself continues to shepherd us through the Holy Spirit and the teachings of the Church. We are not aimless sheep in danger; we are beloved sheep.

 

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, it is so amazing to me that you shepherd me yourself. I am sorry for the times when I have strayed away from your gentle guidance and protection. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit and your one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church to guide me. Jesus, help me to stay safe and cared for by staying close to the fold of your Church. Jesus, I trust in you to shepherd me through all things.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will consider if I have not been docile to your voice, my Good Shepherd. I will repent and make a plan to confess any rebellion to your will in my heart.

 

For Further Reflection: Listen to the hymn I Will Not Leave You Comfortless by Everett Titcomb, sung by the Concordia Chamber Choir.

 

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at www.word-life-light.com.

December 8, 2024 - God Comes in Time

Second Sunday of Advent

Luke 3:1-6

 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

 

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I join your Church in prayer as we are one Sunday closer to celebrating the birth of your Son. You know how much I need Christ to be born anew in my life, and how much the world needs his birth. Prepare my heart and our world, a world made by your hands, for his coming. You are the Radiant Dawn that rises never to set again. Root my life in the hope that you are faithful to your promises. Let me receive the word that you have for me today.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

1. God Comes in Time: The first verses of this chapter are dedicated to situating this reading in a very real moment in history. These are more than simple historical notes. They reveal to us a deeper truth: God comes in time. He truly enters our reality. Not generically, not virtually, but truly. Through his Incarnation, the Son of God enters the world as never before and changes it—redeems it—forever onward. He has not come symbolically; his coming is real, historical, and greater than anyone could imagine. He has taken on our flesh and comes to redeem us, to redeem the world. This is the great dawn which Advent comes to proclaim. Perhaps the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts to sit with this truth and let trust and love well up in our hearts.

 

2. He Loved Them to the End: Just as words and actions have meaning–they are not inconsequential or merely superficial as our virtual world might suggest–Christ comes, ready to assume the consequences of the redemption we so need and he so desires for us. His Passion is hinted already, in this telling of his birth, by the mention of Annas and Caiaphas. We will meet them again later in Holy Week. The mystery of the Incarnation and the Resurrection cannot be separated. May we allow the Holy Spirit to move our hearts, to let him whisper this truth into a place of suffering in our lives: He comes to meet us there.

 

3. The Voice: This passage attributes Isaiah’s prophecy to John the Baptist, who is the voice crying out in the wilderness, the message of the coming redemption. It also evokes the voice of God in Genesis, who spoke and things came to be. God’s word is effective. It does what it says. Here, his word brings to fulfillment his promise to send a Messiah. In our Advent journey to Bethlehem, let us invite the Holy Spirit to remind us of the promises he has made and fulfilled.

 

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I believe that you have chosen to enter our world—my world—and to take on our flesh, redeem us, so that we can live in union with you again. You invite me to walk each day closer to Heaven’s eternal embrace with you. For now, I continue living this Advent season, and I ask you with great hope: Fulfill your promises to me. Give me hope and trust to wait, and great love to keep on following you. Level the mountains in me that are obstacles to you. Raise up the valleys in which I sink as I try to follow you. Straighten the paths that lead me to your heart, Lord. If you say it, it will be done.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will spend some time in prayer and ask you to show me what mountains, valleys, or twisted roads in my life are keeping me from accepting the fulfillment of your promises.

 

For Further Reflection: Spend time in prayer with Psalm 139.

 

Beth Van de Voorde is a Regnum Christi Consecrated Woman, currently serving in pastoral ministry to families in Madrid and Valencia, Spain. When she’s not reading Ratzinger or humming along to some song or another, you may find her making her pilgrim way through Spain’s timeless history of faith, walking alongside the beautiful families and young people she’s there to serve.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!