“Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.'”
The mystery of Mary’s pregnancy is revealed to Joseph.
He accepts the revelation with humility and trust.
Can we accept God’s plan for us when it is different from our expectations?
Jesus promises that He will help us reach heaven by sending a guide who can model how we should love and follow him.
This guidance will lead us to eternal life if we take heed.
Will we see the examples He gives us and follow the path He reveals?
John the Baptist knew that something important was about to happen.
He knew that Jesus was to be the defining factor in Israel’s and mankind’s future.
John warned the establishment that their way was not to be the future. God was doing something different.
Repentance from sin was to be a first step in awaiting the new future. This baptism was to be the first step of commitment to this new future.
Jesus was coming to bring change with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Will we, too, prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming again this Christmas?
But we know that He surely will.
Therefore, stay awake.
We can be a light to others through our words, attitudes and actions.
Ready our souls for Jesus’ coming. Always be prepared for him.
Readings: First Sunday of Advent | USCCB
The power of the Spirit is again revealed.
For Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit allowed both she and the Baby in her womb.
For both Mary and Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit enabled belief and acceptance.
But even with the Spirit’s help, belief is a choice only we can make.
Will you listen and trust in what the Lord is saying to you?
Those who followed John the Baptist wanted to partake of the Kingdom of God, but they did not know how to do so.
We can find ourselves in a similar circumstance.
The world offers us ways for succeeding, but the world’s ways are not God’s ways.
Treating others with compassion, consideration, and charity is required.
Can you open yourself to the Spirit received in baptism, be inspired, and follow His guidance?
John the Baptist preached repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
Prepare the way of the Lord… make the hills and valleys smooth for His coming in your life.
In this season of Advent, we once again ponder and prepare for Jesus’ coming yet again.
We are reminded of our baptism for our redemption and becoming a new person in the spirit.
Can we remember the importance of our baptism and renew the life we live in Jesus?
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120521.cfm
The end will be a frightful day.
But for the followers of Jesus, it is the time to stand erect and await their Savior.
Do not falter in the meantime; avoid all that will keep you from your appointment with the Son of Man.
Be vigilant and pray for the strength to be steadfast and escape the sufferings that are to come.
Prepare yourself. Are you getting ready?
Mary, a young, innocent woman with an abundance of grace and faith, said yes to God’s messenger Gabriel.
She did not understand how God’s will was to come about, yet she accepted it and her role in it.
We look forward to Jesus’ coming.
Are we ready to say yes to His plan for us, even though it’s a mystery for us too?
Acceptance of the savior requires us to clear a way for Him in our lives. We must remove unnecessary distractions.
John points to Jesus as the answer to correct living and hope for the future.
John minimizes himself to maximize the importance of Jesus the Messiah.
John gave his life to announce the great coming of the Savior.
Are we prepared to reflect, to minimize our own agendas, to repent, and to open ourselves to the coming of Jesus once again?
John the Baptist preached repentance for sin.
We too are called for the conversion of heart.
We are to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Savior into our lives.
We are called to eliminate distractions that might prevent us from seeing and hearing him anew.
Will we open ourselves to the Spirit so that we will be ready?
Advent is a time of watching and waiting for the Lord liturgically and in our lives.
As we prepare for His coming to us again at Christmas, we must also prepare for our coming closer to Him.
Advent is a time of prayer and review of exactly where we stand in our faith lives.
We can never be sure of how much time we have, but any time at all is an opportunity for renewal.
Will we not just use some time but rather make time to focus on Jesus’ coming to us again?
Mary and Joseph were the instruments of God’s will to fulfill His promise of love.
Though not expecting this scenario, each accepted without question.
Will we recognize and accept His gift of grace and love in whatever form it comes?
Jesus was the one.
He healed and saved and redeemed.
Have you prepared the way for Him to come into your life?
John the Baptist warns that true repentance means changing one’s ways.
To enter the Kingdom of God, one must “bear fruit”.
Good works and spreading the faith are what Jesus asks of us.
…. But we know that He surely will.
Therefore, stay awake
and always be prepared for Him.
· On this Second Sunday of Advent, we are called to get ready for the coming of the Savior into our lives.
· Preparation requires that we remove the hills and valleys in our lives that impede our progress toward our relationship with Jesus.
· Fear not … He will rejoice over you with gladness.
· The Lord has removed judgment… He comes to save you.
· Prepare yourselves by fostering the right attitude and actions.
· Care for the poor and those around you. Act with fairness and compassion in all things.
· You will receive the Holy Spirit and your heart will be set on fire with faith.
· Bow your heads in Thanksgiving that one so great would come among us.
· Open your arms and heart to receive the gift.
· On this Second Sunday of Advent we are called to get ready for the coming of the Savior into our lives.
· Preparation requires that we remove the hills and valleys in our lives that impede our progress toward our relationship with Jesus.
· Repentance for what we have done wrong is a good start.
· A second step is to ponder the glory that is before us. Our God is coming to be with us and to save us, again.
· We must recognize the coming of the baby Jesus and the man Jesus as God’s greatest possible gift.
· Can we stop what we are doing and think for a moment about the great thing that will happen for us?
· Can we filter out the sounds and activities of the season long enough to cherish the meaning of the season for us?
We celebrate His coming in glory at the end of time.
· Our redemption is at hand. It is not yet but it is before us.
· The end times may seem fearful but we are encouraged to stand erect in hope and anticipation of what God is doing for us.
· We must remain faithful in spite of the distractions of daily life.
· While we wait for these events either in our lifetime or beyond, Jesus waits by us and with us.
· Is your life arranged to meet Him in His first, second and final coming?
– Because a Savior has been born to us! Our Hope has been fulfilled.
– Because the Lord says, “I have called you by name. You are mine. You are precious and honored in My sight. Because I love you.”
– You have been called to the Mass to experience the gift of Jesus’ presence. “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands: break into songs of praise!”
– Yet Christmas is only the beginning. You have been called not only to worship but to carry out a unique mission in life. You have been called in Hope, Thanksgiving, and Faith withich brings you to the ultimate state of joy.
– And God has a plan for you. A profound plan to participate in building the kingdom.
– Jesus comes to us, let us bring Him to others. Strengthened by Him in the Eucharist, you are now sent on your mission to bring Christ to your world. No one else can do what you have been sent to do. If you do not do it, it will not be done.
– Be not afraid. He will go with you to guide and support you. The Mass is your constant touch point to renew, nourish, and strengthen you.
– Because it allows you to see beyond yourself and it allows you to see the Miracle.
– The Miracle is the very presence of Jesus Christ in the transformed Bread and Wine of the Mass.
– Jesus said, “I am the Living Bread that comes down from Heaven. Whoever eats this Bread will have life everlasting.”
– Faith allows us to see this as it happens. Faith allows you to see and experience Jesus not only coming before you but also becoming part of you…and you becoming part of Him.
– This is not a symbolic gesture or imagined event…it is Reality.
– When you receive Jesus in the Eucharist, the Miracle happens to you. But you must be present when this happens.
– Believe and your eyes will be opened.
