A Happy & Holy Christmas!
from your friends at the Center for FaithJustice
__________________________________________________________

When the white stars talk together like sisters
And when the winter hills
Raise their grand semblance in the freezing night,
Somewhere one window
Bleeds like the brown eye of an open force. Hills, stars,
White stars that stand above the eastern stable. Look down and offer Him.
The dim adoring light of your belief.
Whose small Heart bleeds with infinite fire. Shall not this Child
(When we shall hear the bells of His amazing voice)
Conquer the winter of our hateful century?
And when His Lady Mother leans upon the crib,
Lo, with what rapiers
Those two loves fence and flame their brilliancy! Here in this straw lie planned the fires
That will melt all our sufferings:
He is our Lamb, our holocaust! And one by one the shepherds, with their snowy feet,
Stamp and shake out their hats upon the stable dirt,
And one by one kneel down to look upon their Life.

- Thomas Merton, 1947

Advent Reflection for Friday, December 25th

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Advent is just about spent. Later today our celebration of the Incarnation formally begins. And so it seems the appropriate time to consider: How has Advent been for me? What prompted reflection, action, gratitude, reconciliation, song? What was that last one – song? True, Christmas music has assaulted the malls from the last “Trick or Treat!” Advertisers have co-opted carols and cantatas to convince us the size of that gift really does matter. But now, in these final Advent hours, we are gifted with a sacred song. One of three canticles (hymns with biblical text) found in the opening chapters of Luke, today’s Gospel is a song of thanksgiving proclaimed by Zechariah upon the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Also called the Benedictus (for the first Latin word of the hymn), this is the canticle at daily Morning Prayer. Hear the good news, Zechariah sings out. Celebrate the God whose promise to our ancestors in faith is fulfilled: we are delivered. Not to wield power in the world, but to serve God and God’s people in holiness and justice all our days.

Advent is just about spent. A new church year has begun. Let service be our promise and thanksgiving our daily canticle, in harmony with Zechariah and proclaiming with the psalmist, “Forever will I sing the goodness of the Lord.

- Martha Dudich is a musician, liturgist and coordinator of the Center for FaithJustice’s weekly prayer experience, Soup & Psalms.

Advent Reflection for Thursday, December 23rd

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John the Baptist is a pivotal figure in the history of our salvation. He is presented each Advent as the "forerunner of the morning," the "voice that cries in the wilderness" to prepare a way for Christ. It's interesting that the prophet Malachi today says that this figure – the returning Elijah whom our tradition identifies with John the Baptist – will start us first on an inward journey, not a journey of activism.

In the energy of my youth, I was always ready to act when confronted with injustice. And that's a good thing. The oppression and injustice that I confronted served to stir my heart. But it also stirred something else: my ego. That's one of the problems with those of us who want to work for justice. We have a deep pool of anger – some of it righteous and pure, some of it sinful and contaminated by our own wounds and hurts. If we allow the purifying Spirit – the Spirit prefigured in Elijah/John – to enter our hearts, this Spirit will purify the "sons (and daughters) of Levi." We are these sons and daughters: the people charged with keeping the temple pure and undefiled. And what is the temple? Nothing less than God's dwelling place – our earth. It will be a difficult process. As we turn to God in prayer, and ask that through Jesus, the Spirit of God would purify our hearts, we will experience the Spirit not as a consolation, and not as a the gentle lover of our souls, but as the "fuller's lye" and the "refiner's fire." The process is sometimes painful, almost as if sin were being burned from our souls.

But if we are truly to be messengers of Christ, the sun of justice, we must be prepared.

- Fr. Aidan Rooney, CM, is a missionary priest in Bolivia and blogger (vocesvincentinas.org).

Advent Reflection for Wednesday, December 22nd

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The readings for today are some of the most beautiful in Scriptures. The parallels between Hannah’s song of joy and that of Mary’s Magnificat are remarkable – two young women of God offering praise to the One who treasures the poor and forgotten and removes the rich from their thrones of pride and selfishness.

An atmosphere of justice penetrates Mary’s Magnificat; there is no doubt about that. I still remember the first time the justice aspect of her prayer hit me: I was standing in the hallway of CFJ’s old home in St. Joseph’s Seminary, reading the Magnificat painted upon the wall. It left me in awe of the poetic grace and undeniable message of this holy young woman’s prayer. Every time I have read it since, I have been struck by a different aspect – and this time is no different.

At the latter end of the Magnificat, Mary says the following: 

“He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

One of the remarkable aspects about being Catholic is the historical aspect of the faith – we’ve been around for over two thousand years! Sometimes, though, I think we neglect to call our traditional and biblical history to mind in the realm of justice. It’s easy to become doubtful that the impoverished and oppressed in this world will ever be cared for with dignity, love and mercy. It’s easy to wonder where God is in the midst of war and extreme poverty, both material and spiritual. Mary’s prayer reminds us that God IS present in the past, present and future of this world more than we can fathom. After all, He did follow through with His promise of a Savior for Israel, although His following through came in a timeframe and manner that was far different from what the Israelites planned for.

