Catholic teacher reflects on allowing God’s plan to unfold in your heart

By Karen Brady 

I can still remember the weeks before the birth of my first child. My husband and I were filled with excitement, anticipation, and concern. Will the nursery be finished? Are the arrangements with the doctor and the hospital all set? And of course, although we had a “due date” the baby could come at any time. Will “we” be ready? And yet, nothing prepared us for the joy of the moment our son was born! 

I like to think of Advent in this way - hopeful anticipation and expectation. Advent is the season of hope, love, joy, and peace the four weeks prior to Christmas when we prepare for, reflect on, and anticipate the Incarnation, the mystery of our God sharing in our humanity by becoming one of us. 

The liturgical readings for Advent give us the opportunity to see God’s plan unfold: 

• We are cautioned to “be ready” because we don’t know when the Lord will come (see Mark 13:33-37). 

• We are reminded that the Lord is “our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands” (Is 64:7). 

• We are provided with “messengers” who guide us on the path toward God (see Mark 1:1-8). 

• We hear the joyful words in Isaiah of Hannah which Mary repeats in the Magnificat in anticipation of her “yes” to God. (See Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11) 

• And finally, the announcement by Gabriel to Mary about the Incarnation (see Luke 1:26-38). 

This is not a plan that our intellect can comprehend. This is a plan that touches our heart if we let it. Much like awaiting the arrival of a child, we can’t know its impact until we experience it.  

This Advent, take some time to reflect on this God who: 

• loves us so much that becoming one of us made sense 

• who experienced everything about human life in order to truly relate to us 

• and, who wants eternal union with us. 

Allow God’s plan to unfold in your heart so that, at Christmas, you can truly rejoice in the coming of our Savior reborn! 

Karen Brady has been teaching in the Diocese of Tucson’s Catholic schools for over 30 years, including 14 years at St. Joseph Catholic School and theology at San Miguel High School, Salpointe Catholic High School, and currently at Saint Augustine High school. Karen holds a Masters in Religious Education from Loyola University New Orleans; a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a Masters in Teaching and Teacher Education all from the University of Arizona. Additionally, she spent two years as a catechist with Jordan Ministry Team and 50 years as a music minister. If fellow teachers are interested in connecting with Karen about sharing faith resources in the classroom, they are welcome to email her at [email protected].