It is hard to believe that Christmas is only 2 days away.  How many of us are in full Christmas mode at this point?  By which I mean doing last minute shopping, making gifts, helping our families prepare for the holiday, and celebrating.  I know I am caught up in the craziness that the season can bring.  I was out shopping earlier this morning and started to feel overwhelmed, to say the least.

Getting caught up in the busyness and materialism of Christmas is easy.  Listening to all the Christmas songs on the radio and singing along.  Going to parties and enjoying the holiday spirit(s).   All of these things are part of what make this time of year unique and fun.  However, they can also easily distract even the most faithful among us from what this season is all about...bringing Christ into the world.

In today’s gospel Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  Truly how blessed Mary was because she believed and trusted, because she had faith.  And in turn, how blessed our entire world has been ever since Mary said, “Yes.”

There is a line from the song Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)* that goes, “Holy Father you have come, and chosen me now to carry your Son.”  This song and this line in particular reminds me that each of us has been called by God to carry God’s Son.  The Advent and Christmas season is a reminder of that call.  A reminder of what the holiday is all about…

Wherever you happen to be when you read this post, whatever you happen to be doing, whatever day it happens to be, I ask you this, take a minute and pause.  Take a deep breath.  Slow your mind down enough to open your heart to God and ask God, “how have you chosen me to carry your Son, today?”  

Perhaps it is by showing extra compassion to the stressed out cashier.  Perhaps it is by helping your mom with the dishes.  Perhaps it is by holding open a door for someone who needs help.  There are so many big and small ways that we can be called by God to bring Christ into the world.

Let us always remain open to whatever it is that God is calling us to every moment of this season and our entire lives.  Let us never forget to pause and invite God into whatever space we are dwelling in any given moment.  And let us always find ways to carry God’s Son into our lives and the world around us.

(If you want to hear a beautiful song, listen to Amy Grant’s version of Breath of Heaven -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOQRtYYERGo) 

Peace.

April Gagne
AV Alum, San Diego 2000-01, Camden 2001-02

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ is one of my favorite songs of Advent. It expresses the beautiful hope of both Christians and Jews who long for the coming of the Savior of the world. It is a hope that the Messiah will restore Israel and fulfill the covenant from so many years ago. It is also a hope we see expressed in the readings for this third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. Despite the incredible hardships faced by the Israelites, the first and second readings attempt to quell any resulting fears and anxieties. Rather than wait in impatience and uneasiness, this is a time for rejoicing! There is no need to have “further misfortune to fear” seeing as “The Lord, your God, is in your midst.” As Christians, we believe that the Savior who will renew the world has already dwelled with us here on earth and that he will come again. The infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke’s Gospels tell the story of Mary, a virgin mother who bore a son who was both a child and a king. Just as Mary brought Christ into the world practically two thousand years ago, we are called to be a witness to Christ in the world today.

In the third reading, John the Baptist expresses this idea when he paves the way for the coming of Christ. When the crowds ask John what they should do, he responds by telling them to give of themselves. Give away what is unnecessary to those who need it. If you have excess of something, share it with the poor. Most importantly, walk in the ways of justice. Although John talks about material goods such as clothing, food, and money, we are called to share more than that. Essentially, this is what we do both during our year as Augustinian Volunteers and in our lives beyond that brief but blessed time. In small ways, we calm the anxieties of those to whom we minister. We help bring joy into their lives, and we are touched by their presence in our own. We rejoice in the gift God has given us. We shed light on that beautiful hope that is sometimes hidden by grief and anger in our world.

So this Advent season, as we continue to await the coming of our Savior, Rejoice! Find it within yourself to bring Christ into the lives of those you meet, just as Mary was called to do.

Meg Costantini

AV Alum: Lawrence, MA 2011-2012

The 2nd Sunday in Advent (12/9)
"Prepare Ye the way of The Lord" add background music from Godspell and this verse will be firmly implanted in your head all week long, which isn’t a bad thing! 

Personally, I struggle preparing the way for the Lord.  I strongly believe in my faith, say Grace with my family before meals, but struggle getting to mass on a weekly basis.  Technically, I would not be a “practicing Catholic” if I am not consistently practicing my faith (I know that’s  a controversial statement)  If you are like me, you have convincing, convenient excuses to justiry why you don’t make it to mass.  Still haven’t found the right church, lots to do, or for me, it’s a little hard with a 13 month old and another on the way, but none of those are really the reason.   