I think that Christians today are not all that different from the Israelites. We are hungry for justice and change and confused as to why we are not seeing it happen in the world in the ways we desire. Perhaps we need to take a step back this Advent and remember the words of Mary. 


When we celebrate Christmas in just a few days, may we remember that God did fulfill His ancient promise of the Christ, and has not forgotten His promise of hope and deliverance to the poor of the world.

- Mary Carlson is the current FaithJustice Fellowship volunteer and a LeaderworX alumna.

Advent Reflection for Tuesday, December 21st

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Mary was never an integral part of my faith journey as a young child and into my adolescence. I knew who she was historically, as well as what she looked like through pictures and statues. But I didn’t really know her. Mary consistently remained a passive, distant religious figure to me.

I failed to fully experience and appreciate Mary until I entered college, studied Scripture, attended social justice programs, immersed myself in different cultures, and learned more about her role in the life of Jesus. Today, I can now say that I know and relate to Mary as someone active and present in my life and the world. She is no longer just a figure on a porcelain pedestal for me; rather, Mary is an active disciple whose witness and “Yes” to God’s call inspires my life and the local and global communities around me. Just look at today’s Gospel as an example. The first three words are: “Mary set out.” She was not at home praying, cleaning or working. Rather, she was an active traveler and obedient disciple to God’s will.

As we continue to linger in Advent Waiting, let us find a healthy balance between reflecting and acting. May our quiet waiting match our tireless work for justice and peace.

What reflection and what action is Mary calling you to on this day in Advent?

- Brian Reavey is the national coordinator of Marianist LIFE.

Advent Reflection for Monday, December 20th

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Today is Monday, the fourth week of Advent. There are only five days left, of bated breath, before we hear the angels sing and step into the dim light of the stable in Bethlehem to witness once again the most amazing/awesome happening in the history of humanity.

The readings of the church’s liturgy accompany us as we approach the mystery of the Incarnation. They focus our minds and our hearts as “we seek the face of God.” Isaiah reminds us that we are seeking the face of the “God of Surprises.” Achaz, his heart set on regional alliances, just does not want to risk being surprised by God. So he offers a “pious” excuse. But God is determined to surprise humanity. His unexpected initiative makes the impossible possible. “A virgin will conceive and bear a son.” That child will be “God with us”… the God who is part of who we are and everything we think, do and say … a God who is always there for his people, right in the middle of their lives.

That tiny, vulnerable child is incredibly the “King of Glory,” who reverses all our categories, breaks all our rules, and overturns our ways of thinking. That child identifies with all the “little ones” of our world. Mary of Nazareth, the virgin mother of that child, was one of those little ones, four times marginalized – because she was a woman, because she was poor, because she was young, and because she was a Galilean. But she is the one who agrees to be surprised by the irruption and action of God in her life. Her “yes” opens the door of history to the person of Jesus Christ … to God who acts in and through littleness. God’s loving intervention often happens in a place of poverty and marginalization. God delights in the oppressed and the excluded of our world. We find the face of God in them and in the forgotten, in those whom the “world” despises. They are the ones where “God with us” is to be found; among whom God brings about everyday his Christmas mystery of Incarnation and births us to new life in Christ.

- Sr. Margaret Scott, aci, is the director of the St. Rapaela Center (Haverford, PA) and the author of “The Eucharist and Social Justice” (Paulist Press).

Advent Reflection for Sunday, December 19th

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Dream the Impossible Dream
Perhaps you never thought of Man of La Mancha as a Christmas story, but think again. Two different men in the readings for today were asked by God to dream the impossible dream. King Ahaz was called to stretch his thinking. He was challenged to grow beyond the obvious; he was asked to set aside his plan for victory and to accept God’s plans to embrace peace not paradox. In a pietistic way, Ahaz refused. He’s not really interested in allowing the Lord to enter in. He has everything all prepared for battle. He is not looking for advice or help even from the Lord. Ahaz has the battle planned, the troops are in position, the strategy is set, he will have peace – but it must be his way; no time, no room, no possibility of someone else plan for peace. The Lord enters in anyway and gives him a sign that challenges his basic assumption: “A virgin will give birth to a child and bear a son and he will be God with us.” Where no life seemed possible, there God will give life. Advent calls me to open myself to the great possibilities of God’s reign coming in our time, but coming in God’s way according to God’s plan not my own.

I am always tempted to believe that faith in Jesus brings pat answers, peace and unmitigated joy: “Jesus is Lord and all is well.” But today’s reading from Matthews’s Gospel tells a different story. Christ’s coming does bring peace, but not without a price. The coming of Christ also brings doubt and questioning, contradictions and confusion. No one could be more confused and tense than Joseph. He is faced with the apparent infidelity of the woman he had presumed faithful. The confusion is clear. He is tempted to find a quick solution and “divorce her quietly.” But something, an intuitive insight, a deep love for Mary, trust in her, prompted by a divine messenger invited Joseph not to seek the easy solution, but the Lord’s solution. Joseph’s dreams and plans for marriage and a family, for a simple, peaceful, ordinary life are turned upside down by the coming of the prince of peace, by the woman he had come to love and the strange, unbelievable way that God has entered into their relationship. Joseph was confused and harried. God’s plan, God’s power, God’s actions go far beyond pat answers, cheap peace and easy joy. God calls us to dream the impossible, to believe the unbelievable, to bear the unbearable. During the remaining days of Advent let me dream big and follow the star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far.

