Awaiting…

Advent is about the human experience of waiting, which is a key part of the liturgical year. This time of year, is not just about celebrating specific feast days and rituals. Instead, its real power lies in how it touches our hearts and connects with our deepest feelings. By following the life of Jesus, we learn more about our own lives, emotions, and the struggles we face. This spiritual journey helps us understand ourselves better and find the strength to keep going. Advent, in particular, teaches us to wait and see beyond the obvious. It invites us to find God in the small, everyday moments of life. Each day, we discover something new that adds to the bigger picture of our faith journey. This teaches us patience and helps us grow spiritually. By focusing on the present and recognizing God's work in our lives, we become more mature in our faith and better prepared for what is yet to come. This liturgical period also encourages us to slow down and reflect in a world that often feels rushed and overwhelming. It provides a break from our hectic routines to provide us an opportunity to think about what truly matters. By reading the Scriptures, we are reminded of the deeper, spiritual aspects of life that we might overlook in our daily routines. This season helps us develop a taste for the spiritual, for the things that last beyond the fleeting moments of our everyday lives. It calls us to be more mindful, to appreciate the present, and to prepare our hearts for the coming of God’s reign. Pause and reflect: Do I really know God when I have no desire to die in order to possess him? If I were to die and come back to life again, would I still lead the sort of life I am living now? Am I truly sorry for my sins if I have no genuine intention of avoiding situations that might lead me to sin again?

In the vibrant mix of Kenyan cultures and the fast-paced rhythm of modern life, a new generation of Catholic teenagers is emerging—one determined to blend the Catholic faith with the realities of today. As society becomes more secular owing greatly to the influence of social media, it’s this age group that feels this shift the most. Amid pressures to conform to traditional norms, being a young person striving to live out the Catholic faith often feels like an uphill struggle. The faith is frequently met with scepticism and sometimes ridicule, dismissed as outdated in a world that prizes modernity. It’s all too easy to feel isolated when you choose mass over a wild party or teaching catechism over a night out. This challenge calls us not only to define what it means to live as Christians but to drink the very water we preach. Like mountain climbers depending on each other to reach the summit, we young Catholics rely on each other for support. Our faith is nurtured and flourishes in fellowship, whether in church youth groups, gatherings or at the local SDC Centre. We find a haven, a place to share our struggles, grow in faith, and support each other on this journey. Here, we find mentors and peers who offer guidance, helping us navigate the sometimes-turbulent path of living out our faith. In a world pulling us in countless directions the faith grounds us in what is eternal. Through this journey, we grow not only in our personal relationship with God but also in our commitment to our community, embodying our faith in a world that so often questions it. Thomas Njugun SDC Candidate, Ruiru (Kenya)

As we celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ as the King of the Universe, let us allow ourselves be reminded of what Pope Pius XI had recommended in the aftermath of World War I: Pax Christi in Regno Christi (The peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ). Pope Pius Xi emphasised that peace and justice are grounded in the acknowledgment of Christ's sovereignty and the application of Christian values in every aspect of life. If you want true peace in your heart, there is only one way to achieve it; live the beatitudes, the attitudes of those considered citizens of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. So ask our beloved Jesus Christ to help you become poor in spirit, meek, eager for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker. And even if you mourn, are persucted and insulted, you should rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in his kingdom!

The phrase: Jesus, remember me when you enter into your kingdom, is one of the powerful expressions of faith we find in the New Testament. Expressed by the repentant thief crucified alongside Jesus, it reflects a profound acknowledgment of Jesus's divinity and the promise of eternal life. Despite his past wrongdoings, the thief's plea is an act of humility and trust, recognizing that salvation is granted to us through the grace of God. His simple and sincere request embodies a deep hope for redemption and acceptance into the divine kingdom. This moment, recorded in the Gospel of Luke, illustrates the core Christian belief in the power of repentance and Jesus's boundless mercy. Jesus's response, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise", affirms the kindgom of God is open to all who turn to Him with genuine faith. St. George Preca urges us to offer our hearts to God and let Him be the king of our hearts. Let us pray: Lord God, give me your grace so that I may be able to give you my heart, for I can do nothing without your help! This echoes the humility and dependence on divine grace demonstrated by the repentant thief, reminding us of the transformative power of faith and the hope of eternal life that Jesus, our merciful King, offers. May Jesus be the King of our heart!

Praying Through Pain by Barbara Lee is a practical guide on finding comfort through prayer during difficult times. Lee shares her own experiences and those of others to illustrate how prayer can help when we are suffering. She encourages honesty in prayer, urging readers to express all their emotions, including anger and sadness. The book addresses various types of pain and provides specific prayers for different situations. Lee draws on Ignatian spirituality, which emphasises how to find God even in suffering. The book includes personal stories that demonstrate the power of prayer in real life. Lee takes an inclusive approach, showing how prayer and pain are integral to our lives and how they connect us. She encourages readers to view prayer not as an escape from pain but as a way to endure and transform it. The book also highlights the importance of community and reaching out to others in times of hurt. Praying Through Pain is not just about personal prayer; it is also a call to be more compassionate and empathetic toward others. This book is highly recommended for anyone seeking spiritual support during tough times, offering hope and practical advice on praying through pain.

Reflection by Joe Galea, SDC Member   Le Bénédicité (Saying Grace) is a highly regarded painting by Jean Siméon Chardin. It depicts a serene, modest household scene where a mother invites her two children to say grace before their meal. The setting, marked by its simplicity and cleanliness, exudes a spiritual atmosphere. The white tablecloth signifies the purity of the home. Chardin captures the profound spirituality in everyday life, emphasizing cleanliness, order, and silence as elements of sacredness. The painting, produced in 1740 and housed in the Louvre Museum in France, continues to convey its message today through the heartfelt prayers of the children under their mother's affectionate gaze.

“Like a great waterwheel, the liturgical year goes on relentlessly irrigating our souls, softening the ground of our hearts, nourishing the soil of our lives until the seed of the Word of God itself begins to grow in us, comes to fruit in us, ripens in us the spiritual journey of a lifetime.” This profound imagery captures the essence of Joan Chittister's: The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life. The book explores the rhythms and rituals of the Christian liturgical calendar, presenting it as a cyclical journey that deepens spiritual awareness and growth. Chittister, an esteemed American Benedictine nun, brings her extensive experience and wisdom to the pages. with credibility and depth in her reflections. Through her eloquent prose, Chittister examines each season and feast day, revealing how these liturgical practices are not mere routines but transformative experiences. She encourages readers to engage with the liturgical year intentionally, to find meaning and renewal in its yearly cycles. Her insights make The Liturgical Year a spiritual guide for anyone seeking a deeper connection with his faith. This work is an adventure in human growth and an exercise in spiritual ripening.