Traditionally, we take the Advent season as a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus into our lives, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. If we are to allow Jesus to be born in our hearts, we can expect that he will nudge us to involve ourselves in changing what is crying out for change and conversion, not just in ourselves, but in our world. He is calling us to set to work to establish the kingdom of God where we live and work and socialise. That involves treating one another, especially those who are so often overlooked, with justice, respect, care and compassion.

The central message of today’s gospel, both for the disciples and for us is this, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald: no matter what troubles, disappointments and tragedies are visited upon us in the course of our lives, we can be sure that God, who loved us into life and who continues to love us day in and day out, will continue to walk beside us, even when those challenges don’t evaporate.

This Sunday’s readings show us that if our discipleship of Jesus is genuine, if we, too, are true to the God whom Jesus and the two widows trusted, we have to be prepared to make some sacrifice, to make the effort to connect with the poor and destitute in our communities, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. We all have something to give, not out of our abundance, but out of what we regard as essential - our gifts, our energy, our qualifications, our time to listen, to visit, to assist. For whom and for what are we prepared to make sacrifices? The answer to that has to find expression in meaningful action that touches people in need.

It’s easy to love the elderly woman who lives across the street. She’s always pleasant and never seems to have a bad word for anybody. But the grumpy man next door is a different kettle of fish, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald in a reflection on this Sunday’s gospel.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Mark presents Bartimaeus to us as a model of hope and encouragement in our journey of discipleship. This blind man is a reminder to us that all those whom we encounter - the weak, the competent, the welcoming and the flawed - are a potential source of blessing, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.