Today marks the feast day of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In all honesty, when I imagine life for the Holy Family, I am tempted to believe it is one of ease, events going according to plan, and no conflict, especially around the dining table. At times this has led me to find the Holy Family unrelatable and yet still a model to emulate. I sometimes find myself gazing at an icon of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that is above our kitchen sink, shaking my head saying, “But you wouldn’t understand.”

December often brings pressure to close deals, hit revenue targets, and plan for a bigger year ahead. But before we rush into 2026, the Church invites us to pause and review the year not by our balance sheets but by God’s presence in our lives.

Catholics are trying to keep Advent as a time for prayer and reflection as we wait for the coming of Christ. We aren’t just worrying about all the decorations or checklists, but we are using this time to pray and reflect on Christ. This Beatitude reminds us that following Christ often means standing firm in our values, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular.

In some respects, waiting seems unpalatable.  We are constantly “skipping to the good part.” But waiting gives us time to prepare, to ready our hearts, and to grow in virtue.  It’s not a boring season, but one of anticipation and holy receptivity.  Through waiting well, we cultivate a childlike disposition. 

This Advent, Catholic Women in Business are invited to enter a sacred kind of waiting — one that refines, not rushes. In a world obsessed with productivity and profit, God calls us instead to prepare our hearts with mercy and mindfulness.

In his newest book, “Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes,” Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, invites us to see the Beatitudes not as distant ideals or abstract teachings but as living promises.