- Fr. Vince Gartland is the pastor of the Church of St. Ann (Lawrenceville, NJ).

Advent Reflection for Saturday, December 18th

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“Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.”
In the Gospel of Matthew today, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream. This messenger from God comes to resolve the dilemma Joseph faced upon his discovery that Mary was with child before they had lived together. Joseph trusts the dream, but his decision to act with kindness and mercy was made before the divine revelation is made. Joseph did not rush to judge Mary. He was unwilling to expose her to shame. He put her vulnerability and feelings before his own anger and confusion. He acted with empathy. In the course of one 24-hour news cycle, one day texting, tweeting or on the phone while in the office or at school do we witness and participate in purposeful efforts to expose others to shame? Are we being just when we rush to judgment uninformed and unwilling to fully know or understand what is really true?

- Polly Seitz is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees

Advent Reflection for Friday, December 17th

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The readings today tell our story through the ancient history and far-reaching future of the world. Psalm 72 sings of God in terms of mountains and flowers, seas and rivers, the moon and sun; Genesis asks us to “assemble and listen” to what our forbearers have learned; and Matthew’s Gospel recalls for us our place in the expanse of human history. We are thus invited us to see how we are connected to times beyond our own – to men and women who lived before us, to creatures and plants who will exist after us, to stars and planets that were formed long before we were here to name them. When we consider this immense history, perhaps we will remember that we are the visitors in this world. And like any good guest, we should leave our temporary abode in as good of condition as we found it – and perhaps a bit improved.

Today’s readings, by painting for us an expansive picture of creation, call us to take care of the earth that we have inherited and to look upon every person, every creature and even every stone as something to be valued and respected. We are but a part of a vast and wonderful life – God as expressed in creation.

- John Bradley is director of Advancement and General Counsel at the Center for FaithJustice.

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As I read the first reading, I hear God boldly whispering to me, "Let go all of life's disappointments. I am here – smile! I love you and always will." I need that encouragement in the midst of my daily struggles and doubts. It takes so much trust in the Lord to remember the Lord’s love in the midst of life's ups and downs. My faith has been supported by my family, friends, and community at the Center for Faithjustice. Yet when I am alone in a difficult spot, I need the scriptures’ reminders that there is much to rejoice in and God is worthy of my trust.

In the gospel, Jesus makes the point that John the Baptist, the one who has prepared His way, is not robed in fine linens in the desert and is less than the least of those in the Kingdom of God. What does this say about me preparing for Christ to come into my heart in a new way this Advent? I think Jesus is saying that embracing Him has nothing to do with material things. My clothes, apartment, grades, salary, computer, and car have nothing to do with my ability to prepare for Jesus this Advent or prepare for God's kingdom. This gospel message rings true to my experience. I have found God and felt the presence of holiness in my family, friends, and a middle-aged woman at a meal program. My life may be a mess right now, but John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus in a desert. I do not need anything but faith, hope, and love to prepare to celebrate Christ this Christmas. Thank God...literally.

- Dayna Pizzigoni is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees and a LeaderworX alumna

Advent Reflection for Wednesday, December 15th

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“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”
–Henry Drummond

Our reading today gives us an opportunity to look at these moments of profound love that are so eloquently stated by Mr. Drummond. These are moments that happen frequently; moments that show us that God is active in our lives; moments that we sometimes miss due to our own obstructed view of the world. Isaiah reminds us that God creates all – the heavens, the earth, and, most importantly, you and me. God is actively creating us, right now, moment by moment with more love and attention than was given to anything else He has done or will do. This enormous revelation has to inspire us to act accordingly – to do our best to love and serve all those with whom we come in contact. We will fail, but Luke reminds us in the Gospel that even in those moments of doubt and struggle, God is laboring with us and encouraging us to open our eyes and see the good deeds that surround us every moment of every day. So we work toward a world that is full of moments when we really live, moments when we love and serve others, moments when we prepare for God to be with us here on earth.

- Sam Deitch is the Director of Ignatian Service at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School (Philadelphia, PA).

Advent Reflection for Tuesday, December 14th

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Dark clouds, moist air, umbrellas and raincoats usher in our celebration of autumn, and we say farewell to a time that has passed away. Although some may consider it to be gloomy, it is also a season that recognizes the need to die in order to be born again. It recognizes that in shedding the old, it welcomes the potential of being every greater than before. Advent is a season that proclaims the coming of God in all His glory, and it connects all of humanity to the Divine through one man, Jesus.