"Thank you God for the many blessings you have given to me and my family”, is so easy to say and sincerely believe because we are blessed.  I truly want to thank God for what he has done for me and the blessing of my family.  So why don’t I make it a point to attend Mass weekly?  I don’t know, but I do know, I am not alone in this struggle. 

Anyone, who hasn't been cryogenically frozen for the past 15 years, knows this isn't a one sided issue.  The Catholic Church has done much to scare away its flock.  There have been horrific actions from people in places of honor and questionable statements from people in power.  However, I always equate this to politics.  There is the Catholic Government or people and then there is the Catholic faith or our beliefs.  If you are a strong Democrat, you probably didn't like George W. Bush, if you are a Republican, you probably don't like Obama, regardless of your affiliation, I hope you are appalled at the current ineffectiveness of our Congress.  Regardless, I bet at no time did any of you stop calling yourselves an American nor stop honoring our flag at the appropriate times.  At no point did you allow the actions of humans to affect your loyalty to your country.  Then why do we allow the actions of humans to massively affect our loyalty to our faith?  We are imperfect, some “holy” people seem to be plain evil, but it doesn’t mean the Catholic Faith is evil.  I am a proud American and I am a proud Catholic.

Unfortunately, there are other common arguments on why not to attend Mass.  Catholic services are boring and not fulfilling.  Making a child sit through one is the equivalent of an extended "time-out."  However, I lived through 16 years of Catholic school and always went to Mass on Sundays, with few exceptions, and am actually proud of who I am today.  The church was one of the most significant mentors in my development.  How do I expect my children, to have my values, if I keep them from one of my greatest teachers?

My theological friends will have much to say about this post because I am not addressing the quintessential reason you go to Mass each week, the Eucharist, the consecration of the bread and wine.  However, I think for many people struggling like myself, there are steps to recovery.  For me, step one is to simply go back to church.  I encourage each of you, challenge yourself, go back to Church, make the time, make a commitment.  And if you are single and looking for someone special, in the memorable words of Eddie Murphy in Coming to America - "If you want to find a good girl, you gotta go to Church!"  Merry Christmas my friends!

Kevin Martin, 2002 - 2003, Chulucanas & The Bronx

Waiting for the Lord

Advent has begun.  You hurry to church through a blustery chill, and as you hear the bells ring out a call from the steeple, the hustle and noise of Market Street falls away.  The cold outside gives way to the quiet of the narthex, and then you step into the dim light of the nave.  And your heart remembers the wait.

For centuries, Christians have been waiting.  The funny thing is, despite all the practice, we're not always very good at it.  The 1st Sunday's Gospel reading makes it very clear what we're waiting for.  This is not the story of a precious child or a warm stable bed, but rather an imploring warning to be ready for Christ the God and King, who is to come.  Once upon a time, Revelatory tropes and Second Coming images were the bread and butter of Christians - just look at the decorations and ornamentation in any Gothic or Romanesque church.  

The roiling seas, gleeful demons, the rent skies and scales weighing souls were once omnipresent reminders to believers: it's coming.  He's coming.  Are you going to be ready?

Today, we tend to sidetrack the drama and gusto of Apocalypse ideas.  "Is any of that even real?" we ask.  "Well, that's just silly."  But this Gospel is a clear cry, straight from the lips of a Savior: "You cannot even conceive of what is coming.  It's bigger than you can imagine.  So look to your heart and make sure you're ready."

The wait.  It has a purpose; it's a time of preparation.  Get your affairs in order, set your heart on the path to God, lift your soul to the Lord, and watch.  

Maybe the stories of the Second Coming no longer fill us with terror and foreboding.  We're awfully grown-up now, aren't we?  We don't believe in pitchforks.  Dante's inferno was an allegory, after all.  So if the frightfulness doesn't motivate you to hold council with your heart, perhaps a gentler image will.  It's an image of humility and grace, of quiet and stillness.  Of warmth.  Of Love.  It's an image of a newborn lying in straw, while a young mother smiles with joy and a confused but willing man pledges his heart to protect them.  It's an image of excited men and creatures hurrying toward a stable lit from heaven, hurrying away from the hustle and noise of life, which gives way to the quiet of standing in the presence of New Life.  Kings and shepherds, lambs and donkeys, the wind and the stars, all in awe of a child, a king, a priest, our God.  

The Son of Man is coming.  And whether you see Him in a manger stall, or coming in a cloud with power and great glory, use this wait to your advantage.  Prepare your heart to welcome Him.

