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Today begins the season of expectant, joyful waiting, the season we call Advent. As we do each year, we light the first of four candles this morning—one for each Sunday of Advent that will take us home on Christmas Day. We think of Advent as a time of anticipation—waiting for the Christ Child and preparing for his birth. But Advent is a time of discovery as well. Here’s what I mean…God is already present in our lives and in our relationships all of the time. Advent is an invitation to discover how and where to find the Lord. Important clues are embedded in the rituals we follow. We reach out to family… we give our children extra special attention… we decorate our homes to a fare-thee-well... and we outdo ourselves in creating memories that we hope will become part of our family histories. Why do we do all this? Because we’re never quite satisfied with earthly things. Enough is not enough. We long for more… for the eternal and the forever after. We don’t want the joy of this moment to end. As people of faith, we have the hope and expectation that God is working in us no matter the circumstance. God always has the last word, and as we have said all year long, that word is life—eternal life, which is the promise of the Christ Child.This has been a difficult year for all of us. But as you begin Advent, be hopeful: celebrate plenty not scarcity, celebrate the light not darkness. And celebrate the abundance of God’s love, which comes to us in the form of a child, born in a manger. Hope is how we discover God among us; it’s the gesture of welcome and the answer to our longing. Hope is God coming to our rescue when we most need the healing. Friend, during the four weeks of Advent, take a little extra time to reflect on the past year and tell God your hopes for the year ahead. However you pray, know that God is present all of the time, working through you to...

Simone Campbell, SSS, is the executive director of NETWORK, a nonprofit Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, DC. In 2012, Sister Simone organized NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus campaign that has attracted an avalanche of media attention in the United States and other parts of the world. Sister Simone, a long-standing member of the Sisters of Social Service became an attorney in 1978 and founded a community law center that served the legal needs of the working poor.

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”Matthew 25:40Yes, it has been a year of pain and sorrow. More than we imagined. But as people of faith we are schooled in gratitude. We give thanks for the gift of life and the gift of salvation. And we give thanks for each other. We mark Thanksgiving Day this week with gratitude for past gifts and for the blessings we know will follow. In acts of courage, we saw the beginning of new life over these past many months. In acts of generosity and selflessness, we saw examples of what it means to care for others who have so little—sometimes by people who have little themselves. Since March, I have received numerous messages from donors and prayer partners, reassuring me that they are OK but more concerned for our Fathers and Brothers in mission and expressing gratitude for their service. “How are they faring?” “Has the pandemic impacted their work?” I am so grateful for these messages. One in particular really touched me: A woman said that she was able to give thanks for someone she lost this year and now misses—more thanks for a life well lived than the actual missing itself. When we begin and end the day with gratitude, our blessings—however long or brief—become the focus of our lives.Matthew’s gospel reminds us that a blessing shared with someone in need is the same as honoring Jesus himself. I hope you will be able to share your blessings in some way with others this Thanksgiving. Volunteering your time may be complicated this year. But donations to a food pantry are always welcome. And so are the easiest thing to give away: a kind word or two.Friend, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving in the presence of the Lord, surrounded by family and friends. Share your blessings—and be blessed as well.

“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day.”1 Thessalonians 5:5Paul reassures us, over and again. We are children of the light, children of the day, walking with confidence and humility in the footsteps of Our Lord.The light Paul is talking about is the knowledge that we live each day in anticipation of eternal life with God our Father. Each time we embrace the Gospel message of self-giving and compassion, the light becomes brighter—and the desire to share the joy of our faith becomes stronger. That is the spirit of mission: always doing more to witness God’s love, always making the candle of salvation burn brighter for someone else to follow.As children of the light, we know we can still stumble at times. Our best intentions don’t always have the intended outcomes. When I need comfort, I often turn to the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary because they reveal who Jesus is and our path to salvation. Jesus understands that his public ministry is a mission of light, and that’s our calling, too. • The Baptism of Jesus calls us to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit.• The Wedding at Cana confirms that Mary is our intercessor before her Son.• Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God is a reminder that our journey on earth is intended to create a world illuminated by compassion and justice.• The Transfiguration announces Christ’s victory over death, light over darkness in an ultimate way that foretells our own salvation.• The Eucharist shows us the permanence of Christ’s love and prepares us, body and soul, to share his goodness with the world.Friend, don’t worry so much about the darkness. Just light one candle every day… and pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary with me. God has called you to light up the world. Be comforted knowing that you have the ability to share that light in ways that only you can.

“Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”(Matthew 24:42)“When you least expect it…” Isn’t that what we’re often told? Just relax. When you least expect it, some great fortune will come your way. I look at this everyday wisdom a little differently: Blessings are gifts from God. But they don’t come when God is ready. They come when we’re ready to being transformed in God’s grace. You see, the divine is always present. It’s just that sometimes we have a problem seeing God, especially when that unexpected thing is unsettling—and not what we want at all.Many years ago at 23 years of age I was just starting out my missionary life in Peru. I was thrilled to be among the people. But I was also learning what it meant to accept a grace when disguised by tragedy. One day I was alone at the rectory when the doorbell rang. A young couple had arrived, carrying their infant baby. They pleaded with me to baptize the infant but I couldn’t. The baby had already died. I felt completely helpless and could only comfort them in their grief. I didn’t have the answers they wanted, but I overcame my fear and inadequacy by remaining as present to them as I could. As a result of that encounter, the couple and I formed a long-lasting friendship. I accompanied them for years in prayer and counseling. They considered me to be a member of their family. The grace we gave each other helped us grow into more compassionate people: me as a missioner and them as a couple. Through our friendship and trust in God we deepened each other’s faith.Friend, don’t be taken aback by Matthew’s scripture today. Be comforted instead knowing that when we realize God is always present—already here among us—we can grow in grace, and enrich each other’s lives no matter the circumstance. So are you ready? Today is a good day to say, “Yes, here I am, Lord—and I know you are here, too.”

This book, written prior to the pandemic, reflects on the role of “earthquakes”—literal and metaphorical: times like the present when history trembles beneath our feet. Such times may overturn empires, structures of power, and the stability of our personal lives. Yet, as Rabbi Waskow writes in a special preface, “this specific ‘earthquake’ among all the earthquakes in our lives . . . is ever-present, even if invisible and inaudible.”

If you think of yourself as one of “God’s children” as John tells it, then you can give yourself an important title, too, worthy of your devotion to the Gospel. That title is saint. Today on the feast of All Saints, we celebrate the union of lives well lived in the presence of Our Lord. We honor the giants from history who inspire us—I think of Elizabeth Ann Seton and Archbishop Oscar Romero as just two great saints of recent times. But I also remember the unsung saints who live among us in our families, our parishes, and beyond. Their lives are examples, too, of holiness and dedication to witnessing God’s saving grace. If you need a role model, there are many.What’s important to remember is that sainthood on earth is how we prepare ourselves for sainthood for all time. As with most things, the transformation we long for is in God’s hands. We can’t know exactly how we will be welcomed home by the saints of heaven. But we know that for God the last word is always life, not death. To quote a saint of some renown: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,and what has not entered the human heart,what God has prepared for those who love him,this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.”- 1 Corinthians 2:9 As you celebrate sainthood today—including yours—remember that life is renewed in the here and now. Each act of charity, every gesture of healing and compassion brings us closer to one another and the eternal life we so desire.Friend, I will pray for you today in thanksgiving for your sainthood. And I will remember your beloved deceased tomorrow on the feast of All Souls. I don’t have every detail, but I know that one day you will be reunited with them for all time and your faith will be richly rewarded.