Today’s Scripture reveals that the love of God is close to the brokenhearted. The love of God is close to those who depend on the generosity of others, and to those who need healing of guilt, shame and sin. The Lord hears the cry of the poor and we, as His co-workers, are called to reply to that cry.

Our reply to the cries of our poor brothers and sisters is not just a choice, but it is an honor. Our response extends God’s love to us toward others. The Gospel teaches that all of us are called, and that the ultimate testament of our faithfulness to our loving God is not in what we say, but it is the way we act.

Many are called, but few are chosen – to be chosen is to choose to do in love as God has done for each of us, which ultimately is to offer a life to save another. Love is a choice, not merely a feeling. Understanding this means to choose love even when we may at first not want to. It is choosing love even when we do not feel worthy or capable. To act in love is to recognize that although we may not be able to act alone, there is a God born during this season who is more concerned with our availability than our ability. Today, we are called to act as God did in shedding the old to usher in the new life of His Beloved Son.

- Widian Nicola is a program coordinator at the Center for FaithJustice.

Advent Reflection for Monday, December 13th

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In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, the authority of Jesus is challenged by His detractors. They don't like what He is saying, so they put a question to Jesus that is designed to embarrass Him.

I love that Jesus accepts confrontation and is not afraid of defending Himself in His own way. You might expect Jesus to say here, “My authority comes from Me because I am God.” But instead of a direct answer, which might lead to Him being charged with blasphemy, Jesus turns the tables on his would-be accusers and reframes the conversation. He attempts to engage them in a dialogue.

This is a message we can all benefit from when we find ourselves in a situation of conflict or disagreement. We are all too aware that, sadly, demonizing rhetoric seems to be the favored method of discourse in the media and in our society today. In the book Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret, the authors write, “Only through patient, respectful dialogue do people grow beyond the limitations of their experience, perceptions, opinions and values. Each person is a unique part of the tapestry of creation, of the mosaic of the human family. Only through dialogue can new levels of understanding and appreciation be achieved in the human community.”

Instead of the angry divisiveness of the “I’m right and you’re wrong” style of communication, the example of Jesus is always the way to go. Next time we find ourselves in a debate that is about to escalate into an argument, wouldn’t it be nice to reframe the conversation and strive for that patient, respectful dialogue instead? If we are successful, it is possible we will be able to grow beyond the limitations of our experience.

- Ken Likely is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees

Advent Reflection for Sunday, December 12th

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The build-up to Christmas certainly stimulates our senses: the twinkling lights, scent of evergreens, sounds of bells and Christmas Carols fill the air. It is little wonder that we sometimes forget the true meaning of the season. I am reminded today of the words of Jan Richardson: “Advent days bathe us in the images of abundance and happiness, but we pray for those who do not find this time a season of goodness and light.”

On this Gaudete Sunday, we hear Isaiah speak words of hope to a fearful, hurting people. He announces that a new day is coming. Instead of a dry land there will be blossoms; instead of fear there will be new strength; where there is despair, joy and singing. Health and abilities will be restored; sorrow and mourning will be no more. And the Gospel tells us that John the Baptist led his disciples not to himself but to Jesus, who gives hope to God’s promises: those who are blind will see, those who are lame will walk, the sick will be healed, the deaf shall hear, and the poor will know the Good News. Jesus is the Good News – to the poor, the helpless, the hopeless and all wounded by life’s journey.

Today’s readings are both joyful and filled with tension. We hope the vision we see in the Gospel will become a reality. We pray that all people will experience liberation from captivity of every kind and that the Earth's resources are shared by all. We dream that hunger, alienation and violence will be no more and that all people may live with dignity as sons and daughters of God. Yet, when we look at the reality of our lives, and those of our sisters and brothers across this world we must ask the question “What does that mean for us?”

What does it mean for us to have a God that sets “the prisoners free” when our reality is a nation where millions are incarcerated? What does it mean for us to have a God that tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and take care of strangers, orphans and widows when in reality, we have enough resources to solve world hunger but choose not to? John's question, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another ?” causes me to remember the words of another prophet, Mahatma Gandhi, whose challenge to us was to “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

My prayer for all of us this day is that God’s Word will take root in us. As the Body of Christ, may we manifest the Living God in the way we live our lives.

- Helen Sanford is director of campus ministry at Immaculata High School (Somerville, NJ) and past member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees.

Advent Reflection for Saturday, December 11th

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Today’s Scripture readings perplexed me at first glance, but a line from the Responsorial Psalm shed light on the passages (a helpful hint from the Vatican’s lectionary gurus) – “Let us see your face and we shall be saved.”

The passages from Sirach and Matthew’s Gospel are all about seeing and recognizing God in our midst. In the first reading, we hear of the awesome power and glory that surrounded the prophet Elijah, one of God’s greatest messengers to the Israelites. His words “were as a flaming furnace” in their immediacy and zeal, and his miraculous actions jolted sleepwalking Israelites awake, at least for a moment.

