Saint Angela saw that, in order to fulfill her vocation, she had to set out on new paths.

If we take to heart the Christmas and Epiphany revelations that Chris is truly present among us, then we also have to recognize that “ordinariness” is no longer a possibility for us.

Each of us is called to do our part to help make the message of God’s love known in our small corner of the world.

Now is the time to act, to accept the Lord’s invitation to “come.”

We have been united with Christ and have been lifted up above our broken human nature, become sharers in God’s divine nature.

We are called to carry that light into the dark places of the world in our prayer, words, and acts of charity

The mystery of the Incarnation continues to reveal itself in the hearts of believers and in the world.

In the story of the Holy Innocents, devoid of the holiday cheer that we associate with these holy days, the light of promise continues to shine.

This feast also invites us to reflect how the vocation of the Apostles—to tell the story of Jesus—witnesses to the great truth of Christmas.

Today’s feast calls to mind the reality of the Cross in the life of the Savior and in the lives of those who follow Christ.

Christmas means saying “Yes” to something beyond emotions and feelings. It is saying “Yes” to hope and the knowledge that salvation is God’s work.

We are being asked to trust that God has kept—and continues to keep—the promises made to our spiritual ancestors so many centuries ago.

We rejoice because God has kept his promises and has given us love and truth in Jesus.

God comes to us in the people and simple things of our lives, and this is all part of the recreation of the world that is an essential part of the promise of Advent.

As we continue our Advent watching, pray for the gifts of courage and perseverance.

“Am I not your mother? Are you not under the protection of my mantle?”

Even as the desert wastes become fertile and full of flowers, those suffering from illness and physical limitations will receive healing and wholeness.

John calls his desert-followers—and each of us—to Advent honesty and vulnerability. In his clarion call, Advent hope and the hard work of conversion come together.

At its best, our devotion to the Mother of God celebrates the part Mary played in the decisive moments of salvation history.

God’s disciples need to have firmly anchored in their souls the remembrance of their Master, Jesus Christ, and to think of him day and night.