Sunday, December 3, 2023 - First Sunday of Advent

Spend today’s time with the Lord writing down your ideas for how you can spend these 37 days of Advent well. Your plans can include items that are spiritual (deciding where and when you will pray each day), practical (your gift list), personal (sending a Christmas card to someone with whom you’ve not been on good terms), or charitable (doing something for the poor). Before you write anything, spend a few quiet moments with the Lord and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And now for our reflection for the first Sunday of Advent. We begin with a quote from Pope Francis and his pastoral exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, meaning the joy of the Gospel. Pope Francis said, "‘The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.’ He issued his exhortation on November 24, 2013, and urged a joyful proclamation of the Gospel to the world. “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day,” wrote Pope Francis in the exhortation, which was published upon the conclusion of the Year of Faith (October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013). * * * This year’s Little Blue Book will reflect on the infancy narrative of St. Luke, who was known as the “joyful evangelist.” Joy will be the theme of many of our reflections. Today the Church lights the first of four candles on the Advent wreath. Perhaps you will want to light a candle too.