As we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Gospel brings us to a profound moment of encounter between Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s words to Mary echo through the ages: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:45). These words affirm Mary’s faith, her willingness to listen to God, and her trust in His promise. Yet, in our world today, listening to God can feel incredibly challenging.
Distractions abound in our modern lives. Over the past few days, the Advent Gospels have reminded us of how people of faith heard God’s voice: Joseph listened to God in a dream, Mary listened to the angel Gabriel, and Zechariah heard the angel’s message in the temple. Each of them responded with faith, even when it was not easy to understand or accept. How do we hear God’s voice today amidst the noise and busyness of life, especially during this last week before Christmas when the to-do lists grow in length? It is hard for sure!
When I was growing up in Ireland, life was very different. We had no computers, no cell phones, no Internet, and no social media. There was one telephone in the house and one black-and-white television. Life was simpler, with fewer distractions. It was easier to interact directly with other people—to share stories, spend time together, and notice God’s presence in our relationships and in nature. I remember walking in the mountains, hearing the birds sing, feeling the wind, and sensing God’s closeness in those quiet, undisturbed moments. It seemed easier to recognize where God was at work in the world around us.
Today, our lives are filled with notifications, advertisements, and endless digital chatter. These distractions make it harder to pause and reflect on where God might be speaking to us. But God still speaks—through the beauty of creation, the kindness of others, and the love shared within our families and communities. The challenge is making ourselves available to hear Him.
This week, our Advent series on prayer called Be Still and Joyful, offered us a chance to reflect more deeply on how we can connect with God. On Tuesday night, we focused on the fourth level of prayer: simply being with God in the quiet. This kind of prayer invites us to rest in the Lord. I shared an analogy about how important it is for me to take care of physical heart because of my heart condition. With AFib, it is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to protect my heart. While proper exercise and nutrition are critical, they are also sort of obvious. What was less obvious to me when I started this journey was how important rest and sleep is for the health of the heart. The heart needs rest just like every organ of the body, and it is critical for good health.
The same is true for the spiritual heart. While it is important do lots of actions of goodness and kindness to exercise the heart, it is also critical that we rest our spiritual hearts and in particular rest in the Lord. We don’t need words or special formulas—only the desire to be in God’s presence. This rest is powerfully rejuvenating, offering a deep sense of peace and connection with the Lord. You can find links to the three sessions on prayer click here.
This is why prayer is so essential. Prayer creates the quiet space we need to tune our hearts to God’s voice. It teaches us to recognize His presence in the ordinary moments of life. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us make an effort to listen more intentionally—to pause amidst the busyness and distractions, to spend time in prayer, and to look for God at work in the people and situations around us.
Advent reminds us to be attentive, to wait, and to trust that God is speaking. Like Mary, may we have the faith to believe that what the Lord has spoken to us will be fulfilled. And as Elizabeth proclaimed, may we be truly blessed in that faith.
This past week, the school hosted its Christmas concert titled Back to His Future. The concert was written, produced, and directed by Addie Watters, our talented 8th-grade teacher. All the students and staff at the school did a fantastic job of celebrating the Christmas spirit. What a wonderful prelude to the Christmas week! Please congratulate the students on their great work
We warmly invite all families to join us for Christmas Mass. All are welcome at St. Simon, whether you are a regular parishioner or visiting, young or old. Let’s come together to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth! Our Mass times are Christmas Eve: 3:00pm, 5:00pm and Midnight Mass with Carols at 11:30pm. Christmas Day: 7:30am, 9:00am and 11:15am.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan