December 23

The Month of December Dedicated to Advent and the Coming of Christ

O Emmanuel!

Saint: Saint John of Kety, Priest (1390-1473); Saint Thorlak Thorhallsson, Patron Saint of Iceland (1133-1193)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 65:11-22 The Prior of the Monastery

Mass: Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Resp Ps 25; Lk 1:57-66

Teach me your paths.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, VIRGIN OF SWEET EXPECTATION,

SAINT JOSEPH, MOST OBEDIENT,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me ...

Surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

(Malachi 3:1/Lk 1:66)

We are almost there, faithful readers. We celebrate our final countdown to the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord with O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the hope of all nations and their Savior; come and save us, O Lord our God! We pray that our King and Lawgiver come and save us. May we follow the lead of Saint John the Baptist and do our part to prepare the way before Him. "Look today to John the Baptist," preached Pope Saint John Paul II, "an enduring model of fidelity to God and His law. John prepared the way for Christ by the testimony of his word and his life. Imitate him with docile and trusting generosity ... He was a model of uprightness and courage in defending the truth, for which he was prepared to pay in his person, even to the point of imprisonment and death ... dear brothers and sisters, be brave enough always to give priority to the values of the spirit" (Holy Mass, homily, June 24, 2001, Kiev, Ukraine). We go forth then, with faith, uprightness, courage. Keep going, dear faithful readers. Thank you for being there. 

Let us ask Mary, the Virgin of Sweet Expectation, to teach us how "watch and prayer" so that we do not get distracted in our following of her Son, and to discover His saving presence in the events of our daily lives.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, December 23, 2022)

SAINT JOHN OF KETY,

SAINT THORLAK THORHALLSSON,

PRAY FOR US.

NB: These reflections are published by 9:30 a.m. PST, daily (barring any unforeseen complications), and can be found on our website www.redwoodsabbey.org as soon as they are published. They are sent automatically to email accounts at 3 p.m. PST. Thank you for being there wherever you are. We remain united in faith and prayer.

Today's photo: Yesterday morning during the daily regime. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy.

© Gertrude Feick 2022