Podcasts about advent reflection

What is your family tree?   In today's Peace on Earth reflection, Father Jonathan Meyer invites us into the genealogy of Jesus — the very first words of the Gospel of Matthew. And it's not a perfect story. It's a messy one.   Jesus' family tree includes sinners, scandal, brokenness, and pain — and that's exactly the point.   Your past is real, but it does not define you. You are not your worst sin. You are not your worst day.   As we enter the O Antiphons and the final days of Advent, today is a new beginning. A chance to choose differently. A chance to let Jesus bring healing, freedom, and new life.   ✨ Your future is bigger than your past.  

Pastor Marty talks about the joy and blessings of the Advent season, reminding us to stay vigilant, celebrate love, and why Jesus' example of love is pivotal. 00:30 Introduction and Advent Reflection 05:51 Personal Reflections on Love and Family 09:38 Biblical Teachings on Love 14:04 The Cost of Love and Sacrifice 21:27 Living a Life of Love 38:58 Concluding Prayer and Call to Action

In this week's Advent reflection, Janet contemplates the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth and the moment John the Baptist leaps in the womb at the sound of Mary's voice

Send us a textA young Catholic nun prays 1,000 Hail Marys a day for nine straight days, preparing for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Then, during this Advent devotion, the Blessed Mother appears and speaks a message that transforms her soul. Today we explore this remarkable Marian encounter and the exact words Mary gave to her.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

What can you learn from a preacher who wore a camel's hair cloak while eating locusts and wild honey? Plenty. In this week's Gospel, John the Baptist gives us the perfect playbook for entering into Advent...and for taking our spiritual lives to the next level. His ascetic appearance and way of life might seem crazy to us, but his intensity had the goal of stripping away life's distractions to clarify his message and make room for love. Distracted has become our default mode. Advent is the perfect time to slow down and take in the message of John the Baptist. And his message? “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” We've heard that line a thousand times. But in this reflection, I explain what the word "repent" really means in this context. The actual translation of the Greek word—metanoia—is much deeper than you think. It implies a changing of the mind and your way of thinking. That's not just penitence as a form of behavior modification. It's not just looking backward and being sorry for the past. It means opening your eyes to the grace you have received and realizing that change is only possible with God—an entirely new perspective. You can't pick yourself up by your own bootstraps to raise yourself to heaven. We need God for that. I pray you are able to enter into a joyful penance this Advent that relies on his grace to make a lasting change in your life. Allow that grace to challenge your approach to everything you do by taking on the mind of Christ. Make space for Christ and let him "meta" your "noia." I'll pray for you...please pray for me! DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What's one distraction you could strip away this Advent to make room for Christ? 2. Before hearing this reflection, how did you understand the word repent? How does the meaning of metanoia change that? 3. Can you think of a time when a shift in perspective — not just behavior — changed your life? How might God be inviting you to a new way of thinking right now? 4. What's one area where you've been trying to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps”? How can you invite grace into that instead? 5. Which parts of your life feel “too busy” for God? What practical step could you take this week to open space for Him? ----- Sign up for Chris Stefanick's daily Advent reflections: https://reallifecatholic.com/daily-anchor-advent/ ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/ ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW Chapters (00:00:00) - The Secret to Flying Through Airport(00:00:13) - John the Baptist in the Airport(00:00:43) - John the Baptist(00:01:23) - John the Baptist: Stripping Down His Life(00:06:01) - Advent: To Be Converted

Deacon Al Lundy shares the recent loss of his mother-in-law and how her peaceful, faith-filled passing highlighted the Catholic focus on resurrection, hope, and the dignity of dying. He ties this personal story to the second Sunday of Advent readings (Isaiah, Romans, Matthew), calling listeners to repentance, unity, and bearing good spiritual fruit as they prepare for Christ and make use of the sacraments. Email your questions to Deacon AL:    goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org    

On today's prerecorded episode, Johnnette Williams gives a reflection on Advent and on how to best prepare for the Christmas season!

Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent!

