These events remind us how fragile life is and how vulnerable we are. They frighten us. They leave us asking, “What is going on, Lord? Can’t you come and make this right? Can’t you come and fix this now? What are you waiting for?”
Do you know what really bugs me about Advent? Or rather, the way people approach Advent? Everyone skips to the end.
A week before Christmas, I shopped for gifts. I never considered, "Who grew this food?" "Who made my clothes?" "Where are these gifts from?" Then I learned about ethical trade and I began thinking about each purchase I made—why I needed it, who created it and the impact it would have on the planet.
A brand new Life Teen Advent wallpaper for your desktop and phone - "Prepare the Way of the Lord" - designed by Joe Sanchez.
Reflecting on this reality, as the season of Advent approaches (and, of course, the season of Christmas to follow), you might perhaps consider what gifts you might give to those you love and how best to receive with gratitude.
It felt uncomfortable sitting in silence before the Lord for the first time. I questioned whether I was even praying right or if God could even hear me.
This is the time of year when we collectively focus on gratitude. As your Edge Support Coordinator, I am grateful for you and your commitment to walking with the middle school youth in your parish. Life Teen exists to empower and equip you to lead teens closer to Christ, so I’d love to know how we did with these November 2021 resources. You can contact me directly or respond through our follow-up survey.
My mind reeled uncontrollably, worrying that I’d forgotten important to-dos, obsessing over interactions from the day, spinning with everything that could go wrong between now and the morning.
God has proven time and time again that He’s not going anywhere. Why, then, do we fear the path ahead? Don’t we know He will be waiting for us at the end of the journey, without fail?
