This year’s Christmas and Advent will be like no other in our lifetime. COVID-19 has disrupted many of our longstanding traditions and practices that make up the Christmas season.
But there is hope. No matter what is happening in our world today, Jesus is our living Hope and we can help share that with our world, our proximate periphery.
Join Missionary Disciples across the Archdiocese on a journey towards hope. Like the shepherds keeping watch on that special night in Bethlehem, let’s go to the stable to where the light of the world entered our world. And let’s bring Jesus out to where hope is desperately needed.
Follow along our advent path below. If you haven’t subscribed to get our Proclaim email, you can do so below. We’ll email our advent path each week for your mission journey.
Make a List | Pray for Boldness | Extend an Invitation |
Launch a Small Group | See God Move
Reflection:
Romans 5:5 "and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us."
Titus 3:4-7 "But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life."
Action:
Make a list of people in your life who are in your proximate periphery. As you list their names reflect on their lives and your relationship with them. How are they doing? Are they experiencing hope? How is my relationship with them? What is the Holy Spirit up to? How am I being called to respond? Is there an invitation (big or small) that I'm being called to extend?
Pray with St Francis Xavier (Feast Day Dec 3)
Reflection:
“Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity: “What a tragedy: how many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you!”
I wish they would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.
This thought would certainly stir most of them to meditate on spiritual realities, to listen actively to what God is saying to them. They would forget their own desires, their human affairs, and give themselves over entirely to God’s will and his choice. They would cry out with all their heart: Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like – even to India.”
Action:
Pray to God and ask for a missionary heart like St Francis Xavier.
"Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like. Amen”
Take out your impact list and pray with each name on that list. Pray that their heart would be open this Christmas to receiving the hope that comes from friendship in Christ.
Reflection:
Romans 10:13-15 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”
Luke 2:10-11, 16-18 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
Action
Make 2 invitations to people on your list.
1. Invite them to celebrate Christmas with you in a big or small way - go to confession, attend an online prayer, visit a nativity scene at your Church. Or invite them to have a simple conversation, to connect.
One option would be to invite your people to attend a watch party of The Chosen. We’ll be hosting them through the days of Dec 26-28. Point them to facebook.com/beholdvancouver to view.
2. Invite them to consider a small group faith discussion in the new year. Discovery or Alpha could be a good option.
Let us know if you've made an invitation!
Reflection:
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
From the Office of Readings on the Feast of the Epiphany, from St Leo the Great: “This is the day that David prophesied in the psalms, when he said: All the nations that you have brought into being will come and fall down in adoration in your presence, Lord, and glorify your name. Again, the Lord has made known his salvation; in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
This came to be fulfilled, as we know, from the time when the star beckoned the three wise men out of their distant country and led them to recognise and adore the King of heaven and earth. The obedience of the star calls us to imitate its humble service: to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all men to find Christ.
Dear friends, you must have the same zeal to be of help to one another; then, in the kingdom of God, to which faith and good works are the way, you will shine as children of the light: through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
Action:
Set a date to launch your small group.
If you’ve launched a small group - we’d love to support you! Check out our training and support events for the new year.