Be Vigilant at All Times...

11-28-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

Welcome to the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of “Year C,” the new Liturgical Year. The season of Advent begins the Liturgical Year and has its origins in the early Church as a short period of intense preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, also known as Christmas. Advent slowly came to be structured into four Sundays with proper readings and prayers. It is now a season of devout and joyful expectation as we recall the first humble coming of the Lord at Bethlehem about two millennia ago. We are invited to prepare our spiritual selves in joyful expectation of Christ’s promised second coming in glory at the termination of time. This is well-expressed in the Scripture readings, in the prayers, and in the two parts into which Advent is divided.

From the beginning of the season until December 16, the liturgical focus is on the second coming of Jesus. This accounts for why in the First Reading this weekend, the prophet Jeremiah prophesizes about the fulfilment of God’s promise to restore righteousness, justice and peace in Israel through one “who will be a shoot from the stock of David.” In the Gospel Reading, Jesus (in whom Jeremiah’s prophecy finds perfect fulfilment) speaking about His second coming, predicts the distress and fear that would engulf the world. He advises His disciples, and by extension you and I, to stand ready and prepared in prayer so as to escape the horror of judgement day. We should strive to stay awake to the needs of those less fortunate than we are since charity is the standard by which we all shall be judged at the end of time.

From December 17 to 24, the focus shifts to the commemoration of the Holy event of the Nativity and emphasis is placed on our immediate and spiritual preparation to celebrate the Solemnity of Christ’s birth.

May Grace be granted us in abundance so we can adequately prepare to celebrate Christmas in truth and in spirit. May we spare no eff orts in alleviating the pain and sufferings of others together with whom we await the redeemer’s arrival, and may the Judge of all nations find us ready when He comes.

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