The Book of Ruth is named for the Moabite woman who commits herself to the Israelite people by an oath to her mother-in-law Naomi and becomes the great-grandmother of David. Thus she is an ancestor of both King David and Jesus.

The beauty of the story’s construction, its use of dialogue, and the sheer drama of its content mark it as one of the classic short stories of world literature. Based on the recollection of an historical figure, the story is developed, gripping its audience with profound insight into divine and human relationships.

The book portrays the love and loyalty of human beings in working their way through tragic circumstances to participation in the community of the faithful people of God. The key to the story of Ruth is that of responsible and loving decision-making: Ruth’s loyalty, her generosity and her willingness to take risks for the sake of righteousness set in motion a chain of beneficial events, which God blesses each step of the way. Ruth is so frequently designated “the Moabite” in the book that the audience of the story is constantly reminded of the universality of the embrace of salvation.

The story of Ruth is an important reminder of God’s universal concern and care for mankind as well as the beauty of caring for our fellow man. Its purpose was to show us the difference between what happens when a nation does not follow in obedience to the covenant of God and when God’s people follow in faithfulness within the covenant. And, perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates the kind of love and faithfulness that God desires for each one of us.

As we move closer and closer to the end of Advent and the top of our tree, this overwhelming love God has for us, and that He desires we have for one another, comes into view with the impending birth of our infant Savior, Jesus Christ.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Gideon should mean more to Catholics than the bibles we find in hotel room drawers.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Today’s Jesse Tree figures and symbol are Moses & Aaron, and the Ten Commandments. So you might think you know where this reflection is heading. Catholicism is all about rules and stuff, right? And we need to just accept them and obey, right?

Well, I’m going to go a different direction. Here’s a question:

What has God done in your life? Seriously. Stop and think about it.

We often find ourselves asking God to do things for us, but we don’t always stop to remember all the things he has already done. Sure the big things we usually notice, like when we get a new job, or welcome a new baby, or barely miss a disaster of some sort. That’s when we’re really thankful for what God has done for us.

When Moses and Aaron go up on Mount Sinai, before God gives them the Ten Commandments, he reminds them about what he has already done to help them: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).

Then, He proceeds to instruct the Israelites, and us, on how to live in relationship with Himself and one another. We call these instructions, of course, the Ten Commandments.

So, this Advent, be more mindful of God’s presence and gifts in your life. Really make an effort to understand that these “rules” and “instructions” aren’t simply God telling us what to do; they are gifts from God, just like the Christ-child; gifts which remind us what He has already done for us, and how he will continue to be there for us. All we have to do is be willing to love him enough to do what he asks. That can be difficult, but in the end it’s all worth it.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

It’s already the second week of advent. Now is the time when Christmas preparations kick into high gear… and no, I’m not just talking about getting your shopping done.

Today’s biblical figure and symbol, the Israelites and a sheep, offer what I think are one of the more profound points for reflection of any figure & symbol on the Jesse Tree.

The Israelites and sheep, of course, immediately call to mind the Passover story. In Exodus we read that God instructed Moses to tell the “whole community of Israel” to procure a lamb, slaughter it, and apply some of its blood to the door frames of their houses.

“But for you the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thereby, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you” says the Lord in Exodus 12:13.

We often recall this event around Good Friday & Easter, so why remember it now? Though Advent is a time of quiet, even somber, preparation, sometimes called a “poor man’s Lent,” we are accustomed to this season being one of joy and excitement in a way different than Easter.

I’m not a theologian or an expert in Church history, so when I have a serious question about our faith, I turn to a trusted source such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Paragraph 1612 of the Catechism says: “The nuptial covenant between God and his people Israel had prepared the way for the new and everlasting covenant in which the son of God, by becoming incarnate and giving his life, has united to himself in a certain way all mankind saved by him, thus preparing for the “wedding feast of the Lamb.”

So, in summary, by recalling the Israelites and their covenant, we can better appreciate the new covenant – Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God. This is a deep and powerful point to contemplate as we relate it to Advent.

God’s chosen people had hundreds of years of preparation before they were ready for the New and Everlasting Covenant. We have merely four weeks of Advent to prepare our hearts for Christ: not nearly enough time to truly plumb the depths of the mystery of the incarnation.

But the beautiful thing is that we don’t have to. We don’t have to understand completely. However, what we should keep in mind during these remaining days of Advent is that Christ’s birth, as wondrous and joyful as it is, only has meaning because of Good Friday and Easter. The beautiful gift of our savior at Christmas is completed by His passion, death, & resurrection.

