The Locked Door

“Welcome again. We are in Day 6 of Advent,and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —where ordinary moments help us prepare our hearts for Christmas.”“Today’s story comes from a woman who loved to watch…the evening sky.”“Every evening, just before supper,an elderly woman pulled her chair to the windowand watched the sunset.Her family worried about her.They thought she was lonely —just passing time staring at the sky.One day, her granddaughter asked,‘Grandma, why do you watch the sunset every day?’The old woman smiled gently and said,‘Because it reminds methat even the most beautiful thingsmust set…so something new can rise.’Her voice held no sadness —only a tender kind of wisdomthat comes from years of watching Godbring light out of darkness.”“There are sunsets in our lives too —chapters that end,relationships that shift,roles that change,dreams that fade.Some endings we choose,others break our hearts.But Advent teaches us that every endingprepares the sky for a new dawn.A part of your life may be setting right now —a season of waiting,a chapter of struggle,a hope that feels delayed.But God never lets a sunset be the last word.He uses it to soften the sky,to calm your spirit,to prepare the horizonfor something you cannot yet see.Advent is the timewhere the light is fading…but the promise is rising.”“So today, pause for a moment and ask yourself:‘What is God gently closing in my life?And what new dawn might He be preparing?’Don’t fear the sunset.Let God hold the ending.Whisper this prayer:‘Lord, bless my endings…and prepare my heart for the dawn.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic.May today’s light lead you gently into hope.”

5 Des 2min

“A warm welcome to you. We are in Day 5 of Advent,and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —where simple daily stories awaken the meaning of the season.”“Today’s parable begins outside a bakery…with a man who couldn’t afford the bread.”“Every morning, a man walked past a bakery on his way to work.He never bought anything — he couldn't afford to.But he always paused, breathing in the warm, sweet smellthat made him feel human for a moment.One cold morning, the baker noticed him.The next day, a little bag sat outside the doorwith a handwritten note:‘Warmth is meant to be shared.’Inside was fresh bread —soft, warm, unexpected grace.”“Sometimes God's generosity arrivesin the simplest, most surprising ways.A kindness you didn’t expect.A moment of warmth when life feels cold.A reminder that you are seen.Advent reveals a Godwho places gifts at our doornot because we earn thembut because He loves to give.”“What unexpected gift has God placed at your door?Pray:‘Lord, open my eyes to Your generosity today.’”

4 Des 1min

4 — “The Unsent Letter”“Grace and peace to you. We are in Day 4 of Advent,and welcome to Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic —a moment where ordinary storiesopen our hearts to the meaning of this holy season.”“Today’s parable begins with a quiet table…and a letter that was never posted.”“A widow had a ritual every December.She wrote a letter to her late husband —not to send it,but to release whatever she carried that year.This December, she sat down to write…but the words refused to come.Her grief felt heavier than ink.So she placed her hands on the blank pageand simply sat in silence.Minutes passed.Then, in the stillness,she felt something warm —a presence beside her,a quiet companionship she hadn’t felt in months.She realized the letter didn’t need words.Her heart needed stillness.And in that silence,God had entered the room.”“Some seasons of life leave us speechless.Grief does that.Confusion does that.Loneliness does that.We force ourselves to ‘move on,’‘be strong,’‘write the next chapter.’But Advent teaches us something gentler:Healing often beginsnot when we speak…but when we sit with God in quiet honesty.Your unsent letters,your unfinished prayers,your unspoken sorrows —these are not failures.They are sacred spaces where Christ desires to come close.Advent is not about perfect wordsbut about welcoming God into the wordless placesof your heart.”“So today, take a moment and ask yourself:‘Where do I need God to simply sit with me?’Don’t force the words.Just offer Him the silence.And whisper this prayer:‘Lord, meet me in the places I cannot express.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic.May God sit gently beside you today.”

