Week of DecemBER 14, 2025

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
As we enter the Third Sunday of Advent, the Church invites us to deepen our preparation for the celebration of the mystery of the Incarnation—the astonishing truth that God has taken flesh and dwelt among us.

In the Western Christian tradition, Advent is often understood as a season of interior preparation: a time of repentance, attentiveness, and joyful expectation as we ready our hearts to receive Christ anew. In many Oriental Christian traditions, such as the Maronite Church, this same season unfolds as a series of announcements—a proclamation of how God's plan is unfolding in the lives of Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and John the Forerunner. Together, these perspectives remind us that Advent is both preparation and revelation: we prepare our hearts even as we stand in awe of God’s initiative and action.

We continue to record and share our liturgies weekly, making them available for prayer and reflection beyond Sunday worship. We are also pleased to share that a new video has been released this week.

The video reflects on the spiritual witness of Mount Athos, drawing from Mount Athos: The Highest Place on Earth. This video reflects on Eastern Christian spirituality, especially monastic life as a living sign of the Church’s holiness. Themes include the call to transcend self-centeredness, the quiet power of kindness and humility, hidden sanctity, and the mystery of encountering the holy God who both attracts and humbles us. Ultimately, the reflection points toward the godlikeness of humanity, revealed most fully in the Incarnation—God becoming human so that humanity might be drawn into divine life.
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As we move closer to Christmas, may this season help us prepare not only to celebrate Christ’s birth, but to recognize how God continues to take flesh in lives marked by love, humility, and hope.

Peace,
​Rev. Ben