So, Happy Advent, Merry Christmas, and also, Happy Easter a few months in advance.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Today’s Advent reflection is on Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors.

Just as Advent is our time to prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and His second coming at the end of time, Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors, in an unexpected way, prepared Joseph for a celebration and reunion with his family.

We remember the story…

Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, is given a Coat of Many Colors as a gift from his father. Joseph’s brothers, jealous of him, sell Joseph off to slavery. Joseph, with God’s guidance, thrives in captivity and eventually becomes Pharaoh’s chief advisor. Famine plagues the region and Joseph and his brothers and father are eventually reunited in love and forgiveness.

As we prepare during this Advent season, we can use this scripture passage as a guide to living a “God-centered” life instead of a “self-centered life”:

- Everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God.

- Each of us has been given gifts and we are called to use them in different ways.

- Jealousy is the opposite of gratitude.

- Jealousy focuses on what I want.

- Gratitude focuses on God’s will and what others need.

In all circumstances, thank God and trust that He has a far better plan for you than you could ever imagine for yourself. You can’t give what you don’t have. Open your hearts to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness and you will be able to show mercy and forgiveness to others.

Ultimately, how we use God’s gifts is our gift back to Him.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

"As Moses looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, 'I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.'" (Exodus 3:1-3)

Today we continue our Advent preparation recalling the biblical figure of Moses and the symbol of the burning bush. This scriptural passage celebrates Moses' encounter with the living God, a God who is consumed with a burning love for God's Holy People - the Hebrews in bitter bondage and the promise that God saves, God will deliver the Hebrews from their enslavement.

In recalling this saving event, we recall in this Advent Season our preparation opening us up to the encounter with the living God. The God who comes daily into our lives, who is consumed with the love for you and me, a God who cares for our cares, a God who is with us in our sorrows, hardships and sufferings, giving us hope to deliver us from all that enslaves us from fully living Jesus in our lives, and having great confidence that this living God does come to save us in the blessing of Jesus our Savior.

May God bless us in this Advent Season and may we encounter the living God who loves us, cares for us and saves us!

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Today we think about Jacob's dream in the Old Testament, or more specifically the vision he had of the ladder or ring. Jacob saw, reaching from earth to Heaven, the angels reporting back to God all that was happening on earth, before Jacob himself saw God. God said, "In you and your descendants all the families of the earth will find blessing. I am with you and will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."

We see these same sentiments when Moses sees the burning bush, and later in the New Testament. God is always in our lives and He is there for us. As we continue on our Advent journey, perhaps this vision of a ladder can be presented as our chores everyday. We have all these things we feel we have to climb and do. But remember Jacob is not the one doing the climbing. He is the one receiving. God came to Jacob to promise his fidelity. God is ever living and desires to enrich our lives with His presence. We just have to receive Him.

We prepare our hearts to receive Jesus Christ ever-more fully at Christmas. But, we must be prepared to receive him everyday. We just have to allow him to bring us onto that ladder so we can be with Him and experience Him.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Isaac was nearly sacrificed by his father, Abraham, who was obeying the will of God. But, the timely intervention of an angel, and the appearance of a ram saved Isaac. Later in salvation history, another ram-like figure appears as a sacrifice. This is Mary, the Mother of God, who sacrificed herself through her "fiat" - her "yes" to God's will.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8th, but some cultures prepare for the feast by lighting votive candles on December 7th, the eve of the Feast. This custom dates back to when Pope Pius IX asked Catholics around the world to light votive candles on December 7th, 1854, the day before he was to declare the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This tradition is known as "Dia de las Velitas" or "Day of the Little Candles."

The Colombian community of St. Louis will gather on Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 to celebrate Dia de las Velitas with Mass and lighting of the votive candles. Mass begins at 5pm at the Cardinal Rigali Center (20 Archbishop May Dr., St. Louis, MO 63119. For more information, visit: archstl.org/node/4403427

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff

Have you ever felt like Abraham, wondering whether God will come through for you? We hear people say “The Lord will provide,” but when you’re really waiting for something, it can gnaw at you.

That’s what the season of Advent is all about: waiting and waiting well. Sometimes our impatience shows – in traffic, at the computer, at the ones we love. We try to take matters into our own hands, as did Abraham and Sarah, instead of remembering Our Lord who will come through on His promises.

What we await at Christmas is far greater than any of our longings. In fact, Jesus is the one we seek, whether we know it or not. And so as we enter into this season of waiting, let’s look to the Lord – and up in the sky – to remember that He is always faithful.

Musical credit:

"O Holy Night" · Christine Westhoff · Timothy Allen

Hark

℗ 2014 Christine Westhoff