Elijah proclaimed a message of God’s faithfulness, God’s special love of the poor, and a reminder that being a follower of God has real implications for how we treat one another. Those who get what Elijah is about are favored in God’s eyes: “Blessed is he who shall have seen you (Elijah) and who falls asleep in your friendship.” When we see and befriend Elijah’s message, we welcome God into our lives.

The Gospel reading picks up on this theme. Jesus tells his disciples that even though Elijah came with fiery chariots and a message from God, he wasn’t recognized as God’s herald. Instead, he was rejected and oppressed. It will be the same for those, like Elijah, who are called to confront the status quo: John the Baptist, Christ himself, disciples through the ages. It’s not easy to recognize God when our comfort is threatened. The job for us on our journey is to notice where God appears, to see and recognize the divine presence in all we meet, and to respond with a radical love. It is our job to see God in the beggar, the orphan, the widow, the immigrant, the estranged family member, the annoying co-worker – to find and honor God in the most unexpected people and places. This, I think, is a central message of Christmas, as we gather around the crèche and remember how shocking it is that God sent a poor, homeless, helpless child to save the world.

- Mike Laskey is the youth minister at the Church of St. Ann and a program coordinator at the Center for FaithJustice

Advent Reflection for Friday, December 10th

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The first time I watched the movie Crash, I was captivated by it. I loved the power and intensity, the messages and challenges it flung at its viewers. The characters’ varied lives and stories unfolded and I watched intently and waited for the time in the movie when they would converge with clarity. Indeed there were some clear intersections between some of the characters, but it seemed there were still some separate stories being told. Still, the move was powerful and provocative and made me want to watch it several times more. Each time, I have watched it with fresh perspective. I notice new things, hear sentences that had not gotten my attention earlier, and I see more and more how the lives of all of these characters actually are interwoven. The movie has not changed, but I have, and thus, how I view it changes. I don’t just hear the words, but I listen. I begin to see what is going on instead of just watching. In today’s reading from Matthew, it seems no one is on the same page in terms of what they view. The children are providing music. But their playful flute music is not heard as such and does not bring forth dancing and joy; their songs of sadness and death do not evoke weeping. Jesus is pointing out to the crowd that if they merely hear, but do not truly listen, they will have many challenges ahead of them.

He goes on to show how the people are not willing to face the reality of what they are looking at. They completely miss the fact that John is a prophet, come to prepare the way for the Messiah. He did not fit the perception of what a prophet would be like, so they denounced him. The Son of Man came but was perceived to be too much of an ordinary guy, eating and drinking and befriending all kinds. He could not be someone of esteem. Certainly not the Lord. He, too, was dismissed.

Wisdom is the art of seeing the bigger picture, or really getting it, and knowing this with certainty. We each have our own perception, based on where we stand in life. Our experiences, our relationships, where we live and what we do give each of us our own lens on the world. In the Bible, and especially in Proverbs, wisdom is something worth the effort to attain, and begins and exists with and because of fear (respect) of God. The personified Wisdom is contrasted to the fools, who despise discipline and lack morals. There may be these different lenses but it will be wisdom that prevails in the end.

We may see what we want to see, or what we can see from where we stand in our life, in our journey of faith. God tell us our attitude is where it all begins. When I watch a movie, I may spend some of the time anticipating, even predicting the ending. But in life, I had better strive to truly see and listen for the truth. I must work diligently to keep my attitude open to wisdom.

- Laura Heil is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees

Advent Reflection for Thursday, December 9th

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“I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, Fear not, I will help you.”
I was talking to a high school senior yesterday, and he told me how he participated in the “Day of Silence” to protest abortion and fight for the right of everyone to live. He wore a red armband and did not speak all day. When kids approached him asking what he was doing, he handed them a flyer explaining his purpose. He remained silent throughout.

Most of the kids were supportive. Some asked him how, as a male, he could understand what it would be like to be a teen and pregnant. Some others had similar comments. He said to me, “Living the Gospel is really tough.” I said, “You’re right, but your realization of that truth is a huge step in your faith development.” And then I read today’s passage from the prophet Isaiah.

If we just have faith, if we are strong enough to believe – God tells us over and over again in the Scriptures that He is with us and will always be there for us. “I will grasp your right hand. I will help you. You are not alone. It is not about you. It is all about Me. You are my hands and my feet. It is I working through you.” If only we could just always believe this and not get caught up in some sort of crazy thought process about needing to save everyone somehow. Often times, just putting it all at the feet of Jesus is the hardest thing to do. Real faith is hard. Isaiah gives us a model. Abraham, willing to sacrifice his son, gives us a model. Lord, help me to believe, to trust in you.

- Dan Rackers is a member of the pastoral staff at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church (Jamison, PA).

