Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.
John 6:16-21

Prayer

Dear Father through your son you are teaching us an important lesson, one of deep faith. Jesus says to his apostles "It is I. Do not be afraid," and often we are when our own lives are in turmoil. It is then you call out to us not to be afraid, for you are near as you lead us to safety as you did that day when the apostles were afraid. Look how they arrived at the shore, miraculously. How blessed we are when we are not afraid and let you lead us by the hand in our daily life. May our prayers lessen the turmoil and bring peace to the tumult that comes and goes, just as the waves of the sea do. May our hearts be filled with an unshakable faith. Amen

Memorial of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory Nazianzen

John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
John 1:26-28

Reflection:
Can we be this humble to reply that we are not worthy to untie another's sandal strap, let alone the sandal strap of Jesus.

John baptized with water to bring us a cleansing, in order for us to be able to receive the one who will come after him. The one we are unworthy to receive unless we cleanse ourselves of sin.

We are baptized with water to cleanse us from original sin, but once we receive this act of grace it is for us to keep ourselves in constant care in the ways of the Lord. It is an ongoing process of purification. But if we deny Jesus as it is put in the first reading, what does that say about us. We become the antichrist!

Let our baptism with water keep us on the path to God. Let the water that cleanses us, make us worthy to receive the one who is to come.

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

Advent Prayer

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.


When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Luke 1:41-42

Reflection:
What a joyous greeting Elizabeth gave our Holy Mother all because the child within her womb leapt when she saw Mary.

Elizabeth knew our savior will come from this special young girl who was sent to help her. Elizabeth also has been chosen to bear a son who will lead the way for this child who will be born unto Mary. One a prophet, one a savior from two different women. God is good to give to us an accounting of this witness for our Holy Mother Mary.

Out of this we have a wonderful devotion to two special women who delivered two men who each have a special part in God's plan. John the Baptist as we know baptises us with water, but the one who comes after him will baptise with fire.

Let our devotion to Saint Elizabeth and to Our Holy Mother, open our hearts to the coming of the Lord. As with Elizabeth let us prepare for the arrival or our savior. As her son John tell us to prepare ye the way of the Lord.

And Mary let us also rejoice with joy for in her womb is the fruit of our hearts.