None of us comes to Jesus on our own. So many people strengthen our faith when we are discouraged.

We stand, every day, at the threshold of preparing the way of the Lord. May this season of holiness prompt us to step up, step out, and ready the way.

We are called to join Jesus, John the Baptist, the Twelve, and all who have proclaimed the Kingdom of God before us to reach out in this season especially to those who are suffering in any way.

Today, the Church recalls a marvelous deed God had done in the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

In these Advent days, when life can be stressful and chaotic, when the turmoil of war and division can seem to be the loudest voice in the room, remember our call is to listen to Jesus’ Word and act on it.

Jesus asks us to bring the little that we have left and give it to him. And Jesus changes the little into abundance.

During my life’s journey, I have had the blessing of caring for thousands of little children and with them, I have learned what our Lord Jesus Christ says about peace, unity, and sanctity; it seems to me, Jesus is saying, it is the “little children” who do the guiding.

When we hear the story of the centurion who asks Jesus to heal his servant, we often focus on the faith that amazed Jesus. But there is another aspect to the story.

Advent teaches us that the Christian life forms us to live in hope, abiding in prayerful alertness.