Be Prepared

First Sunday of Advent
02 December 2018

First reading                                                                  Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

Second reading                                                    1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And 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 with all his saints.

Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Gospel                                                                     Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

[Jesus said to his disciples]
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 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.”

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

“Your redemption is at hand.”

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. How time flies so fast! Another liturgical year has ended and another one starting anew. How are you preparing for the coming of the Lord? Not only this Christmas but anytime of the year? The readings for today are all about preparations for the coming of the Lord. It opens up a whole series of promises, full of powerful images, that keep reminding us that our God will come to save us. The days are coming for the fulfilment of His promise. We are told to beware that our hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have enough strength.

I know that this is the busiest season of the year with Christmas fast approaching. Twenty-three days to go! We have Christmas parties to attend to. Family reunions here and there. Gifts to think about. Or even plans for vacation on the long holidays. It can be stressful. But Advent is a reminder that we can all slow down. We can all breathe more deeply. Let ourselves become who we truly are. One of the best ways to prepare for the very special season of Advent is to "get in touch with ourselves."  It may sound odd, but one symptom of our contemporary lives is that we can often be quite "out of touch" with what is going on in our very own hearts. We can all begin to trust that this will be a blessed time. We can spend quiet moment with the Lord even just for a few seconds or minutes. It doesn’t have to be long hours. Just feel the presence of the Lord because He is truly the reason for this season. His love for us is overwhelming.

And, while Christmas decorations are up (because we actually start the Christmas season in the Philippines in the "ber" months starting September), we have prepared for Christmas' message with the foundation of faith, with the mystery of Advent's gift. God wants to be with us. Advent is letting God's WILL be done in our hearts and in our everyday lives. Let us listen to Him and obey His will because God always has the BEST for us.

Finally when all the unwrapping of gifts, and Christmas season ends, may we not feel empty because our priority has been the "meaningless" activities. May we be deliberate in giving time for the Lord this season even for just a few minutes and feel His presence and always give thanks.

Have a blessed and grace-filled Advent everyone! Make a meaningful and purpose-driven preparations for the coming of the Lord.

Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus. Come into my life. Come into my house, into my family, into our struggles. Come and heal us. Give us joy again. Come and unite us and let us experience, each in our own way, a bit of the joy You are offering me now as I prepare for Your coming. I trust You don’t mind if it is still messy at this time of the year. I believe You love me, because I need Your love. I don’t fear You can’t find the way to my heart. Come and fill me with peace and the love only You can give. Through Mary I pray, Amen.