Sunday December 31st

Gospel: LK 2:22-40

In the passage, Mary and Joseph take the baby Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord and offer sacrifices, as this was the custom for Jewish families. At the temple was a man named Simeon and a woman named Anna. Simeon was a devout man who the Holy Spirit had promised would not see death until he saw the Christ of the Lord, and Anna was a prophetess who was also awaiting the Messiah. When Jesus went into the temple, Simeon recognized him as the Christ of the Lord and said that He was “destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel”. Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. As Christians, we should strive to be like Simeon and Anna and rejoice at the birth of Jesus. This passage shows that the Lord fulfilled his promise of sending us a savior, and to the people who awaited this savior, he gave joy and peace. With Christmas having just passed, we should ask ourselves, did we prepare well enough for the coming of the Savior? Did we celebrate and rejoice enough at his birth? If not, how can we do so now?

This week's reflection is by Alice, MSJA class of 2027.

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Christmas Reflection

Gospel:  Jn 1:1-18

During the holiday season, it’s so easy to get swept away by the Christmas trees, flashing lights, and sweet treats and forget what the true focus of the holiday season is. This Gospel by John reminds us that Jesus is the center of everything, something that should always be at the top of our minds, especially as the most important birth in history approaches. All the blessings of our lives come from Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. Even when we don’t always acknowledge his profound holy goodness, Jesus believes in our goodness despite our sinful nature. When immersing ourselves in the indescribably wonderful season of Jesus’ birth we must remember to act in his footsteps, to give to others even if we can only give a fraction of what he has bestowed on us. Whether that means picking up an extra present for someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or making it a point to visit someone you know is spending the holiday season alone, you can be a reflection of Jesus. By keeping Jesus at the center of your Christmas celebration who knows? Your Christmas tree might shine a little brighter and your hot chocolate might taste a little sweeter because you are embracing the true meaning of Christmas.

This week's reflection is by Nina, The Baldwin School class of 2026.

Third Sunday of Advent, December 17th

Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

In this Sunday Gospel we have John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. He is baptizing with water. In other Gospels, John the Baptist explains that he gives a baptism of repentance but Jesus gives a baptism of the Spirit. When asked by the Pharisees who he is he simply says “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’”. John the Baptist has a very clear sense of who he is. He knows his role and he willingly and gladly points others to Jesus. He reminds us of two things: 1) the importance of our Baptisms in Christ and 2) our roles in relationship to Christ. Baptism was not a new thing. It had been around before. What made it new in the time of Jesus is the kind of baptism. Jesus brought about a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Our baptism changed us and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. That gift is always with us but we must lean into it and live life with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can guide us and it can give us the proper perspective for our own life. Our life and our mission is not about us. We are called to follow the example of Jesus and live a life for others. Our lives, like John the Baptist, should be a sign post that points others to Jesus. How are you pointing others to Jesus this Advent? How are you living out your Baptism each day?

Second Sunday of Advent, December 10th

Gospel: MK 1:1-8

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is the messenger referenced by Isaiah in the Old Testament. He is preaching to prepare the world for the Savior whom the world is waiting for and who, instead of baptizing with water, will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The time of waiting for Jesus between the Old and New Testament, and John the Baptist waiting for the Savior, is like us as we enter Advent waiting for the birth of Christ. We continue to wait, but as Advent continues, we may find ourselves distracted and caught in the stress of the holidays, rather than, as John the Baptist said, “making straight His paths.” This passage should make us think, “How am I preparing for Jesus?” This Advent, we should keep this question close to our hearts. We should challenge ourselves to look for ways to prepare ourselves and also help to prepare others. Sometimes even a gentle reminder to somebody can make the biggest difference. How can you avoid distraction and focus on the coming of Christ as we wait for Him through this Advent season? How can you make the path straight for Him?

This week's reflection is by Henry, Springfield Township high school class of 2024.

First Sunday of Advent, December 3rd

Gospel: Mark 13:33-37 

Happy New Year and Happy Advent! This year we have the shortest advent possible as Christmas falls on a Monday. This Advent season will probably probably fly by. There are also lots of things that can take our focus away from Jesus. There is decorating, shopping, school/work, and the rush to get to Christmas. We are also not really used to waiting. Think about how quickly orders from Amazon come or how quickly we lose patience when there is a delay with our technology. Advent reminds us to slow down and this week's Gospel reminds us to keep watch. To keep your eyes on Christ. Think about one concrete thing you can do to keep alert to the season and to avoid getting swept in the secularization and consumerization of Christmas. How are you going to keep watch for the coming of Christ this Advent?​