3 Des 1min

Day 3 “The Boy at the Bus Stop”“Peace be with you! We are in Day 3 of Advent,and welcome to Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic —where simple moments of daily lifereveal the deeper meaning of this holy season.”“Today’s parable comes from a scene we’ve all witnessed…a child waiting at a bus stop in the rain.”“One rainy morning, a little boy stood at a bus stop —no umbrella, shoes soaked, hair dripping.While everyone else huddled under shelter,he stood in the rain, smiling at the sky.A stranger finally asked him,‘Aren’t you upset that it’s raining this much?’The boy shrugged and said,‘My mum says the rain means God is washing the world clean.If God is washing, I shouldn’t complain.’The stranger looked at the boy —this simple, innocent trust —and something inside him softened.He felt a kind of peace he hadn’t known in years.A peace that came from a childwho saw cleansing where others saw inconvenience.”“Life has its rainy seasons.Times when everything feels heavy,messy,uncomfortable,unwanted.Change that disrupts us.Loss that shakes us.Uncertainty that frightens us.Moments that make us say,‘Why now, Lord?’But Advent invites us to see the rain differently.Rain is messy…but it cleans.Rain is inconvenient…but it restores.Rain is uncomfortable…but it softens the hard groundso something new can grow.Maybe the season you’re going throughis not meant to drown you…but to wash something inside you —an attitude,a fear,a wound,a memory you’ve outgrown.Sometimes God’s cleansing feels like chaosuntil we finally understandwhat He was preparing.”“So today, pause and ask yourself:‘What rain is God sending into my life?And what might He be cleansing through it?’Instead of resisting,whisper this Advent prayer:‘Lord, wash my heart. Make me new again.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic.Let God’s rain bring you peace.”

2 Des 2min

“Welcome to Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic —where simple stories from daily lifereveal the deeper meaning of Adventand help your heart prepare for Christmas.”“Today’s parable begins with something ordinary…a mug we think is ruined.”“A woman dropped her favorite blue mug one morning.It didn’t shatter —but a long crack ran down its side.She kept using it, but carefully…worried it would break completely.One day, a friend saw it and said,‘Why not fix it with gold?There’s a Japanese art called kintsugi —it fills the cracks with goldso the broken parts become the most beautiful.’She looked at the mug again…and for the first time,the crack didn’t feel like damage.It felt like a doorway to something new.”“We all have cracks —wounds we carry quietly,fears we don’t mention,memories that still ache.Like that woman,we often move through life cautiously,afraid the next hit will finally break us.But Advent tells a different story.God doesn’t discard the cracked.He restores them.He fills the fractures of our heartswith His tender mercy,His patience,His healing grace.Your broken places are not signs of failure —they are invitationsfor God’s beauty to shine through.Sometimes the cracks becomethe most sacred part of your story.”“So today, take a moment and ask yourself:‘Which crack in my life is God trying to fill with grace this Advent?’Hold it gently.Offer it honestly.And whisper this prayer:‘Lord, fill my broken places with Your light.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic.Let God turn your cracks into beauty.”

1 Des 2min

“One evening, a man walked home exhausted.As he passed the old abandoned house at the corner,he noticed its porch light glowing softly in the dark.It had been on for months — even though no one lived there.He used to complain about it.‘What a waste,’ he’d say.But that night, he paused.The small light…the quiet glow…made the entire street feel less empty,less frightening…almost warm.For the first time he realized —that tiny light was the only thingthat made the darkness feel a little less heavy.He whispered,‘Thank you… for staying on,’not knowing who he was thanking.”

