Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

December 19, 2016

Today’s Thought — Third Antiphon: “O Root of Jesse”

Teresa-21O Root of Jesse’s stem,

Sign of God’s love for all his people:

Come to save us without delay!

“You can choose your actions, but not the consequences” is something I frequently find myself saying to my children. On the other hand, today’s antiphon reminds us that no one – no one – is beyond the reach of the Father’s mercy. When the prophet Isaiah spoke of the King who would arise from “Jesse’s stem” (Isaiah 11:1-2), he was consoling the vanquished people of Israel, whose infidelity had led to their defeat at the hands of the Assyrians.

Is there someone in your life who needs to experience the long arm of God’s mercy?

Blessed Mother,

who labored to bring forth the Light of the World

from the darkness,

pray for us,

that the love of Christ would shine in our hearts,

and in the cradle of our home.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

To read the full readings for today, click here.

Advent Reflections Courtesy of:

heidi-2013Heidi is a wife and adoptive mother, contributing writer to WINE, and author of Advent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta and the follow-up companion, Lent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Servant, released January 2017). Heidi received a graduate degree in theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit in 2012, having converted to the Catholic faith in 1995 from the evangelical tradition. She met her husband, Craig, at the University of Michigan Ballroom Dance Club, and lives with her family (including two special-needs teenagers, a longsuffering Aussie shepherd and a snuggly Chiweenie) near South Bend, Indiana.