In this homily, Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR, reflects on the kind of blindness we all carry—not the kind that needs sunglasses, but the kind that keeps us from seeing our own hearts. He shares how God gently opens our eyes, sometimes in a moment of grace and sometimes through a slow, ongoing healing. Through everyday frustrations, small sacrifices, and moments of clarity, the Lord teaches us patience, selflessness, and real love. This message invites us to see how God is quietly shaping us, purifying us, and helping us grow more like Him each day.

Fr. Luke reminds us that Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet, but God Himself—the Rock whose word gives our lives strength and stability. In this Advent reflection, he calls us to do more than hear the Gospel: we are invited to let Christ’s teaching shape the way we think, choose, and act. When we listen deeply and live His word each day, we build our lives on a foundation that never fails.

Father Luke shows us that Jesus didn’t come to offer temporary fixes, but to defeat sin and death once and for all. Every prophecy points to His coming, where He nourishes us with His Word and His very life in the Eucharist. In Advent, we remember that the crib already points to the Cross—and that His arrival means the victory is already won. God’s plan is simple and beautiful: to give us eternal life with Him.

Advent invites us into the holy longing of God’s people—a yearning that stretched through generations as they waited for the promised Savior. Isaiah’s vision of peace and Jesus’ words remind us that God fulfills His promises in His perfect time. Like children watching the window for loved ones to arrive, we keep our hearts awake and expectant. This season teaches us to wait with hope, to pray with trust, and to prepare our lives for the moment the Lord draws near.

This reflection draws us into the beauty of Advent, inviting us to slow down and see the unfolding of God’s plan throughout history. From the ancient prophecies of Isaiah to the coming of the Messiah, we are reminded of the faithfulness of God and His promise to all people. Through the imagery of the root and the branch, and the bold faith of a Roman centurion, Father Luke shows us how Jesus gathers the nations and opens His family to everyone. In Him, each of us has a place on His tree of life and promise, and we are called to trust in God’s grace as we walk this Advent journey.

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR, reminds us that every day is a gift from God. Looking back on the past year, he invites us to notice the little blessings—the prayers, sacraments, and moments of love—that quietly shape our lives. Life is unpredictable, and we never know when we’ll meet Christ, so he encourages us to live each day fully, with gratitude, kindness, and a heart open to God’s grace.

Fr. Luke takes us through the dramatic images of Daniel and Revelation, but brings it down to something real for our lives today: God is not distant. He sees what we’re going through, He’s involved in our world, and He walks with us in every battle between light and darkness. Kingdoms rise and fall, darkness pushes in, but God remains—and He fights for us. His victory is already won, and He invites us to stand with Him in hope, courage, and trust.

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR, reflects on Thanksgiving and the feast of the Miraculous Medal, reminding us that God’s greatest gift is His grace. Like the one leper who returned to Jesus, gratitude opens our hearts to healing and salvation. Fr. Luke invites us to thank God for the graces we receive, the people through whom those graces come, and especially the gift of the Blessed Mother, through whom countless blessings continue to flow.