Episode 2794: Advent: A Season of Sweetness, Patience, and Hope - Morning Episode

Episode 1713: St Dominic of Silos
Sts. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
O God of our fathers, who chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the patriarchs of Your chosen people, we honor their faith and obedience, through which Your promises were fulfilled. Grant us the grace to follow their example in trusting Your divine providence, walking humbly before You, and remaining steadfast in the hope of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ember Friday.
The traditional rules for fasting and abstinence on Ember Days are as follows:
1. Fasting
o One full meal is permitted, with two smaller meals (collations) that together do not equal a full meal.
o Eating between meals is not allowed, but water, coffee, tea, or other non-nutritive drinks are permitted.
2. Complete Abstinence (Friday)
o No meat is permitted on this day.
Spiritual Purpose
Ember Days are intended as a time to:
• Offer gratitude for the seasonal blessings of nature.
• Pray for priests, as ordinations traditionally took place during Ember Weeks.
• Practice penance for personal sanctification and the needs of the Church.

1. O Antiphons
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David): O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no one closes, who closes and no one opens: come and lead the captive from the prison, seated in darkness and in the shadow of death.
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Liturgical Calendar & Seasons Gaudete Sunday The third Sunday of Advent, symbolizing joy.

Lets check the calander and see where we are at during this advent season. The big question is have you been able to truly focus or like so many years did your duty of state pull you away to the point that all your spiritual resolutions kind of fell to the way side?
Advent – A Season of Sweetness, Patience, and Hope
Welcome to today’s episode, where we delve into the beautiful and spiritually rich season of Advent. Advent is not merely a countdown to Christmas but a sacred time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. As Fr. John Burns reminds us, “Advent is like the final hour before the breaking of the dawn.” It is a season of anticipation and joyful expectation a time to lift our gaze to the light of Christ that dispels all darkness.
Let us anchor this reflection with the words of St. Philip Neri: “If you wish to go to extremes, let it be in sweetness, patience, humility, and charity.” These virtues guide us in making Advent a time of spiritual renewal, aligning our lives with God’s higher ways and preparing our hearts to welcome His Word incarnate.
Segment 1: Sweetness, Patience, Humility, and Charity in Advent
Advent invites us to extremes not in the sense of chaos or busyness, but in embracing the virtues of sweetness, patience, humility, and charity. These are the dispositions of a heart truly preparing for Christ.
In a world that often rushes through Advent, skipping straight to the festivities of Christmas, St. Philip Neri's call to "extremes" reminds us to slow down and cultivate these virtues. Sweetness allows us to face difficulties with grace. Patience helps us trust God’s timing. Humility leads us to acknowledge our dependence on Him, and charity draws us to love others as Christ loves us.
Segment 2: Advent as a Time of Expectation and Fulfillment
Fr. John Burns offers a profound reflection on Advent: "Advent is like the final hour before the breaking of the dawn. Our prayer...is simple: "Grant, we pray, that we may look forward in joy to the glorious Nativity of Christ." Constantly, the season reminds us to think about where we are directing our attention and invites us to lift our gaze toward those first streaks of light on the horizon. The coming birth of Christ is both the answer to our longing and the fulfillment of the promises of God woven throughout scripture." —Fr. John Burns
This beautifully captures the dual nature of Advent as both a time of waiting and fulfillment.
The promises of salvation, redemption, and eternal life are fulfilled in the Nativity. As Isaiah writes:
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it." — Isaiah 55:9-11
God’s Word, spoken in the promise of a Savior, was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It is this same Word that continues to bear fruit in our lives when we open our hearts to His grace.
Segment 3: Advent – Preparing for the Dawn
Advent is a reminder that we are always in preparation. As Fr. Burns says, it calls us to “think about where we are directing our attention.” Are we caught up in the distractions of the season, or are we focused on the light of Christ breaking into our lives?
Much like the Wise Men following the star, we are invited to lift our gaze and allow God to lead us to His Son. Even when His ways seem beyond our understanding, as Isaiah reminds us “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” we trust that His purpose will be accomplished.
Practical Takeaways for Advent
Cultivate Sweetness and Patience: Be intentional about practicing kindness and bearing challenges with grace.
Prioritize Humility: Acknowledge your need for God’s guidance and open your heart to His Word.
Extend Charity: Seek opportunities to serve others, especially the poor and lonely, as an expression of Christ’s love.
Focus on Prayer: Carve out quiet moments each day to reflect on God’s promises and prepare your heart for His coming.
Conclusion
Advent reminds us that the dawn is near, that Christ is coming to fulfill our deepest longings and bring light to a dark world. Let us prepare our hearts with sweetness, patience, humility, and charity, trusting in God’s providence and lifting our gaze to His promises.
Let us close with a prayer.
Heavenly Father,
As we journey through this holy season of Advent, help us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Your Son. Fill us with the virtues of sweetness, patience, humility, and charity, that we may reflect Your love to all we encounter. May Your Word, like the rain and snow, water the soil of our souls and bear fruit in our lives.
Grant us the grace to lift our gaze from the distractions of the world and focus on the dawn of Your light. Strengthen us in our waiting and fill us with joy as we anticipate the glorious Nativity of Christ. We ask this through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who awaited the Savior with perfect faith and hope.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for this reflection on Advent. May this season be one of profound grace for you and your family. Until next time, let us journey together toward the light of Christ. God bless you.