Advent is upon us once again, a liturgical season full of imagery, inspiration and very familiar stories – stories about journey, openness to surprise, calls to change, seeking and finding, waiting, watching, listening, preparing with joy for something new to be born. All of these images and stories lead us to the reality of finding and encountering Emmanuel – “God with us“ anew.

This Advent, given the many threatening situations in our world; the horrendous situations in which many of our sisters and brothers live; the destruction of so much of our common home, we need to continue to remind ourselves and our wider context that Emmanuel, “God With Us” found at the end of the first Advent journey is still with us wanting only what is good for all of creation.

Please join us over the next four weeks where thanks to the Sisters of Mercy, Brat Bhríde Theological Reflection Group we will bring you an Advent reflection.

Week 1

This Advent, those who made the first Advent journey are asking to journey with us. All they ask is that we listen to their story of encounter and see if it opens new possibilities for each of us and all of us together.

In this first week of Advent, let us journey with the wise persons (we call Kings). They read the signs of Nature, the night sky spoke to them and in it they heard the voice of the Holy One inviting them to continue searching, they journeyed together…..sharing their belief that the voice of God is heard in creation, in earth, sea and sky. These three wise people invite us to spend some time this Advent pondering God’s presence in nature and then to share it with each other and all who need Mercy, including our Mother Earth.