In this episode, we explore the quiet, tender work of waiting in joyful hope—a deeply human and deeply spiritual posture. Through the lens of Advent, we reflect on what it means to wait with longing, to trust in God's timing, and to find hope not by escaping struggle, but by moving through it with faith.Walk with Mary and Joseph as they navigate uncertainty, vulnerability, and promise. Discover how holy waiting becomes active, how trust gives birth to hope, and how God'spresence unfolds in the slow, sacred spaces of our lives.If you're longing for stillness, encouragement, or renewed hope, this reflection offers a gentle place to pause and breathe.by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.GodSpaceCommunity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Providence Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! At God Space, you can come as you are. You belong here.God Space is a ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky. Do you want to learn more about the Sisters of Divine Providence? Check out our website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.CDPKentucky.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find all of the Scripture readings from the lectionary here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar⁠ ⁠⁠Music credits: Thanks to Pixabay and these artists for their royalty free music: intro and outro music Acoustic Inspire by The_Mountain, reflection questions music, Relaxing Meditation Music by SamuelFrancisJohnson

In this reflection, Fr. Luke Mata shares how Advent is a gentle wake-up call for parents to step out of distraction and make room for Christ in the midst of family life. Through prayer, Confession, and simple acts of love, he helps us prepare our hearts for Jesus' coming.A meaningful listen as we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas!

Send us a textMary's warning at Lourdes wasn't only for 1858 — it's for us right now, in a world distracted, divided, and starving for grace.This Advent, we return to the grotto to hear what Heaven asked… and why the message still matters.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

In this stirring and deeply encouraging Advent message, Pastor Karl launches the new series The King Has Come with a powerful exploration of the first great gift Jesus brings: hope.Turning to Luke 2 and the quiet, largely forgotten figures of Simeon and Anna, Pastor Karl paints a vivid picture of two elderly saints who spent decades waiting in faithful obscurity—praying unanswered prayers, worshiping through silence, and serving without recognition. Yet the moment a 40-day-old baby was carried into the temple, their Spirit-illuminated eyes saw what the crowds missed: the long-promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Redemption of Jerusalem.Through their story, Pastor Karl reveals that biblical hope is not wishful thinking; it is the confident, unshakable expectation of future good rooted in the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. Hope grows in the hidden soil of daily faithfulness, thrives when God chooses to work in silence, and celebrates the tiny seed because it already trusts the coming harvest. Simeon and Anna never saw Jesus preach, heal, or rise from the dead—yet they held the infant King and departed in peace, because they knew who He was long before they saw what He would do.A tender yet convicting word for everyone who has waited a long time and is still waiting, prayed a long time and is still praying, and hoped a long time and is still hoping. In a season that can feel rushed and noisy, this message calls us to slow down, stay faithful, and train our eyes to recognize the presence of the King—even when He shows up wrapped in the ordinary, the small, and the seemingly insignificant.Because the King has come, hope is not dead. It is alive, resilient, and bubbling up in every heart that keeps showing up and keeps looking for Jesus. Essential listening for anyone who needs fresh hope this Christmas.Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

Father Shannon kicks off the Advent season with a solo episode where he reflects on the meaning of Advent as […] The post An Advent Reflection for Uncertain Times appeared first on Queer Theology.

Send us a textWant to hear Heaven's message through Mary's apparitions this Advent?Advent begins this Sunday, and we're very excited to share what we've prepared for this year's journey.This year's Advent Daily Series is called Heaven Speaks — and each day we'll explore a different approved apparition of Mary, her message, and how we can apply it to our own lives as we prepare our hearts for Jesus.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

Advent Reflection: the voice in the wilderness with Fr. Tim Grumbach on Trending with Timmerie. (2:29) The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the Holy Family. (20:33) The miracle in Los Angeles, CA that paved the way for a new saint — Pier Giorgio Frassati (34:14) Exercising charity in abundance this holiday season. (41:43) Resources mentioned : Joseph the Silent https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Silent-Michel-Gasnier/dp/0906138493

It's one of the most well known verses, but each word of John 3:16 carries immense depth if you take time to meditate upon it. Here is the final Advent Reflection of this season. Merry Christmas!

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent (December 22, 2024) Total Time: 14m7s Advent Reflection by ALFRED DELP, SJ (Click HERE)

Explore Elizabeth and Mary's response to God's promise with The Reverend Canon Jamie Hawkey on this Fourth Sunday of Advent. Listen to his reflection and find out more about Advent and Christmas at Westminster Abbey at: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/Advent/

Jesus is coming... AGAIN! Advent is a time of Preparation! In this Lectio Divina Reflection Fred and Kara talk about preparing for the coming of Jesus! He was born of a virgin in a manger and so has ALREADY come. BUT also... not YET, because Jesus will come again. Are we preparing ourselves for Jesus to return? What if Jesus returned tomorrow? Are you ready? Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page (https://www.drawnear.me/booking)." Click here (https://www.drawnear.me/donate) to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them. "Like" and follow us on Facebook! (https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara). Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drawnear.me/)! Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page. (https://www.drawnear.me/) Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us! Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

