Advent is here! In these days leading to Christmas, we all have the chance to look at the places where we need Jesus to break in and bring light and hope. In this week’s episode: We start our 4-week exploration of Blessed is She’s Advent Devotional, Maranatha Recommendation from Fr Angelus: Advent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings, 1941-1944 by Fr Alfred Delp, S.J. Martin Jernberg (instagram: @martin.jernberg), Mike Kearney (instagram: @atmikekearney) Advent and Lent have similarities. Consider this: St Francis fasted before both Easter (during Lent) and Christmas (during Advent). Do you struggle to get “into” Advent? Fr Mark-Mary is publishing a book with Ascension Press, set for release in March 2021. Fr Mark-Mary talks about praying maranatha (“Come, Lord Jesus!) in a particular situation as an example of how we can invite the Lord into our lives. The “recipe” for Jesus to come: embracing our poverty. Jesus doesn’t always come with the remedies we hope for—He comes with himself. The world before the advent of Christ needed a Savior; it was broken, lost, dark. Christ brought healing, purpose and light to the world, and He wants to do the same for our world, now; for our lives. We don’t have to wait for the “big” things to happen before we involve God; He wants to enter into the ordinary, everyday things with us. The Church has set aside holy, consecrated times like Advent as a gift for us. Jesus not only wants to come, but also wants us to ask, even beg, for Him to come. Servant of God Marcel Văn, in prayer, hears Jesus say to him, “It brings joy to me to hear you call my name.” Jesus has a desire to hear us cry out to Him. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel… one of the greatest Advent songs, right? Reflecting on the experience of Megan Hjelmstad (instagram: @positively__imperfect) of longing for children after a hysterectomy, and how so many of us can relate to that suffering of longing. Megan feels the Holy Spirit invite her to pray for Our Lady’s intercession to conceive Christ in her life so that she might bring His light into the world. When we’re consumed by our suffering, we need to let God break in. We need to turn away from ourselves and to the Lord, and let Him work. Fr Innocent talks about struggling with depression in high school and feeling the pressure as a varsity athlete, even while appearing totally fine and happy on the outside.  This depression and experience of anxiety leads to a profound Eucharistic encounter. Healing is made possible through hope. Your Advent season can be real and concrete. What are areas in your life that are barren and burdened and in need of Christ?