30 Nov 1min

Anna – The Devoted WitnessWelcome back, truth-seekers, to another profound episode of the “Witness Series.” I’m your host, Fr. Veigas Dominic SVD, and today, we open the pages of the New Testament to encounter a remarkable woman, an elderly prophetess whose life was a testament to unwavering devotion and patient expectation. In this ninth episode of Season 7, we turn our attention to Anna, “The Devoted Witness.” After a lifetime dedicated to prayer and fasting in the temple, God granted Anna the incredible privilege of recognizing the infant Messiah, enabling her to proclaim His arrival to a waiting world. Her story is a powerful reminder that sustained faithfulness, and a life of devotion can lead to divine encounters and a profound witness. Anna’s life resonates with us today because it speaks to the power of a life wholly consecrated to God, lived in anticipation of His promises. Her witness reminds us that even in advanced age, our spiritual zeal can burn brightly, and our testimony can be vital in proclaiming God’s truth. Today, we’ll unpack Anna’s life, her powerful message as a devoted witness, and how her example can inspire our commitment to prayer, worship, and watchful expectation of God’s redemptive work. Let’s get started. Who was Anna?(Sound of soft, ancient temple music, with a background of quiet, persistent prayer) Anna, a prophetess, is introduced in Luke 2:36-37 with poignant detail: “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband for seven years after their marriage, and then became a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Consider the depth of her devotion. Anna experienced marriage for only seven years before becoming a widow. Rather than retreating into despair or a life of ease, she chose a profound path of consecration. For decades – up to 84 years, though some interpretations suggest she was a widow for 84 years – she lived within the temple precincts, or at least spent virtually all her time there. Her life was defined by ceaseless worship, fasting, and prayer. She made the house of God her home, and seeking His face her constant occupation. She embodied a deep, patient longing for God’s promised redemption for Israel. She was one of those faithful individuals described as “looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Then came the pivotal moment. Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as required by the Mosaic Law. As they entered, the aged Simeon, also filled with the Holy Spirit, took Jesus in his arms and blessed God, proclaiming Jesus to be the “salvation prepared in the sight of all nations” (Luke 2:30).  And just as Simeon finished, Anna, “at that very moment” (Luke 2:38), approached. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, and after a lifetime of devotion and watching, she too recognized the infant Jesus for who He truly was: the Messiah, the hope of Israel. Luke 2:38 continues: “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Anna’s witness was not a private revelation; it was a public proclamation. To a select group of faithful individuals who, like her, were waiting expectantly for God’s promised redemption, she became an eyewitness, verifying and announcing that the long-awaited Savior had arrived. Her life of hidden devotion culminated in a moment of public declaration, a powerful testament to God’s faithfulness to those who diligently seek Him.

18 Nov 8min

Elizabeth – The Righteous WitnessWelcome back, truth-seekers, to another spirit-filledepisode of the “Witness Series.” I’m your host, Fr. Veigas Dominic SVD, andtoday, we open the pages of the New Testament to meet a woman whoserighteousness and prophetic insight played a crucial role in the unfolding ofGod’s most extraordinary plan. In this eighth episode of Season 7, we turn ourattention to Elizabeth, “The Righteous Witness.” In her elderly years, when allhope of bearing children seemed lost, God chose Elizabeth and her husbandZechariah to prepare the way for the Messiah. Her story is a powerful reminderthat God’s timing is perfect, and He often uses humble and faithful individualsto usher in His most significant works. Elizabeth’s life resonates with us today because itspeaks to the challenges of long-held dreams and the profound joy of seeingGod’s promises fulfilled, often in unexpected ways. Her witness reminds us thattrue righteousness is lived in quiet faithfulness and that God can bestowprophetic revelation even in the most intimate moments. Today, we’ll unpack Elizabeth’s life, her powerfulmessage as a righteous witness, and how her example can inspire our ownpatience, faith, and spiritual discernment. Let’s get started. Who was Elizabeth?Imagine an elderly couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth,living a devout life. They were both from priestly families, righteous in God’seyes, blameless in their observance of His commands. Luke 1:6 tells usclearly, “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all theLord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” Yet, they carried a deep sorrow:Elizabeth was barren, and they were well advanced in years. In their culture,this was a source of profound grief and often perceived shame. One day, while Zechariah was serving as a priest inthe temple, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, appeared to him. Gabriel announcedthat Elizabeth would bear a son, who would “go on before the Lord, in thespirit and power of Elijah, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke1:17). This son would be John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah.Zechariah, doubting due to their old age, was temporarily struck mute. Elizabeth conceived, and for five months, she kept herpregnancy hidden, praising God for His goodness. Luke 1:25 records herhumble gratitude: “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days, hehas shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Then, in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, thesame angel Gabriel visited her young cousin, Mary, to announce that Mary, avirgin, would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. Asa sign, Gabriel told Mary, “Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have achild in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in hersixth month.” (Luke 1:36). Mary immediately set out to visit Elizabeth. Whathappened next is a profound moment of prophetic recognition. Luke 1:41-42describes it vividly: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inher womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, sheexclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you willbear!’ Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, was the firstto recognize and affirm Mary’s unique calling, confirming the miraculous workof God within her. She prophesied about the identity of Mary’s unborn child andthe blessedness of Mary’s faith: “Blessed is she who has believed that theLord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

2 Nov 8min