Jesus has a way of making it simple for us. In today’s Gospel, he provides the only two instructions we will ever need to enter the kingdom of heaven: love God completely; and love one another as much as you love yourself. Easy enough to say. But not always easy to do, especially when we’re confronted with anything but love. Is Jesus asking too much of us? I don’t think so. As faithful Catholics, we know our role is to witness God’s love and saving grace. That is our calling as missioners who have received the promise of salvation in Christ. To reach our reward, Jesus is asking us to literally practice our faith. The more we pray… the more we read scripture… the more we celebrate the sacraments—the closer we come to knowing and loving God. Then, when we have the strength of God’s love in our hearts, witnessing that love becomes second nature even when we are being challenged.Today, Jesus is asking us to be our best in the world of faith—to love God with all our heart—and to do our best in the world of human relationships—by treating others the way we wish to be treated. Fulfilling the second part of Jesus’ instruction—often called the Golden Rule—defines us as disciples who practice what we preach. It means bringing the world of faith into the temporal world: being good neighbors, good colleagues, and good citizens, too. Apropos of Election Day coming up, be conscious of the role you will play in “rendering onto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” Vote your personal good, but remember the common good that benefits us all. Friend, every saint, past and present, has shown us how to live the two Great Commandments: by worshipping God above all; and by being generous and compassionate disciples of the Lord in word and deed. So I invite you to witness God’s love and be at peace knowing that salvation is yours. That’s as simple as it gets.

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.”(Psalm 96:1-3)You can take center stage today. This is your moment to “sing a new song” by sharing God’s love with the world.World Mission Sunday is an affirmation that we are chosen not necessarily to do great things—although I’m sure you have—but to join God in doing what is already at work. Pope Francis calls this action of the spirit “the universal sacrament of God’s love for the world.” When we witness our faith, he says, God continues to manifest infinite love in ways that “transform hearts, minds, bodies, societies, and cultures in every place and time.” This is what we celebrate today on World Mission Sunday.Our celebration is tempered this year for all the reasons we know—but it’s also an invitation to renewal. Like the apostles caught in a storm and fearful for their lives, we realized that we can only deal with adversity when we care for one another. When we all pull together. In his address today, Our Holy Father Pope Francis acknowledges the immense suffering of people all over the world from the global pandemic. But in recognizing our human frailty, Francis says we are reminded of “our deep desire for life and liberation from evil.” In this context, the Pope says our call to mission is “an invitation to step out of ourselves for love of God and neighbor.” It’s an opportunity for sharing, service, and prayer. The mission that God is calling us to always leads away from fear to a new understanding of mercy and compassion. By giving ourselves over to others, we experience God’s merciful love. Yes, in mission we are “called, sent, and transformed.”Friend, when the prophet Isaiah heard the voice of God, he said, “Here I am Lord. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8). He had complete faith that God would show the way. On World Mission Sunday, I invite you to trust in God, too, for you have all the tools and resources you need to...

Whether in a local community, an educational institution, or a global organization, the key to addressing the current crisis in American public life is genuine moral leadership. Moral leadership is anchored in intellectual and ethical integrity, a vision of and commitment to the public good, and personal investment in transformative community.

Though Pope Francis remains one of the most popular figures in the world, his pontificate has stirred up powerful opposition. Some reject his openness to divorced and remarried Catholics and the priority he places on mercy above rigid doctrine. Others reject his outspoken defense of migrants, his critiques of capitalism, and calls to protect the environment.

I can’t argue with today’s wisdom from the Book of Psalms. But there is another prayer that never fails to comfort me when times take an unexpected turn—and this year has been no exception. I listen to the words of our patroness of missions, St. Teresa of Ávila, and I find God’s peace. Here’s what she says:Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things; 
Whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.I celebrate St. Teresa’s feast day on October 15 in thanksgiving for her gifts to the Church—and her example of the missionary spirit. She never left her cloister, but Teresa founded convents throughout Spain, welcoming many women into religious life. She never preached from a pulpit but Teresa was a mystic and great writer whose theological works inspire the faithful to this day. If you have never read two of her greatest masterworks, The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle, begin your journey of the soul here. You will be deeply rewarded. In recognition of her contribution to the Church’s teachings, St. Pope John Paul II named Teresa a Doctor of the Church, a rare distinction especially for a 16th century woman. If peace is what you seek, spend some time this week with St. Teresa of Ávila. She says the deepest meditation possible is the conversation we have with God. Pray with your own words and hear God’s voice, not outside yourself but within your soul, the place she calls our “interior castle.” Friend, understand that God dwells within us. Then know that all things are passing away but God never changes. That is the wisdom of our beloved St. Teresa of Ávila. May she help you find God’s promise of peace today and always.