Lighting the Way (12/03/2025)

Last evening, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Madison, nearly 150 women gathered for a special event called “Lighting the Way.” I was invited to attend as the speaker, but I was not the main event. The “main event” were the women themselves ranging in age from their 20s to 80s who served one another, accompanied one another, encouraged one another, and demonstrated so well how we are each called to bring Christ’s light into this world and to others.

Each table had a “hostess” who was to decorate the tables and provide the desserts and beverages for the table’s guests. One woman who volunteered to be a hostess didn’t understand all the details, so she came without decorations or food. But the other hostesses stepped in, someone had an extra tablecloth, another knew where there were paper plates and napkins, others took from their food plates to make food plates for her table. By the time the event started, she was all set up and ready to receive her guests.

As I walked about before the event officially began with a welcome and opening prayer, the women were talking, sharing, introducing one another, exchanging hugs. There was a true sense of community in that room last evening as the women came together to pray, to sing songs of the season, to listen to scripture and ponder its message for the world and for them, and to be instruments of the peace the LORD alone can bring to our world.

As I drove home afterwards, the image of the women in that gathering, their hope, their joy, their love for the LORD and one another, the peace that settled within that room at the different tables, all stayed with me. This morning, I can still hear the beautiful music and voices lifted in song. I can still see the smiles and the sense of community that was so profound it was almost tangible. I can still recall the women’s voices lifted in prayer, united.  It inspires me and urges me to be the bearer of Christ’s light I am called to be.

That’s what Advent is all about, preparing the way with hope. We are all called to be instruments of our LORD in our world, instruments of His peace. We are called to be instruments of His transformative love wherever we go. And we are called to open ourselves to the surprises and graces only He can provide.

As we continue our journeys of faith, hope and love during this hallowed Advent season, let us open ourselves to the wonders of the season and seek His guidance as to how we are being called individually to prepare the way and the light the way. And may we remain open to the wonder of the season when we remember with our whole being that He is “the Way” and He is “the Light.”

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.