Reflections on
Advent Readings 2025
First Week of Advent
Romans 13:11-14
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~Kathy Damon, Appleton, WI
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Today begins the season of Advent, a time of preparation, of expectation,
of exuberant waiting. We await the birth of Jesus, our salvation. The Letter to
the Romans advises that “the day of salvation will soon be here. So don’t live in
darkness.” This conjures up an image for me from many years ago. My son was afraid of the dark at bedtime. The solution? I gave him a flashlight. That small ray of light was his promise of security. It worked. He was no longer a captive of darkness. I have reflected on that simple story many times since. There is a message beyond that moment. A simple flashlight moved my son from darkness into light.
What is your darkness? What will prepare you for the birth of Jesus? What do you need to be a better person? What do you want to change in your life? And how will you do this? What is your “flashlight” that will enlighten Advent? I suspect we each have our own “flashlight.” It is up to each of us to keep it charged, spiritually energized.
Are your batteries charged for Advent?
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18
Second Week of Advent
Matthew 3:1-12 “I am not worthy to carry his sandals.”
Sr. Mary Peters, Green Bay
John the Baptist is telling people, “He who’s coming after me is mightier than I; whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.” A few lines later, John says to Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus came to us as one of us; Jesus treats everyone as equal—no first, second or third class. Jesus came to show us how to live. We know how he lived on this earth: spreading love, seeking justice, forgiving, healing, treating people with respect and dignity. Remember those bracelets that were once popular – ”WWJD?” (“what would Jesus do”) Jesus would be doing the same thing now as he did back then.
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As the saying goes–history repeats itself. It’s brutal out there folks! Physically, Jesus isn’t walking around in society as he was back in the day; but his Spirit is so much alive within each of us. God asks that we be present to people today and share Jesus’ Spirit with them–spread his love, forgiveness, compassion; help to bring healing to people, give dignity and respect; work for justice; to bring light and hope—not just during Advent, but always. We’ve been anointed and commissioned to do this through baptism. In the words of St. Teresa: “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet, nor eyes but yours.”
