Sweetest Jesus, thank you for the joy of Christmas. Thank you for this time of Advent, in preparation and anticipation of your coming. Lord, teach me today to always see the good in your world. Teach me to see how you shine your light through the darkness. May I always have joy even in the most difficult times. Amen.

It's easy to get distracted during Advent. Christmas is all around you, yet the Church, in her wisdom, is constantly saying "not yet!" The season of Advent carries with it a challenge and a small tension... how do I prepare my spirit when my body starts to get too far ahead?

We accomplish this by remembering that God is with us now - in the present. Advent celebrates the threefold coming of Christ: in the manger, at the end of time (judgment), and into our lives daily. We must remember God's presence with us, constantly, and rejoice in the fact that He is always here for us. The word "remember" means to re-member, to become "one member with, again;" it is bringing together of two (or more) people.

Our Savior is with us, as Zephaniah reminds us; God is amont us as we hear in the psalm. We have no reason to stress or be anxious because God hears us and is constantly available to us through prayer, as St. Paul tells the church in Philippi. Even St. John the Baptist is pointing to God's presence among us and how He becomes one with us. At every Mass we are reminded of this fact and encouraged to become one member with Christ, again, to remember His presence and promise...and to "do this in remembrance" of Him.

We often hear of Mount Zion in the Scriptures. Geographically, Zion was the eastern ridge of a mountain in Jerusalem but, over time, came to be known and used to describe the entire "mountain" (or more accurately, the elevation of land) that the City of Jerusalem was built upon. However, as Zion became the allegory used to describe and understand heaven on earth, people viewed it as far holier than just a site on a map.

Rejoice, meaning "to experience joy" is not only the call and challenge of this 3rd Sunday in Advent (Gaudete is a Latin command to rejoice), but the command and invitation of God. When the Angel Gabriel comes to Mary at the Annunication, the angel's utterance, "Hail" means to rejoice. Why rejoice during this season of Advent? Because Christ is coming!

A winnowing fork was sort of a "fork-like" shovel used by farmers. As common practice, they would throw the grain into the air using the winnowing fork, thereby allowing the useless chaff (the inedible shall around the wheat) to blow away and the usable kernels of grain to fall to the ground for collection and eventual use.

1. Do you call upon the Lord when you are anxious and ask for His peace? What holds you back from making your "requests known to God?" (Phil. 4:6)
2. Ask yourself, "Do I really believe that God will fulfill my every need?" Do you act in this way too?
3. Is it possible to experience hoy and peace even in the midst of darkness? How?
4. What are you thankful for this Advent season? Why is it so hard sometimes to give God glory nad rejoice in all that He has given you?
5. How can you be more grateful to God in your own day-to-day activities?

This week, sit down with someone you love and tell them what it is about them that you are grateful for. You can do this in a letter or over the phone as well. Also, tell that person what you need prayers for. Ask for their prayer request as well, so that you can pray for them, too.

And, be assured that you can indeed make your "requests known to God" through honest prayer and petition this week. Be honest and patient with God. Godd does hear every single one of your prayers.

This week's reflection comes from Ascend, a companion to the Sunday Mass Readings published by Life Teen International, 2015.