December 2025

Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Advent at St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville

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Scripture Readings

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we are invited to reflect on the light of God’s love.

How often are we like Joseph, caught in a seemingly impossible situation, trying to do the right thing but struggling to figure out what that is? The Lord Himself gave Joseph a sign, coming to Joseph when he was most vulnerable, in his dreams, telling him not to be afraid of the work of the Spirit of Holiness but to act in response to what was shown to him.

Through the Spirit of Holiness, Jesus comes to be the light of God’s countenance, that we might be saved and find ourselves where we belong. Jesus comes to be our Immanuel, the sign that God is with us, the One who knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good and who shows us how to do the same.

Through the Spirit of Holiness, may we find ourselves, as Mary did, pregnant with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, pregnant with possibility.

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Reflection for the Third Sunday in Advent at St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville – by Br Mpumelelo

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The rose glow of the Gaudete Candle feels like a tiny sunrise in the middle of Advent’s darkness—a reminder that joy is already breaking through. It points back to that first Christmas, when the world was waiting in the night and a newborn baby lit up the sky. At the same time, the candle’s hopeful flame whispers forward to the Second Coming, when that same light will blaze fully and every shadow will be gone.

So, dear Brothers and Sisters in CHRIST, as we watch the candle flicker, we’re caught between two moments: the humble birth in a manger and the glorious return at the end of time. The rose light tells us that the joy of that first coming is already here, and it’s the same joy that will burst forth when CHRIST comes again. Let that gentle glow shape our waiting, turning anticipation into a quiet, confident celebration.

May the warmth of this candle’s glow stay with us, guiding our steps until that blessed day when we celebrate together in everlasting joy.

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Reflection for the Second Sunday in Advent at St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville – by Br Josias

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Today marks the second week of Advent. As we might well know, Advent is the period of waiting and preparing for both the celebration of Jesus’s birth at Christmas, acknowledgement of his perpetual presence as encountered in the Eucharist and anticipation of his return at the Second Coming. In this second week, a candle of Peace is lit. Traditionally, the second candle is called the Bethlehem Candle, and it symbolizes peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the peace that Christ’s birth brings.1

In his Rule, St. Benedict encourages his followers to “seek peace and pursue it.” 2 Before we strive for peace, we need to accept that there is conflict in our hearts, our lives, and in our world. Dealing with that conflict will bring all the necessary peace. So let us pursue peace. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts, minds and souls in Christ Jesus.3 Amen!

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1 See https://www.mercyhome.org/blog/sunday-mass/advent-wreath/

2 RB: Prologue 17

3 Philippians 4:7

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November 2025 News – Establishing St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville

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To say that the month of November was eventful for the monastic community would be something of an understatement.

The application to register the transfer of the Harkerville property was lodged at the Cape Town deeds office at the beginning of the month. It was rejected a week later due to a technicality, which was corrected and the application was re-submitted the next day. This meant that the registration would probably not be effected before the date we had agreed with the removal company. Re-scheduling our relocation would have complicated matters in various ways best avoided; the then-current owners of the property graciously allowed us to move onto the property before registration if need be, and generously waived their right to occupational rental.

So, preparations to relocate began in earnest, including finalizing what to take and where to put it. We entered an extended period of separation from people and places we had been regularly interacting with while resident at Volmoed. On 10 November, the Monday of our final full week at Volmoed, Brs Aelred and Mpumelelo hiked up to the Cross on the ridge overlooking the Volmoed property and waited there for the early morning mist to clear so they could admire the spectacular views. Br Aelred attended his final Monday art class with Alyson Guy. Br Josias visited the Ithemba special needs centre for the last time on the following day.

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Reflection for the First Sunday in Advent at St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville – by Br Aelred

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Dear Family in Christ.

We find ourselves, again, standing around the light of the first lit Advent candle.  This time, in our new monastery as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We are reminded anew that Christmas is not just about a baby being born, but it is about God Himself, the Creator entering His creation, and this is why it changes everything.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, He took on our humanity completely, fully and truly, and united it to His Divinity, in order that we might be fully restored from our wounded, broken and separated nature. With the incarnation, God entered our darkness to fill it with light, entered our weakness to fill it with strength and hope, and entered our death to give us life. Therefore, we prepare our hearts for the salvation event of Christmas, not a holiday or just a story: the Creator stepping into His creation. So, may this time of preparation through Advent be filled with Hope.

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