Today the church celebrates the first Tuesday of Advent. This year the message that keeps coming to me as I pray with the readings that each day of Advent brings is “to grow in love and understanding.” I am using this prayer time in Advent to do just that.

The second reading from today’s Office of Readings in the Divine Office was from a sermon by St. Gregory of Nazianzen. I found this passage very fruitful for meditation and hope you do too:

Christ, the light of all lights, follows John the lamp that goes before him. The Word of God follows the voice in the wilderness; the bridegroom follows the groom’s friend, who prepares a worthy people for the Lord by cleansing them by water in preparation for the Spirit.

Originally Published Dec. 9, 2014