My friend and fellow blogger (and podcaster), Tony Rossi, recently interviewed me on his show, Christopher Closeup. We talked about What Would Jesus Podcast?, youth ministry, women in the Church, my encounter with a satanist and a few other fun things. It was a lot of fun!

Check it out!

Promise to post more later!

In today’s first reading from the Book of Romans, we have a beautiful message to help jump start our Advent journey. In this reading St. Paul gives us a destination and something to strive for during this season. Like with any journey, you travel with a purpose because you’re out seeking something.

So what are we seeking?

A personal encounter with the person of Jesus Christ so that we can share His love and story of salvation with others.

This is our end destination. Not only in the season of Advent, but in our everyday lives. Everyday you must believe and profess that Jesus is Lord. St. Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Now, I don’t know about you, but as a Catholic, I have always been put off by my well-meaning protestant friends that have asked me, “Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?” Being Catholic, the term “personal” never jived with me. Christ is a communion of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; I live in communion with Catholics around the world. The fact is that the life of Christ is communal in His very essence and our lives’ mirror that relationship with our families. This isn’t about me.

But it is!

A relationship with Christ is extremely personal! Just like with any friend, family member or romantic relationship, intimacy is created when we have a unique encounter with another. It’s about me and another. When we hear and recognize the truth in another, we come to know them. We begin to put our faith and trust in them and into that relationship.  A relationship with Christ is no different. It begins with me and Christ, and then that life and love flows into communion with other believers.

What happens once we’ve experienced this personal encounter? Christ calls us to share the Good News with the world. We evangelize! Again, St. Paul tells the Romans, “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?” (Romans 10: 14-15)

As you wait this Advent season for the coming of Christ, so others wait for you to tell them about the good news of the Gospel. Someone is waiting for you to share your personal encounter with Christ so that they might believe in Him.

“Faith comes from what is heard”, but no one can hear it or come to believe in Christ if you keep it to yourself.

Worried that you aren’t holy enough or up for the challenge? No worries! St. Paul affirms us several times in his letters that it is Christ who moves within us. In this letter he tells the Romans, “and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10: 17)

That is your goal this Advent: to encounter the person of Christ, then share that experience with others.

Until tomorrow, peace.

As today marks the first Sunday of Advent (my favorite liturgical time of the year), I (and Fr. John in his homily) thought patience would be the best topic for the beginning of my Advent blog.

I’m sure you’ve all had someone tell you, “Patience is a virtue, you know.” And more than likely after that statement your efforts to maintain patience went out the door. Well, the next time someone utters that phrase to you, I want you to look them square in the eye and say, “Actually, it isn’t.”

Here’s the deal.

Virtue comes in two forms: Cardinal and Theological.

Cardinal virtues (primary moral virtues) are prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude. The Theological virtues (given by God) are faith, hope and charity (bet you thought I was going to say love). Do you see patience in that list? Nope. However, I believe that each of these virtues requires patience and I would maintain that we are taught patience through the gift of these virtues.

In Mass today, Fr. John said that Advent is a season of waiting.
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I don’t know about you, but I feel like I spend most of my time waiting (or making other people wait). I wait for the clock to hit 5:00, I wait for the Internet to load, I wait for God to open the heavens and tell me what He wants me to do next. Life is one giant waiting game. However, Christ sets the season of Advent apart and reminds us that we are waiting on Him to come again. Advent is a time that calls us to actively prepare for Him.

During this season of Advent, I am going to make a post each day alternating between the readings for the day and a virtue to pray for. As part of my Advent preparation, I am reading Choosing Beauty: A 30-day Spiritual Makeover for Women. I have gone through the 30-day makeover once (more like 6o-days because I’m a slacker), but this time to hold myself accountable, I will share that journey and the gentle leanings of the Holy Spirit on here, and we can all discuss.

May the joy of the Advent season rest in your heart!