Waiting in Joyful Hope: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas 2002-2003

Waiting in Joyful Hope helps readers wait in anticipation for the three comings of Jesus—in the past, the present, and in the future--and helps us to celebrate the new light we experience in our lives throughout the Christmas season. The devout observance of Advent points us to the Lord’s first coming in history, enables us to reflect on his second coming in our lives today, and points us toward his third coming in glory. Throughout Advent we wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Lord. Likewise, the devout observance of Christmas fills us with new light. Throughout Christmas we discover that we are bearers of the new light of Jesus through the words and deeds of our lives. In Waiting in Joyful Hope, each day’s six-part exercise is for busy people who want to reflect on the days of Advent and Christmas using a five-minute process. The title for each exercise is the focus for the day’s reflection, meditation, and prayer. The Scripture readings of the Mass for each day are noted and a few verses from the day’s gospel are given. A reflection follows the gospel selection and expands on an idea or an image found in the verse from the gospel. A question for personal meditation guides the reader in making a personal application of the reflection. A prayer summarizes the theme developed in the previous parts of the exercise.