Chesley Turner

AV Alum, Lawrence, MA 2010-2011

Recently, my wife and I were walking around a Costco in San Diego, and to our amazement the store was bombarded with everything Christmas. It seems like every year Christmas décor and bargain sales start earlier than the previous year, and because of that Advent becomes one of the most underrated seasons in the life of the Church. That’s a pity because the importance of Advent calls us to focus our intentions and actions in order to prepare for and celebrate His coming at Christmas and beyond.

The season of Advent marks a key moment in the life of the Church. Advent begins the Church’s year and marks the period when we begin to look forward to the coming of Christ once more in our lives. This impending visit by Jesus invites us to take seriously the call by Isaiah to “prepare the way” by reflecting on the past, praying in the present, and hoping for the future. Life as an Augustinian Volunteer calls all of us to participate in that preparation in real ways. And so, I would like to take some time and reflect on the ways in which we have prepared ourselves for what we have already experienced, as well as what is to come in the remaining months of the volunteer year.

Prepare your mind. Even before arriving to AV orientation, you have been preparing for this volunteer year. Whether that is at a logistical, emotional, mental, or spiritual level, preparation was vital for your arrival. You left your family, friends, and comfort zone to embark on an adventure open to mystery. Your life has led you to this point. The choices you have made, the prayers you have prayed, and your trust in God has called each and every one of you to where you are. This preparation is crucial to the life of the Augustinian Volunteer because through it, each volunteer commits himself/herself to the mission of the program fully. But your preparation doesn’t stop there.

Prepare your heart. Besides the logistical and psychological preparation, there is also a need for a preparation of your heart. Jesus meets us where we are and that is most commonly in the people we interact with on a daily basis. Thus, by living as an Augustinian Volunteer you are embodying the preparation needed for Christmas.  Jesus is in your community members, He is in your co-workers, He is in the friars, He is in your neighbor. And because of that, the heart needs time to prepare for all that will be experienced. You have already had great experiences of joy as well as challenges, and these will continue throughout the year. What is important is how we receive these experiences. Is your heart open to where God is leading you? Advent calls us to embark on this road of preparation in order that we may see Christ in others and welcome them into our heart. And yet, there is still more preparation needed.

Prepare your spirit. By preparing your mind and heart, you have allowed yourself to take seriously the call as an Augustinian Volunteer to live faith-filled lives in community and for others. But all of this aims at something more: growing intimately closer to God and bringing others with you. If all we did was show up and serve, that would be great, but being an Augustinian Volunteer calls us to take that experience and use it to grow closer in our faith, hope, and love. In preparing our spirit for Christmas, we acknowledge that in order to give to others what we have, we also need to refresh ourselves with the presence of God. It is our constant prayer for our community that roots us in the hope that Christ’s coming will transform the world in a real way.

And so, this season of Advent I invite you to live the season out in its entirety. Allow this time to continue to form and prepare you for Jesus’ coming. Christmas will come soon enough, but Advent grants us the grace and time to become receptive to all that God has to offer us: faith, hope, and love.

Andrew McMillin

AV Alum, Lawrence 07-08

Rejoice.  Rejoice in poverty for it is all around.  Rejoice in homelessness for many are without shelter.  Rejoice in death for some are left orphaned.  Rejoice in AIDS for it causes great suffering.  The 2^nd reading tells us  “Rejoice always.”

When some people see poverty they see laziness; when they see a homeless man they see a drunk; when they see AIDS they see irresponsibility.  As an AV, past or present, our eyes have been opened.  God has given us the gift to see beyond the stereotypes and unveil the mask of poverty, homelessness, death, AIDS; and sitting behind the injustice and sorrow is a man, a woman, a child, a human being.  That God has chosen you, just as he chose John to baptize, is something to rejoice in.  He has handpicked you to be an instrument of His love.  Do not take despair in what is not present (food, shelter, health), but rather rejoice in what is present: You, and your student, client, co-worker, patient, or friend.  Rejoice in the relationships and bonds that have formed; rejoice that you are willing and capable of sharing stories, laughter, tears, hugs, hands, of sharing your love with another.

Sure, it’s a daunting task to feel all happy and glad when constantly faced with situations we can’t understand, but we must look a little deeper and open our eyes a little wider.  

