Deacon Greg Kandra provides a reflection for the readings and Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent, Dec. 21, 2025.

(RNS) — The Scripture readings during Advent are a mix of comfort and challenge. On the one hand, the readings from Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-56) offer us comfort. The author was speaking to Jewish ...

“How do we really enter into a season like Advent when the world around us is already celebrating Christmas?” This is the question host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., sets before his guests, Scripture ...

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. What’s the line that sticks with you? Is it “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!” or “Every valley shall be exalted”? That might be the test of whether you are more a ...

Most of us have an intuitive understanding of Advent, based on experience, but what do the Church's official documents actually say about Advent? Here are some of the basic questions and (official!) ...

For many people who observe Christian traditions, Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year and serves as a period of anticipation and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus ...

It would be easy to conclude that Advent calendars—usually with 25 compartments that reveal a treat, image or scripture, used to count down the days from Dec. 1 to Christmas Eve—represent just another ...

Advent is my favorite season of the liturgical year: amid shadows and waiting, we are promised that joy is coming to the world. But this year, I've had difficulty getting into the Advent spirit. It's ...

There is more to the Advent calendar we see in shops. Why not embrace meaningful traditions, light candles weekly, reflect on scripture, offer prayers, and perform small acts of kindness to honour the ...