Happy New Year!
Brethren, today we start the new liturgical year, B, the year of Saint Mark, where all Sunday Gospels are taken from the gospel of Mark in ordinary time of the year. We thank the Lord who has been with us, blessing us, nourishing us and helping us to grow spiritually each day of the last liturgical year. May the Lord be praised for ever and may this new year become more and more a source of spiritual nourishment and growth. Every Church's new year starts with Advent and so today, we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent.
The season of Advent originated in the early Church as a short period of intense preparation for the celebration of the nativity of the Lord on December 25th. It slowly came to be structured into four Sundays with proper readings and prayers. This season is marked by devout and joyful expectation as we recall the first humble coming of the Lord at Bethlehem. Every Sunday first Sunday of Advent begins with a reading from Isaiah, as a prophet par excellence of the Messiah. We are called to prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and at the same time, we are invited to direct our minds and hearts towards Christ’s final coming in glory at the end of time. It is certain that the Lord is coming but the day or the hour is not known.
There are three meanings of 'coming' that Christians describe in Advent. The first, and most thought of, is the coming in history that happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us. The second is the coming in mystery (that is in the Church), and this happens now in our days as Jesus always longs to come into our lives through the Church and her sacraments and be the king of our lives. And the third is at the end of time which will happen in the future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not a baby.
During the season of Advent, we have an advent wreath, which consists of four candles (3 purple and one pink or rose) and the fifth one (White) in the middle, with different colors and meanings. Each candle is lit on its specific Sunday.
The first candle lit on first Sunday of Advent is purple and is called The Prophets' Candle, symbolizing hope, in memory of the prophets, particularly Isaiah, who prophesied the birth of Christ. It symbolizes the anticipation felt in awaiting the coming Messiah.; the second lit together with the first one on the Second Sunday is called the Bethlehem Candle, symbolizing faith and signifies Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.; the third lit on third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday) is pink or rose and is called the Shepherds' Candle symbolizing joy, meant to remind us of and pointing to the world's joy at the birth of Jesus and that the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent.; the fourth candle lit on fourth Sunday is purple and is called the Angel's Candle, symbolizing peace. It reminds us of the angels' message: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men” (Luke 2:14). Lastly the middle candle is white and is called Christ Candle; it is lit on Christmas symbolizes, Christ the light of the world.
In each year of the three-year cycle the Advent Sunday gospel-readings have the same pattern: the first is about the final Coming of Christ. In the second John the Baptist is preparing a community of repentance to welcome Jesus’ mission. In the third John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Messiah. On the fourth Sunday we look to Mary, preparing for the birth of her Son. In this Sunday’s reading about the Second Coming the accent is on “Be watchful! Be alert!
Christ tells us to be watchful and alert. We are to stay awake and watch for his coming. We should live in such a way that when he comes, he should not find us wanting. He should find us doing what he commanded us to be doing: loving God and loving one another; living holy/ righteous lives. May he meet us doing our Christian duty when he comes. May he meet us ready to welcome him whenever he comes, since he will come “like a thief in the night”.
As his servants we watch for his will - continually seeking him. We watch for his word and his power - that he may act now to save and to deliver. And we watch for his visitation - he will surely come again! Servants of the Lord rouse yourselves! Be vigilant, be alert, be watchmen for the Lord pointing the way for his coming.
May this Advent be a time of deep renewal in our lives, dear Lord. May it be a time in which we strive with all our hearts to seek out Your gentle and profound voice. Give us the grace, dear Lord, to turn away from the many noises of the world that compete for our attention and to turn only to You and to all You wish to say. Come, Lord Jesus, come into our lives more deeply during this Advent season.
Let us Pray.
Lord Jesus, awaken my heart and mind to receive your word and to prepare for your coming again. Free me from complacency, from the grip of sin and worldliness, and from attachments to things which pass away. May I always be eager to receive your word and be ready to meet you when you come again."
Be blessed.
No comments:
Post a Comment