The One for who's coming we continue to watch and wait for is the One who will bring about the full restoration and unity of creation.

While we look forward to celebrating the Incarnation at Christmas, we also spend these days looking toward the future, to the second Advent of Christ, when he will return in glory and the promises made to the prophets will be fulfilled.

The call to ministry is nothing more than to serve and to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of those entrusted to our care.

The landowner’s search for more and more laborers, regardless of the late hour, speaks to us of the way God continues to seek out and invite more and more “laborers” for his vineyard.

God scatters the seed whether we’re ready, paying attention, or willing to receive the seed at all. This is part of God’s gracious self-giving. God is always speaking to us and the seed is always being sown. 

Mary and Elizabeth had experienced God’s miraculous intervention in their lives in ways that left them permanently changed and, ultimately, transformed history.

The Readings today are calling us to a deeper knowledge and love of the One in whom and through whom we discover the fullest expressions of the Father’s mercy and love.