Third Sunday in Advent
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Have you found favor with God? A profound yet wonderfully challenging question to consider this Advent Season. But before you attempt to answer the question, like Mary, let us take some time to ponder the question in our heart, then take it to prayer. Let us give it some serious thought for a moment then, thoroughly take it to contemplation. First, let us consider who God is, who we are and what is the difference. God is God and we are not. God is Creator and we are his creation. God, our God, is the Creator of heaven and earth, Creator of the sun and moon, Creator of the planets and stars, Creator of time and space, Creator of the universe and galaxies and everything contained in them. God, our God, is complete, perfect, pure, infinite; without need, unchangeable, the first cause of existence. God, our God, the same God who did not need us, never needed us, still doesn’t need us, will never need us; still chose to create us in the beauty of his image and likeness, not out of necessity but simply out of love.  Even when we disobeyed him and were banished from Eden, he still showed great love to us by covering our shame with his tender love and mercy. Even when we said we will never sin again and gave our attention and hearts to lifeless idols, God still pardoned our sins and accepted our peace offerings. Even when we lied and rejected the law and commandments and bore false witness against his beloved Son, Jesus who innocently became mortal for us and suffered greatly for our sins, was severely punished for our offenses and died a painful, shameful death because of our iniquities; God still loved us, desired us and forgave us.  Even more amazing is that God still loves us, still desires us and will forgive us time and time again if we but say we are sorry from our hearts. We have definitely found favor with God. Never be afraid to say it. We are the apple of his eye. When you come into the house of God and into his sacred presence, like Mary, do not be afraid to cry out, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”

Reflections from the Heart – October 15, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 15, 2023
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!” The word ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 8, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 8, 2023
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Let me now sing of my friend.” As years pass, we seem ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 1, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 1, 2023
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.” ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 24, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 24, 2023
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Intimate ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 17, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 17, 2023
Twenty-fourthSunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.”  Scripture ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 10, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 10, 2023
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 3, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 3, 2023
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.” What is ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 27, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 27, 2023
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 20, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 20, 2023
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Lord, help me."  Prayer is such a simple thing, really and we ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 13, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 13, 2023
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for his word.”  I ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 6, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 6, 2023
Transifuguration of the Lordby Fr. Ivan Olmo Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 30, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - July 30, 2023
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes."  The word honest ...