Pray the STA Way – Advent Week 3
Daily Advent Reflections
The third and only rose-colored candle is lit on the Advent Wreath. It is called the Shepherds Candle and it represents joy.
DAY FIFTEEN: Sunday Video Message 12/15/24 – Gaudete Sunday!
Ancient Hymn: “Gaudete, Christus est Natus!”
Homily: Have You Found Joy? – Bishop Robert Barron
Action: This week, choose to follow the joyful way – and when you find yourself experiencing authentic joy – bless others with it!
Reflection: To experience happiness in this world is a wonderful thing, but happiness can be so fleeting most of the time. True joy, however, is not that way, for true joy is not of this world. Joy is happiness that has its home in heaven and it springs forth from the love of God. This week, let us remember the joy the shepherds must have felt when angels appeared to them to tell them of the Good News of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. Let us remember that they, despite their low social status, were given the glorious opportunity to be the first to pay him homage, for Christ came to share the joy of heaven with anyone who would follow him there. May we strive to walk the joyful way of the Lord in all that we say and all that we do.
Prayer: God of joy, it is in your love that we find lasting joy. Keep us from seeking happiness in things that will not last, for we brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out of it. Teach us instead to find joy in the gift of your Son, who came into this world with nothing, yet gave us everything. May his joy bubble up in our hearts and overflow to all we meet this Advent season. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
DAY SIXTEEN: Monday 12/16/24
Video: Why Joy is More Christian Than Happiness – Fr. Mike Schmitz
Scripture: “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgement against you, he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.” Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Prayer: “O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing”.
DAY SEVENTEEN: Tuesday 12/17/24
The “O” Antiphons Begin on this day!
“The Roman Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.” From Catholic Household of Blessings & Prayers.
O Antiphon: O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!
Video: Christy Nockels -The Thrill of Hope- Advent Hymn
Scripture: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9
Reflection from the Pope: “All of us, however, need to recover the joy of living, since men and women, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26), cannot rest content with getting along one day at a time, settling for the here and now and seeking fulfilment in material realities alone.” Pope Francis, Jubilee Bull of Indiction, No. 9.
Action: Solidify plans to attend Mass as a family on Christmas if you haven’t done so already!
DAY EIGHTEEN: Wednesday 12/18/24
O Antiphon: O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!
Video: Lion – Elevation Worship
Scripture: “Jacob called his sons and said to them: ‘Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. You, Judah, shall your brothers praise – your hand on the neck of your enemies; the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah, like a lion’s whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts – who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, while tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people’s homage.’” Genesis 49:2,8-10
Prayer: King of all heaven and earth, stir up my soul with your mighty power and fortify me with your strength, so that I may be numbered among your legion of saints for the salvation of the world. Amen.
DAY NINETEEN: Thursday 12/19/24
O Antiphon: O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
Video: The Messiah: A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse – Catholic Productions
Scripture: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: ‘The LORD our justice.’ Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt’; but rather, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north’– and from all the lands to which I banished them; they shall again live on their own land.” Jeremiah 23:5-8
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we long for the fulfillment of your Kingdom, where every nation on earth will be governed in accordance with your perfect justice and mercy. Today Lord, we pray for every soul who is suffering under the oppression of social injustice. May we rise up to advocate for what is just and good and to be peacemakers during turbulent times. We pray this in your most holy name. Amen.
DAY TWENTY: Friday 12/20/24
O Antiphon: O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!
Video: You Can Be Free – Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT
Scripture: “Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, ‘If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if a son frees you, then you will be truly free.’” John 8:31-36
Reflection: What are the mysterious “locked doors” in my soul that sometimes confine my soul in states of doubt, despair, sadness, and confusion. Christ himself is said to be the golden key that can turn the latch on those dark locked places. Do I let him enter? Why or why not?
Prayer: Lord, help me trust that in you and only you will true freedom be found. Increase my faith and strengthen my trust in your Holy Name. Amen.
DAY TWENTY-ONE: Saturday 12/21/24
O Antiphon: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death!
Video: “The Light Came Down” – Josh Garrels
Scripture: “Hark! my lover – here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, ‘Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is hearts in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!” Song of Songs 2:8-14
Reflection: Did you know the Christian story is a love story between God and his people? Between Jesus and his Bride, the Church? We’re all Juliet, and he’s our Romeo – and this play, we now know, will not end in tragedy, but with a wedding feast in heaven. Do you consider your relationship with God part of the greatest love story ever told? Because it is meant to be… I’ll end by quoting Taylor Swift… ‘It’s a love story, baby just say “yes”.’Action: Write a love letter or poem to God, declaring to him your freely given ‘yes!’ Thus commencing a new chapter in your love story with him.