Advent Reflection for Wednesday, December 8th

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

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Adam answered God, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Am I ever afraid of disappointing God by letting others down? Am I tempted to cover my face and hide when something goes wrong? Does God find me and call me back? What does it feel like to be forgiven?
+ + +
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
What makes me sing out to the Lord like I’ve never sung before? Which of the marvelous works of God inspire me to shout, to laugh, to dance?
+ + +
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens…
How am I blessed? What gifts have I been given? How, in turn, can I bless others?
+ + +
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary, the model disciple, gives up control and lets the will of God work in her life. When is it particularly difficult to give up control of our own lives? Are there times I forget that God is in charge? What is one thing I can let go of this Advent?

Advent Reflection for Tuesday, December 7th

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In this Gospel, we hear a familiar message from Jesus. He came to heal the sick, to serve the poor, and to find the lost sheep. It is a good reminder as we continue in Advent and prepare for the Incarnation at Christmas. I think we can all get caught up in this “season of giving.” There is no greater joy for me than seeing the look on a loved one’s face as they open that perfect gift I have given. But this brings to mind a few questions: What am I giving? To whom am I giving? And maybe most importantly, why am I giving? It is easy and comfortable to hang out with the 99 sheep, but Jesus teaches us, we need to break out of that comfort zone and go after the stray. Or maybe, at these times when I lose sight of the big picture and Jesus’ message, I am the one sheep gone astray.

- Chris Davidson is youth minister at St. Matthias Church and a CFJ Team member.

Advent Reflection for Monday, December 6th

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When I was asked to reflect on this passage I was brought back to my first week facilitating JusticeworX, when we asked the students to put themselves in the position of the paralytic. A man, who after being paralyzed for what could have been years, is told to rise, pick up his mat and go home. The verse says that the paralytic “stood up immediately before them.” He had such strong faith and trust in Jesus that he did not even hesitate in rising. Would we have done the same?

As a disciple of Christ, we trust that God has a plan and purpose for our lives and because of this we are called to respond, without hesitation, to His call. This Advent season, in preparation for the Incarnation we celebrate at Christmas, we are challenged to explore those parts of our lives that paralyze and hinder us from fully serving Christ. We are also called to recognize and give thanks to the people in our lives who propel us forward on our spiritual journeys. Just as the paralytic went home glorifying God, we too give glory to God for the blessings He has bestowed in our lives.

- Melissa Chedid is a member of the SOFIA Evangelization Team and LeaderworX alumna

Advent Reflection for Sunday, December 5th

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Some of the most popular Christmas cards are reproductions of the many images of “The Peaceable Kingdom” painted by the Pennsylvania Quaker folk artist Edward Hicks (1780 – 1849). Time after time Hicks returned to depictions of today’s text from Isaiah. Perhaps when we are younger the focus of our desire for peace is outward. We’re like John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. We want to call one and all to a new way of thinking (installing a new mind!) which is what “repent” really means. Perhaps as we grow older, our expectations shrink and we think that we’d be happy if the members of our family and friends, our work colleagues, our parish or religious community could come to live in peace. Then the words from today’s Epistle of Paul to the Romans become our prayer: “May the God of encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another.” Wouldn’t that be great? Then perhaps later in life we begin to realize that all along there has been a lion, a leopard and a bear within our own hearts. If we are blessed enough to take long hard looks at these dark parts of ourselves we may then also see that the child promised by the prophets is also deep within our hearts. The child is there already and is yet to come. The child is the Christ-self within us. Once we befriend and care for that child the peaceable kingdom begins to come to reality within us and we begin to move out to those to whom we have been blind and in need of our attention and care. Then others begin to “catch our peace” as though it were a communicative blessing. As far as this happens this Advent and Christmastide the world will have moved a little closer to the peaceable kingdom promised by Isaiah, founded by Christ and being built in the Spirit in and through and among us.

- Fr. Andrew D. Ciferni, O. Praem, is Prior of Daylesford Abbey (Paoli, PA).

Advent Reflection for Saturday, December 4th

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One Sunday, every time I got in or out of my car, I heard the same warm and engaging voice calling out to me from my satellite radio. Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest and author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion had definitely caught my attention. When I returned home, I found the interview online. Lately I have found the level of intolerance for anyone seen as “other” both alarming and disturbing. Boyle’s message of the transformative power of God’s unconditional love – apparently for gang members and suburban moms alike – was one that had clearly struck a chord. I bought his book that day.

In today’s Gospel, we hear: “At the sight of the crowds, [Jesus’s] heart was moved with pity for them . . . troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd.” Can’t you just imagine it? Jesus sees His people and before He even reaches them, He feels them and is moved by them. In Tattoos on the Heart, Boyle speaks of Jesus’s compassion being visceral, coming from the very depths of His being. That’s the way I have been feeling lately listening to the news, relating to the pain of the college kid brought to the depths of despair by the cruelty of a roommate or of faithful Muslim Americans being scorned and reviled because of ignorance and bigotry. That’s really the only way to feel compassion, though, isn’t it – from your heart, in your gut?

