Jer 33:14-16; Ps 24; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
The Liturgical Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church runs through three yearly cycles, namely: Year A, Year B and Year C. Today is the first Sunday of Advent and the first day of the Liturgical Calendar Year C. “By means of the yearly cycle the Church celebrates the whole mystery of Christ, from his incarnation until the day of Pentecost and the expectation of his coming again” (From the Daily Roman Missal).
Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ. The name advent means “coming” or “arrival”. But there are two comings of Christ: the first was his birth in Bethlehem, which we commemorate on the 25th day of December, and the second will be his coming as King of the universe, which we hope to celebrate at the end of time.
Accordingly, the Church divides advent into two parts. The first part starts today and goes until the 16th of December. During this period, the liturgy would challenge the faithful to prepare for the final coming of Christ. The second part will begin on the 17th of December up to the eve of Christmas. The liturgy would highlight the preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s birth.
The overall theme of Advent is joyful expectation since the arrival of a special person is always a cause for joy. During the Mass, the singing of the “Gloria” is omitted not because we are sad but only so that during Christmas the singing of this great song would be like a new experience for the people of God.
As the Church begins to reflect on the second coming of Christ, we are reminded of the joyful and victorious nature of this event. In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that the last days will be heralded with some cataclysmic happenings. The disciples, however, are to stand courageously because the moment of their liberation is at hand. The wicked would anticipate judgment day with fear, but the righteous would look forward to it. Judgment day is a time of restoration, not destruction. The justice of God would destroy only one thing, that is, sin and its manifestations.
How are we going to prepare ourselves in full measure for the Lord’s second coming?
First, we need to exercise vigilance. Jesus says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catches you unexpectedly, like a trap” (Lk 21:34). The lord knows very well that worldly cares – study, work, business and recreation – could easily absorb us to the point that we could no longer live life meaningfully. Personal dreams and ambitions also could lead us to lose sight of God’s special plan for our lives.
Second, we must be prayerful. Jesus says, “Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk 21:34-36). Jesus urges us to pray regularly because prayer would keep us in the proper perspective. Through prayer and reflection we would come to see and understand God’s will in our lives.
The prayer of Saint Paul in the second reading is quite fitting: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all . . . May he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus . . .” (1 Thes 3:12-13).
The angels reported to heaven that many people do not pray anymore. People become so busy trying to catch up with the hectic schedule of everyday life. They wish to have more time so that they could pray. The Heavenly Council proposed to God that he should understand the predicament of contemporary humanity and simply lengthen the day. If the day would have 25 hours, the additional one hour could become the hour of God.
But contrary to expectations, people still did not pray but used the extra hour in their worldly concerns. What surprised the angels was that those who used the 25th hour were the ones who had already been praying even before God added the 25th hour to the day.
This led them to conclude that prayer is a question of love. People do not become prayerful by being given extra time. Those who are not inclined to pray will not find time to pray even if an extra hour is added to our day. But those who love will always find time to pray.
(The Story is from Cravings from the Heart by Simplicio Apalisok, Jr.)
The Liturgical Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church runs through three yearly cycles, namely: Year A, Year B and Year C. Today is the first Sunday of Advent and the first day of the Liturgical Calendar Year C. “By means of the yearly cycle the Church celebrates the whole mystery of Christ, from his incarnation until the day of Pentecost and the expectation of his coming again” (From the Daily Roman Missal).
Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ. The name advent means “coming” or “arrival”. But there are two comings of Christ: the first was his birth in Bethlehem, which we commemorate on the 25th day of December, and the second will be his coming as King of the universe, which we hope to celebrate at the end of time.
Accordingly, the Church divides advent into two parts. The first part starts today and goes until the 16th of December. During this period, the liturgy would challenge the faithful to prepare for the final coming of Christ. The second part will begin on the 17th of December up to the eve of Christmas. The liturgy would highlight the preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s birth.
The overall theme of Advent is joyful expectation since the arrival of a special person is always a cause for joy. During the Mass, the singing of the “Gloria” is omitted not because we are sad but only so that during Christmas the singing of this great song would be like a new experience for the people of God.
As the Church begins to reflect on the second coming of Christ, we are reminded of the joyful and victorious nature of this event. In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that the last days will be heralded with some cataclysmic happenings. The disciples, however, are to stand courageously because the moment of their liberation is at hand. The wicked would anticipate judgment day with fear, but the righteous would look forward to it. Judgment day is a time of restoration, not destruction. The justice of God would destroy only one thing, that is, sin and its manifestations.
How are we going to prepare ourselves in full measure for the Lord’s second coming?
First, we need to exercise vigilance. Jesus says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catches you unexpectedly, like a trap” (Lk 21:34). The lord knows very well that worldly cares – study, work, business and recreation – could easily absorb us to the point that we could no longer live life meaningfully. Personal dreams and ambitions also could lead us to lose sight of God’s special plan for our lives.
Second, we must be prayerful. Jesus says, “Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk 21:34-36). Jesus urges us to pray regularly because prayer would keep us in the proper perspective. Through prayer and reflection we would come to see and understand God’s will in our lives.
The prayer of Saint Paul in the second reading is quite fitting: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all . . . May he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus . . .” (1 Thes 3:12-13).
The angels reported to heaven that many people do not pray anymore. People become so busy trying to catch up with the hectic schedule of everyday life. They wish to have more time so that they could pray. The Heavenly Council proposed to God that he should understand the predicament of contemporary humanity and simply lengthen the day. If the day would have 25 hours, the additional one hour could become the hour of God.
But contrary to expectations, people still did not pray but used the extra hour in their worldly concerns. What surprised the angels was that those who used the 25th hour were the ones who had already been praying even before God added the 25th hour to the day.
This led them to conclude that prayer is a question of love. People do not become prayerful by being given extra time. Those who are not inclined to pray will not find time to pray even if an extra hour is added to our day. But those who love will always find time to pray.
(The Story is from Cravings from the Heart by Simplicio Apalisok, Jr.)
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