Author: Greg Hildenbrand

Season of Advent Hope, Day 6 Reading: “The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” [1] Meditation: It is written, and I agree, that nothing … Continue reading Season of Advent: Hope, Day 6

Season of Advent Hope, Day 5 Reading: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” [1] Reflection: The theme of Hope is a subtle, but profound illustration of the Advent season of waiting. Indeed, as we … Continue reading Season of Advent: Hope, Day 5

Season of Advent Hope, Day 4 Reading: “…now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” [1] Reflection: Two traditional attributes of Advent are waiting and hoping. We wait expectantly for something we … Continue reading Season of Advent: Hope, Day 4

Season of Advent Hope, Day 3 Reading: …it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep…the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. [1] Reflection: The birth of the Christ-child within is a much deeper mystery … Continue reading Season of Advent: Hope, Day 3

Season of Advent Hope, Day 2 Reading: “A liminal space is the time between the “what was” and the “next.” It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us.”[1] Reflection: A limen is … Continue reading Season of Advent, Day 2

Season of Advent Hope, Day 1 Reading: “…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us...”[1] Reflection: Hope, the first theme of Advent, is not the same as wishing. We may wish for good weather on Saturday, something we have no control over, when what we hope … Continue reading Season of Advent: Hope, Day 1

Season of Advent: Peace, Day 7 Reading: “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”[1] Reflection: For lasting peace to prevail between two people or nations, there must first exist a foundation of mutual respect and trust, some degree of understanding of the other, and an acknowledgement that all points … Continue reading Season of Advent: Peace, Day 7

Season of Advent: Peace, Day 6 Reading: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[1] Reflection: How has Christmas, the celebration, strayed so far from its origins? Did not the angels sing of “Peace on Earth” in Bethlehem 2000 years ago? Was that peace intended to apply … Continue reading Season of Advent: Peace, Day 6

Season of Advent: Peace, Day 5 Reading: “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”[1] Reflection: In its common usage, peace is not a singular concept but has many applications, several of which are relevant in preparing for the birth of the Christ-child. One common understanding of … Continue reading Season of Advent: Peace, Day 5