What to do about these feelings? Jesus has the answer: “Go out to the lost sheep . . . proclaim[ing]: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Jesus commands me to proclaim that His kingdom is indeed coming. Knowing that He loves me unconditionally – whether I succeed or fail – frees me to work to bring about His kingdom here on earth. That’s The Power of Boundless Compasssion, though, isn’t it – from your heart, in your gut?

What to do about these feelings? Jesus has the answer: “Go out to the lost sheep . . . proclaim[ing]: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Jesus commands me to proclaim that His kingdom is indeed coming. Knowing that He loves me unconditionally – whether I succeed or fail – frees me to work to bring about His kingdom here on earth. That’s The Power of Boundless Compasssion.

- Erin Dolan is chairwoman of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees

Advent Reflection for Friday, December 3rd

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Upon reading the Scripture for the day, you may notice how flush the readings are with preoccupation on eyesight and hearing. Particularly, eyesight, how one sees (or doesn't), is a theme traced through the readings from Isaiah, Matthew and Psalm 27.

For instance, Isaiah reads, “...and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” The antiphon from the psalm proclaims, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” The psalmist ardently desires to “...gaze on the loveliness of the Lord,” and he believes that he “shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.” Finally, the Gospel is a story of two blind men who, though blind, somehow follow Jesus into a house where they are confronted with a question: Do you believe that I can do this?

Jesus, the Messiah, came to shed light on the darkness; the darkness in our lives, in our country, in all of human history. Our country currently suffers from a near 15% poverty rate, a struggling economy, a polarized people, and a toxic culture. Natural disasters have crippled parts of the globe. There is just so much going on, the desire to hide ourselves from this reality is great. It is too much. Often, our culture is good enough at hiding it for us

We all also face our own darkness, our blindness. We all have blind spots. We may not be physically blind, but can be blind to the truth. We all pray for liberation, and want to be part of the freedom of the sons and daughters of God. We are told that the Kingdom is here among us, but then why all this darkness?

Do we believe that Jesus can do this? Do we truly wish to see? These readings should give us hope. As Christians, we are leaven for the world, salt of the earth. Sometimes we don't wish to see, or we turn a blind eye to the problems at our doorstep. Jesus seems to be asking, “I'm ready to heal you (and the world) and am in fact healing you; but, are you ready to see?”

Ask yourself today, and often, what this means for you

- Joel Yablunsky is a former FaithJustice Fellowship volunteer and LeaderworX alumnus.

Advent Reflection for Thursday, December 2nd

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Asher Brown, age 13. Seth Walsh, age 13. Tyler Clementi, age 18. Young men who took their lives rather than face what our society had in store for them as homosexuals. Instead of working to curb intolerance and bullying, there are some who claim that school anti-bullying programs that advocate tolerance are part of the “gay agenda,” and therefore should be tossed out.

Yet Jesus, who holds out his arms to love us on the cross, demonstrates love of all. He tells us that just saying, “Lord, Lord” will not get us into the Kingdom of Heaven. Nor will it build the Reign of God. It is in the listening and acting on his words that we build a firm foundation. Theologian Richard Rohr says, “Jesus’ concept of the Reign of God is totally positive – not fear based or against any individual, group, sin or problem.” The strongest house is the one that is built on love, acceptance, respect and justice. Jesus embodies these building blocks. He died so we can be free to live them. So, in this prayerful Advent season, let us remember and pray for all of God’s children: the bullies and the bullied, the troubled and the troublers, the questioners and the questioned. Let us watch and wait as the Incarnate Word, Emmanuel, God-with-us, Jesus, arrives on the scene to show us how to build. Then let us continue to work to build a world in which we all can live in God’s peace.

- Christine Barranco is a pastoral associate at the Church of St. Ann (Lawrenceville, NJ).

Advent Reflection for Wednesday, December 1st

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As I reflect on the readings of today, I am moved to joy and wonder concerning our Lord’s superabundant love for us. The Creator of the Universe is inviting me to his table and feast and anointing me with oil. The King of Kings wants to stand by my side and wipe tears from my face. The Lord, who is made of love, loves me, a sinner, who is not deserving of this immense generosity that is truly beyond my understanding. But for some reason, the Lord loves me. 

During this season of Advent, I cannot help but be in awe. I can only describe the love our God has for us as incomprehensible or indescribable. In “A Sky Full of Children,” Madeleine L’Engle explains: “Don’t try to explain the Incarnation to me! It is further from being explainable than the furthest star in the furthest galaxy. It is love, God’s limitless love enfleshing that love into the form of a human being, Jesus, the Christ, fully human and fully divine.”  

- Mike Gomez is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees.

Advent Reflection for Tuesday, November 30th

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We must remember as it is written in Scripture: “No one who believes in him will be put to shame. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” As we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew today, we must remember that we are all called to be disciples of Christ. In being a disciple of Christ, we must walk each day professing that He is Lord and Savior. This is not only done with our tongue, but in the way we live.  We must live our faith each and every day not only for ourselves but for those we come in contact with. Please ask yourself, “Am I living out my faith and giving thanks for the gifts God has bestowed upon me through service to others? Am I constantly striving to bring peace to the world through prayer and action? Do I work for justice on behalf of those less fortunate and marginalized?”

As we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Messiah into the world let us pray that we live for Him in our daily lives through giving of our time, talent and treasure on His behalf.

- Erin Jones is the youth minister at St. Bartholomew’s Church (East Brunswick, NJ).

Advent Reflection for Monday, November 29th

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A few days ago, I was walking through the mall and I saw a guy wearing a plain black T-shirt that said, “Stereotypes are a real time saver.” As someone who can easily laugh at his own cultural foibles, my initial response was to smile. 

No matter how evolved and righteous we may think we have become, who among us at some point in time hasn’t sought to label another? Stereotyping is part of our DNA. While there are positive stereotypes – for example, we teach small children that policemen are good – all too often we engage in the not-so-kind classification of people. For some of us, it’s skin color, cultural heritage or age, while for others it may be social status, the car that they drive, the length or color of their hair, body piercing, tattoos or sexual orientation. Even our business culture pounds this into our subconscious through not-so-subliminal advertising. “Buy this DVD and You Too Can Have Buns of Steel!” As if people with “buns of steel” are better than the rest of us.

Jesus, being both fully human and fully divine, all too well understood the folly of humanity. He immediately acknowledged the faith of the Roman soldier, a person outside the normal circle of His followers. He remarked to those following him (from Israel), “In no one in Israel have I found such faith.” In other words, “It’s not all about you guys … all people of faith are welcome at my table.” That means everybody!

In these early days of Advent, as we prepare ourselves for His coming, I see this as a well-timed opportunity to mindfully shed negative stereotypes. This is a time when, as people of faith, we should embrace our diversity, knowing that God welcomes all the faithful to His table. It is up to each and every one of us to be the Body of Christ, now and throughout the coming year.

-Rocky Balsamo is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees

Advent Reflection for Sunday, November 28th

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Therefore, stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. 

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night 

when the thief was coming,

 he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. 

So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. 

 Mt 27:42-44

I don’t like waiting, and I seem to have a lot of company.  We are a society that wants everything now: fast food, instant messaging, express lanes. In short, we hate to wait. Yet, in the words of the Rev. Dr. P.C. Enniss, “Our lives are inevitably shaped by those for whom we wait.”

The most profound experience of waiting I’ve ever had was the 9 months I carried my first child inside my womb. At first the days sped by, but by the third trimester, the progress of days and centimeters slowed to an excruciating pace. I was uncomfortable and a little afraid of labor, but more than anything, I was anxious to become a mother. I longed to hold my child, feed her, bathe her, sing to her. Yet in the months of carrying her inside me, I had already begun to nurture and protect her, choosing healthy foods and avoiding alcohol and caffeine. I had already grown to love her deeply. In the 9 months of waiting for this child to be born, before I ever held her or saw her face, I had already become her mother.

In Advent, as we await the coming of Jesus Christ, we long for the Kingdom of God.  Isaiah tells us that “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” In our world so filled with the suffering of innocent victims of war, disease, poverty, discrimination, and slavery, we long for Christ to come again and restore our world to balance and all people to wholeness. Yet, our lives are inevitably shaped by those for whom we wait. The theologian Paul Tillich wrote, "Although waiting is not having, it is also having. The fact that we wait for something shows that in some way we already possess it." As we await the coming of the Christ and long for His return, we become the Kingdom of God on earth.

- Mary Vanderhoof is a member of the Center for FaithJustice’s Board of Trustees.

Advent 2010 - Daily Reflections

On behalf of the staff and board of the Center for FaithJustice, welcome to our Advent Reflection Guide! We have asked a number of wonderful people to offer a brief reflection on the daily readings. I must admit, I am both impressed and inspired by the reflections to follow over the coming weeks. I think you will be too! My hope is that we, as an extended community, might take a few minutes each day of Advent to pray with the readings and meditate on the reflection. In doing so, together preparing for the Incarnation, we share an experience that binds us as a community of faith.

It is true that the Center for FaithJustice requires the support of a great many people to continue our work. There is, however, a deeper reality, rooted in our mission. More than any programming goals, we seek to build a broad community marked by love and friendship, a “place” where all are welcome, to foster a commitment to a faith that strives for justice and serves those in need. CFJ is comprised of people from diverse walks of life, but we believe that God is calling each and every one of us.

As we journey together this Advent, let us open our arms to those for whom this time of year is marked by loneliness or despair. Likewise, let us open our hearts to those who, in this season of overconsumption, lack even the most basic of needs (much less the means for elaborate gifts). This guide is dedicated to all those who support CFJ through their time, talent and treasure. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Be assured you are remembered in our weekly prayer and that our door is always open to you, your family, and to anyone those seeking a community of faith that does justice. Your support is appreciated, your friendship sustains us. You are, for us, a sign of hope, a revelation of God at work in the world. For that, we are eternally grateful.


Peace on your journey,
Sean Patrick Sanford
Executive Director