Episode 2763: Awakened by Grace - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
Awakened by Grace: Advent Reflections on Humility and Hope
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Introduction
Welcome, listeners, to tonight’s episode, where we will journey into the heart of Advent. This sacred season is a time of both stillness and awakening a paradox that invites us to embrace humility and hope. Through the words of St. Juan Diego and Fr. Alfred Delp, we will explore how Advent calls us to recognize our smallness before God while marveling at His infinite love for us.
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Segment 1: St. Juan Diego’s Humility
St. Juan Diego once described himself as:
"I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf."
Reflection on Humility
• St. Juan Diego’s humility was not self-deprecating but an acknowledgment of his reliance on God. In calling himself "a small rope" or "a tiny ladder," he recognized that his role, though simple, was essential in God’s plan.
• The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe reveals how God chooses the lowly to accomplish great works. Mary appeared not to a ruler or scholar, but to a poor, indigenous man reminding us that humility opens the door for God’s grace to work through us.
Advent and Our Smallness
• During Advent, we, too, are called to embrace our smallness. This is not about diminishing our worth but about making room for Christ. When we recognize our limitations, we allow God to transform us.
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Segment 2: Fr. Alfred Delp and the Severity of Awakening
Fr. Alfred Delp writes:
"Being shaken awake is entirely appropriate to thoughts and experiences of Advent…The shaking is what sets up the secret blessedness of this season and enkindles the inner light in our hearts."
Awakening to Grace
• Advent is a time of waiting, but it is not passive. Fr. Delp’s words remind us that the “shaking” we experience the trials, the awareness of our fragility prepares us for the profound joy of Christmas.
• The “inner light” he speaks of is the hope that emerges when we surrender our illusions of control and trust in God’s providence.
Application to Our Lives
• Just as St. Juan Diego was awakened to his mission through the apparitions of Our Lady, we are called to awaken to God’s presence in our lives. This awakening often comes through challenges that strip away our pride and self-reliance.
• Advent invites us to look beyond the distractions of the world and seek the “golden threads running between Heaven and earth.” These threads are the moments of grace where God touches our hearts.
Segment 3: The Season of Hope and Trust
The shaking and smallness of Advent are not ends in themselves but pathways to hope. The birth of Christ is the ultimate sign that God enters our fragility and transforms it into glory.
Practical Steps for Advent
• Embrace Silence: As St. Juan Diego’s humility teaches us, silence allows us to hear God’s call. Set aside time each day for quiet prayer and reflection.
• Welcome Trials: Fr. Delp’s insight challenges us to see struggles as opportunities for grace. Offer your difficulties to God, trusting that He will use them for your sanctification.
• Serve in Love: Even in his simplicity, St. Juan Diego became a vessel for God’s work. Look for ways to serve others this season, no matter how small.
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Conclusion
Advent is a journey from darkness to light, from smallness to greatness in God’s eyes. Let us take inspiration from St. Juan Diego’s humility and Fr. Delp’s call to awaken, allowing this sacred season to prepare us for the joy of Christ’s Nativity.
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Closing Prayer
O Lord of Light and Love,
We thank You for the gift of this Advent season a time of waiting, awakening, and hope. Teach us to embrace our smallness, as St. Juan Diego did, and to see Your hand in the trials that shake us awake.
May our hearts be open to the golden threads of grace You weave into our lives, drawing us closer to Heaven. As we prepare to welcome the Christ Child, help us to trust in Your providence and to walk humbly in Your ways.
Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and all the saints, may we grow in faith, hope, and charity. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Thank you for joining us tonight. May this Advent be a time of profound grace and joy for you and your loved ones. Until next time, God bless!