Good morning good people may the Lord bless you with grace, peace, and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 28th November 2021. We celebrate the first week of Advent. We reflect on Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; and Luke 21:25-28, 34-36.
We begin a new liturgical time, the season of Advent We begin the third year with St. Luke. The reading prepares us for the second reading and preparing ourselves for the birth of Christ. It is an intense time of preparation of heart with confident expectation focusing on JESUS, the anchor of our lives.
As we lit the candle of Faith on this first week of Advent, may our faith be nourished by the way look for the Lord. Advent means waiting, joyful waiting, waiting for someone with love. During this Advent, we wait for the Lord.
The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes Hope with the “Prophet’s Candle” reminding us that Jesus is coming. The candles signify prayer, penance, and sacrifice. The Advent wreath helps contemplate the salvation history that weaves the birth of the Incarnate, who makes everything new and redeem humanity. (Rev. 21:5).
There are three aspects of Jesus’ coming into the world. We look at the past and celebrate His historic coming before 2000 years ago. Secondly, we look to the present as we prepare ourselves to receive him in our daily lives through the Word and the Sacrament especially the Eucharist. Finally, we look into the future and await his coming at the end of times in majesty and glory to judge the world.
C.S.Lewis pointed out, “The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth.” Three readings talk about the historic First coming, the present coming of Christ in our lives by living a life that pleases God and looking forward in faith for the final coming of Jesus.
The coming of Christ is a blessing for each one of us. It was the most difficult time in the life of Israel. The exile and the deportation are the most depressing and painful times for them. When people were living without hope, this promise was given. The greatness of God and the nothingness of man is brought in this message. The prophet assures the people including us that God is going to fulfil the promise I made to the ancestors. A righteous shoot that establishes honesty and integrity and “The Lord is our righteousness.” This is the expectation and longing of the people of Israel proclaimed in the first reading.
In his book, ‘Man’s search for meaning, Victor Frankl shares a moment of pain and suffering. He and his companions were digging a hard ground during a biting cold. As they were toiling and struggling, he thought in his heart why all these sufferings and slowly dying, at the pitch dark, he saw a light in a farmhouse that stood till dawn. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.”
In the second reading, St. Paul prays that the Lord make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all and eventually to lead a life that pleases God. He encourages them to continue doing the good they already doing. He speaks of the Second Coming of our Lord. Life will change and it will change for good. Christ strengthens us to live a life of purity free from guilt and sin is a warm greeting of St. Paul in the second reading. St. Luke encourages us to look for the signs before His coming. People who are selfish and doing all kinds of evil things need to be afraid not us.
The Gospel speaks about the Second and the Final Coming of Christ. St. Luke urges us to look for the signs that accompany the coming of Christ. Even though we are not given the exact time of His coming, yet we all need to be ready. We all always have a close watch and pray. Jesus does not want us to be embarrassed and unprepared.
Purity, prayer, and patience; Awareness, alertness, and active participation are so much needed during Advent for each one of us.
Waiting does not mean wasting. Hope heals us and frees us from all fear. When we love someone, we do not mind waiting for them. We wait for many things in life. How often do we wait for the Lord?
“Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and stand before the Son of Man.” It is indeed the time of hope. This hope empowers us to relate, overcome, help, and enter eternity with integral healing.
May the Lord help us not be tired and dissipated by waiting for Him even amidst despair, hopelessness, helplessness, loveless, and merciless life situations. God bless you.