Join The Reverend Helena Bickley-Percival as she explores the psalm, reminding us of why we should 'rejoice in the Lord always'. Listen to her reflection and find out more about Advent and Christmas at Westminster Abbey at: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/Advent/

Send us a textIn this Advent Reflection, we delve into the profound words of St. Alphonsus and their relevance for Advent 2023. Together with Father Cristino, we explore the mystery of God's extravagant love and sacrifice, as well as the heartbreaking reality of how humanity often fails to respond to it.St. Alphonsus challenges us to reflect deeply on the ways Christ endured suffering—from the stable to the cross—and how His immense love invites us to respond with our hearts fully. Could we unknowingly be rejecting this divine love?Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

"God wants to be known in history" says The Reverend Canon Mark Birch, as he reflects on the Luke's gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent. Listen to his reflection and find out more about Advent and Christmas at Westminster Abbey at: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/Advent/

It's the most wonderful time of the year here at Everything Happens. And you're invited to join along. Advent is a season that leads us up to Christmas. And it is all about living with eyes wide open—seeing the world as it is, with all its cracks and flaws, and still holding on to the hope that everything wrong will one day be made right. And if that sounds like your sort of thing, we made a free daily Advent guide just for you. It's filled with: daily reflections questions to mull over response activities opportunities to dive deeper So, for today's episode, I'm excited to share with you an excerpt from this year's Advent guide. We'll be exploring one of the days to give you a taste of what's inside. Whether you're following along with the guide or just listening in today, I hope this reflection speaks to you and brings a little more light into your day.  Download your free Advent guide at katebowler.com/advent.   Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts. Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler. Links to social pages and more available at linktr.ee/katecbowler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we begin the Advent season, we wanted to share a special reflection from Fr. Luke Mata to help prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ at Christmas.We hope you find great joy and anticipation as you journey through this most beautiful season!

Listen as The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, reflects on Luke's gospel passage as we begin Advent and the new church year. 

Toward the end of the year Earthkeepers podcast always releases a special holiday episode that breaks from the usual interview mode. In this episode, we're gifting a passage from our friend Christine Sine's book called Celtic Advent: Following an Unfamiliar Path Through Advent. Earthkeepers recommends this book because in it, Christine brings fresh, life-giving perspective on the conventional Western practices of advent. According to those Western practices, the advent season this year begins on Sunday, December 1—so why offer an advent reflection in November? In her book, Christine explains: “for Celtic and Orthodox Christians, advent begins the evening of November 15th – forty days before Christmas Day. Celtic Christians always prayed and fasted for 40 days in preparation for any major life event, whether it be the planting of a new monastic center, the beginning of a new adventure, as well as for preparation for Christmas and Easter.” Given the Celtic theme of the passage, it is read by Brother Seán Aherne, an Irish monk who is very familiar with the St. Kevin story that is featured in this episode.Christine's website, GodspacelightBook: Celtic Advent: Following an Unfamiliar PathBrother Seán Aherne ( born 1946 ) is a Celtic Christian monk living in a small monastery on outskirts of Dublin. He is Director &  founding member of the John Moriarty institute for Ecology & Spirituality in Dingle, County Kerry. Together with Míchael W.Higgins he edited : Introducing John Moriarty In His Own Words. He is a passionate supporter of John Moriarty's vision for a Christian Monastic Hedge School for Adults called Slí na Fírinne. Over the years he animated & directed many retreats on Celtic Spirituality & the Native Irish Wisdom Tradition.Keywords: Advent, Celtic Advent, creation care, Saint Kevin, spirituality, environmentalism, community, nature, God, reflection, Glendalough, John Scotus Eriugena, John Philip Newell, Christ of the Celts, Carmina Gadelica, Alexander CarmichaelTakeaways ·      Celtic Advent begins 40 days before Christmas for preparation.·      Creation is an expression of God, not a void of nothingness.·      Our view of creation reflects our attitude towards God.·      Saint Kevin exemplifies a deep connection with nature.·      The incarnation of Christ emphasizes God's care for creation.·      Recognizing God's concern for all creation is vital.·      Engaging with nature can enhance our spiritual lives.·      Reflection on creation can deepen our understanding of God.·      Welcoming creation into our lives can be an Advent practice. Find us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple