E-READER VERSION: Live Always in Joyful Anticipation: Reflections for Advent & Christmas 2022
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This year’s Advent booklet features reflections for Sundays and Holy Days from Advent through Epiphany written by Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv, Bishop-President of Pax Christi USA. In keeping with our focus on intergenerational voices throughout this 50th anniversary year, Bishop Stowe is joined by co-authors from the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus Leadership Team: Lauren Bailey, Creede Caldwell, Honorine Uwimana and Sr. Annie Killian, OP, with each offering their own reflections for different weekdays throughout Advent. These Advent & Christmas reflections invite readers into a contemplative appreciation of the season, rooting our work for peace and justice in the joy and challenge of awaiting, then celebrating, the birth of Jesus.
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Excellent for individual reflection and prayer or in small groups!
EXCERPT: From the first Sunday of Advent, Bishop Stowe writes:
"The liturgical season of Advent is to remind us that we should live always in joyful anticipation of the coming of the Lord and the establishment of God’s reign. Rather than sleigh bells and mistletoe, the Word of God speaks about a major transformation that has already begun...
"[I]t is Isaiah, the poet, who helps us dream and imagine what the day of the Lord will be like. Isaiah will be a faithful companion in the four weeks ahead; he is not afraid to imagine the unimaginable and hope for radical transformation of our 'business as usual' world. Today we hear the dream of people streaming towards the mountain of the Lord’s house, with all of the effort that climbing requires, and seeking instruction. The dream of Isaiah is about the day when 'one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor train for war again.' That is the dream of Ukrainians for sure, the dream of Palestinians, the dream of so many around the world who want to wake up from their present nightmare of war and violence. But it needs to be our dream as well, in the most prosperous nation in the world with the largest military force.
"All I want for Christmas is… for swords to be beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks. Let military budgets be spent on gardening instruments and means to produce food for a hungry world. Let Christians stop using doctrine and disciplines as weapons and learn how much hunger there is for the Word of God. Then we can truly celebrate the Word made Flesh."
