How does Advent �move us to serve�

our lords and masters, God’s poor?

from Advent letter of G. Gregory Gay, C.M. Superior General

Advent, 2012

Advent can be a time that brings out our anxiety and

uncertainty. The Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent says:

1

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and nations will be in

dismay... people will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon

the world.” (Lk.21:25)

Week

Wars�Natural Disasters�

Poverty�Human Miseries�

Catastrophic Challenges�Ignorance and Indifference

towards God and Church

How did our founders respond?

Week

1

Be vigilant Pray

Meditate on the Word

Receive Jesus in the Eucharist

Make Jesus the center of your life

Trust in God Undertake a

dynamic way of living the Gospel

Week

1

Advent is a time of awareness and

anticipation. The Gospel for the second

Sunday of Advent says: [John the Baptist proclaimed a] “baptism of repentance for the

forgiveness of sins... a voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight

his paths.’” (Lk.3:2-3)

Week

2

Beginnings�Endings�

New Liturgical Year�End of Calendar Year�

Regrets About the Past Year�Awareness of Our Sinfulness

How did our founders respond?

Week

2

Rejoice that God is forever with us Thank God for His

forgiveness Practice self-

discipline; avoid self-indulgence

Focus on the beauty of

Scripture, hymns Advance the reign of God on earth by serving Christ in

the poor

Week

2

Advent is a call to conversion to Christ and

our charism. In the Gospel for the third Sunday of

Advent, we hear that although the crowds varied from ordinary folk to

tax collectors and soldiers, all had the same question: “What should we

do?” (Luke 3:10) John’s response was simple and direct: Share all you have with the needy; do not collect more taxes than required; do not

extort or falsely accuse anyone; and be satisfied with your wages. (Luke

3:11-15)

Week

3

Is conversion nothing more than a jump in the Jordan, and then a fleeting feeling

of relief?�Is following Christ all about esoteric spiritual exercises,

or abstract religious doctrines?

How did our founders respond?

Week

3

Open your heart for Jesus to enter, and He will gently reveal new ways to live the Gospel

truths Decide: on whom and what do I set

my heart? Minister to others

as though they were Jesus

himself Be “ambassadors

for Christ”

Week

3

Advent is a time for redemptive action.

The Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Advent says:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…blessed are you who believed that

what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:39-45).

Week

4

Do we seek merely temporary relief for those

we serve?�How do we handle life’s worries and anxieties?�

Do we continue anew each year, regardless of our

ordinariness, our age, or our state in life?

How did our founders respond?

Week

4

Be a missionary: share the Gospel, communicate life

to the poor. Seek not only

temporary relief but redemptive

change Remember that ordinary people

in salvation history were called by God

to play extraordinary

roles

Week

4

May the Lord Jesus bless you abundantly in the Advent and

Christmas seasons