Reflections

A series of reflections on the 4 Sunday Gospels of Advent.

1st Reflection

Advent always begins in the dark.

We gather this evening by candlelight because the Church wants us to feel that darkness—not to frighten us, but to help us recognize how much we need the true light. The first Gospel of Advent places us with Jesus speaking of the days of Noah, of people going about their ordinary lives, unaware that everything is about to change. Into that scene he speaks a simple command: “Therefore, stay awake!”

Pride and humility stand in sharp opposition. Pride has long been considered the root of all sin, while humility is the cornerstone of holiness. For those who walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, humility is not an optional virtue but the very ground on which the Franciscan life is built. Francis himself called his followers the fratres minores, the “lesser brothers,” and referred to himself as “the least of the brothers,” echoing Christ’s own humility in the Incarnation. To understand this tension, we must first consider how pride manifests in human life, then reflect on the Franciscan witness of humility, and finally turn to the cultivation of humility in daily practice.

Tragedy & Grace

Solomon, bright as morning sun,
a crown heavier than gold,
wisdom poured like water
into vessels of endless thirst.
He spoke of cedars, hyssop,
and the secret songs of birds,
boundless as sand,
greater than kings.

A temple rose at his command,
stone and cedar, prayer and glory,
a dwelling built for God—
but could not hold the builder's heart.

In love multiplied, his wisdom stumbled;
the splendor fractured in shadows cast
by altars raised to lesser gods.
Seven hundred queens,
thousands of whispered promises,
and the quiet slipping of his soul.

Yet greatness lingered,
undiminished but stained,
a king's sorrow woven through gold.
The throne remained,
but the kingdom tore like fabric,
and Israel bore the weight
of a heart turned away.

But in tragedy echoes hope:
though Solomon fell, God's love did not.
For it is not in wisdom,
nor riches nor mighty deeds,
but in mercy given freely,
that a king is redeemed.

Solomon, grandeur mingled with grief,
human and holy intertwined,
God loved you still—
and that is what remains.

A Reflection

The life of Solomon resonates with us because it encapsulates the profound paradox of human existence—greatness shadowed by frailty. His extraordinary wisdom, divinely bestowed and unmatched, exemplified humanity’s highest potential. Solomon spoke eloquently of nature’s wonders, resolved intricate dilemmas, and presided over an era of unparalleled peace and prosperity. Yet, this exceptional wisdom and splendor could not shield him from human vulnerability.