And so “Rejoice always:” in the opportunity to help a hungry child read or have a conversation with a struggling mother of three; in sharing a meal with a lonely stranger; in a life lived and a soul that becomes an angel; in unwavering faith and hope despite desperate situations.  And do not stop rejoicing; and do not keep the soul-filled moments of rejoicing to yourself.  For your eyes have been opened, but many are still blind.  What a blessing it is to have the responsibility granted by God to reach out, take the hand of someone who does not see behind the mask of injustice and show them what it means to rejoice in the goodness of humanity of all God’s precious people.  This Advent and always, Rejoice.

Mary Dillon

AV Alum, Lawrence 04-05, South Africa 05-07

Living in community provides a rich opportunity to put Christ at the center of your life.  I remember conversations and prayers with my community members causing me to see certain situations in a new light.  Sometimes there were stressful moments at work when I would take a deep breath and re-frame my thinking in a more spiritual way.  Other times, I would come home upset and one of my community members would offer a new way of looking at things and offer a suggestion for the next day.  That shared reflection was a crucial part of my experience, allowing me to grow spiritually and recognize God’s presence in new ways.

The first reading today calls us to give comfort to God’s people and prepare the way for the Lord. I must admit, my first glance left me feeling uneasy.  This advent marks two years since my return from Peru, and regrettably I seem to have lost my sense of urgency.  I wonder how many AV alumni have returned from full time service and faced a similar experience.  The second reading is of some reassurance, reminding us that God is patient and wishes the best for us.  But the fact remains that the clock is ticking.  

In light of this reminder, I propose the following:  

Current AV’s: Take advantage of all you have been given. Trust your community members and challenge one another in specific ways to live in a more purposeful, Christian way.  Re-evaluate what simple living means or discuss how your ideas of solidarity have progressed or changed throughout the year. Set personal goals for prayer and how you interact with others. Your time as AV’s will move quickly, so I encourage you to take advantage of one of your greatest resources- each other.

AV Alumni: Don’t forget to reflect upon how your AV experiences have changed and shaped your perspective. Identify which forces in your life are motivating you to live as the Gospel demands, prioritize those influences, and seek out new ways to challenge and motivate yourself.  Reach out to a community member to share your thoughts and perhaps challenge each other to set new spiritual goals.

Regardless of your situation, I invite each  of you to consider the following passage as a challenge:

God can be found and glorified in any situation. Is there an area of your life where you might reach out to another in need? Have you tried to rely only on yourself in difficult situations?  Take a moment to envision the whole world preparing for the coming of the Lord. What is your role going to be?

Volunteers, especially those living in community, are blessed with constant reminders of the need for prayer, compassion, and acts of service. It takes patience and persistence to respond to those needs, but support systems make it possible. Advent is a special time of preparation to reflect on the fundamentals of our faith.  It is through our care and concern for others that we may begin to prepare ourselves.  May we all experience a blessed Advent and hold onto or recapture a faithful sense of urgency for Christ.

Liz Farrey-Jette

AV Alum, Peru 2009

Isaiah 63 speaks of the act of us wandering from the Lord’s intentions. Caught up in the busyness of everyday life, we often do not acknowledge our own imperfections unless we take the time to reflect upon them. Just as the people beckon for God to return to them for guidance and support, we are called home during the holiday season to be present to our families and communities.

If we allow it, Advent can become an opportunity for reflection, self-improvement and spiritual closeness with God. As Isaiah states, “we are the clay and you the potter; we are all the work of your hands,” and we have the power to utilize our unique gifts and talents to serve the Lord. As volunteers, you are realizing the power of your God-given talents to serve those in need. You have been called to be Augustinian Volunteers so that you can be the work of God’s hands. 

Our second reading from 1 Corinthians speaks of thankfulness, a word that is repeated most often during the time of Thanksgiving. As we approach Christmas, let us give thanks for the many blessings in our lives that we often take for granted. Reflect upon God’s grace, for which we are asked to give thanks. As Corinthians states, it is God’s influence that has enriched our lives, and as volunteers, the impact of your work is so clear. It can be seen every day in the faces of those you serve: the children in the schools, the hungry to which you serve meals at the soup kitchen, the homeless to which you bring hope through your work. 

As we enter the Advent season, let us recall our motivation to be Catholics in service. We are the work of God’s hands, so act in accordance to God’s will. While our vision can sometimes become clouded by distractions of material worth as Christmas approaches, let us remember our reason for gathering in celebration, and use this to do good work with God’s hands.

Alex Gallucci

AV Alum, Lawrence, MA 2009-2010