1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C
1st Reading: Jeremiah 33: 14-16
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 25:4-5ab.8-9.10 and 14
2nd Reading: l Thessalonians 3: 12-4:2
Gospel Acclamation: Psalm 85:7
Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-28.34-36
My Reflection
Advent begins our journey of spiritual renewal in pre preparation for Christ. At Advent, we celebrate several ways that Christ comes to fix our broken world. In today's first reading, Jeremiah proclaimed that the Lord would fulfil His promise: I will make a righteous branch grow up for David and that branch will do what is right and just in the land". In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of His second coming: "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man" . At Advent, we prepare for the coming of Christ into our heart. We must be prepared to give Him the gift of ourselves, which should be holy and pleasing to Him. Thus, today's second reading encourages us to prepare our hearts for Jesus by growing in love and virtue.
May God grant us the courage and grace to be exceptional.
Amen.
Keeping Your Watches in Prayers
A watchman is the first to get the signal and ring an alarm of pending Danger or Announce the Opening of the City gates to bearers of the Kings Treasure.
Last Sunday we celebrated the Kingly ministry of Christ, Today the Gospel gives us inclination of his Prophetic Ministry which we are also called into by our baptism.
You are a prophet and watchman for your family, to your generation and Jesus teaches how to keep watch today..... "Watch and Pray" He commands us as the Gospel says;
Without Prayers you will miss your Prophetic signs as a Watchman as a consequence, Distress, Fear, various kinds of seas and waves will roar in your life, fainting and depression and various Powers will work against you.
On the other hand if you quit ephemeral pleasures and keep your watches in prayers your will recognize the time of your visitation, you will apprehend the signs God is revealing concerning situations around.
Prayers makes you bold with faith against fears and distress.
Prayers keeps you alert so much that you will know your time of visitation, when the Son of Man will vest you with his glory......for as it is written "you will shine as bright stars here on earth"
Imagine the Watchman was drunk on the Watch tower and didn't see the enemies come in their chariots of sickness, pain, death, delays, disappointed, Marital mess, sins and addictions, shame and disgrace.....they will plunder the city .....and "you are that city built on the Hill".....
Watch and Pray!!!!
Holy Spirit Help me, I depend on you to please the Father and bring Glory to Jesus..Amen
My Reflection on the Readings.
The Readings are all emphasizing the need for steadfastness in holy living and the necessity to remain focused and alert. The signs that the gospel reading talks about are not experiences you can wish away, or pray that they don't happen. Whether you are living a righteous life or in the world, we shall all face this. The difference between us who are eagerly waiting for the second coming of Christ when we shall finally be united with him, is that we shall not be taken unawares, and we shall not be afraid of whatever is happening because we know it is like labour pains before the birth of a child. The joy of a bride who had been waiting so long for her groom will be ours.
May His grace be sufficient for us all to never get discouraged in the face of the challenges facing the world even now. May He daily teach us His path and guide us in His truth.
Sharing my reflection
From the readings brothers and sisters , we are once again , called to consciously prepare ourselves adequately to receive Christ in this season of Advent , as well as being ready at all times for the second coming of Christ at the end of time , or at the unknown time of our death, whichever comes first.
The first reading echoes the need for me to keep trusting in the faithfulness of God , especially as regards His promise on the refreshing renewal of heart and the fulfilment I will experience , if I am upright in giving a befitting welcome to Christ , by the life I live as a christian.
In the second reading, apostle Paul teaches me the need for me to be steadfast in walking in the path of holiness , ensuring I please God with my christian life as I await the majestic coming of Christ.
The gospel reading teaches the need to be prepared always by living my life so as not to be caught off guard at the coming of Christ at the end of time.
The very fact that the hustle and bustle of our world is such that come with lots of distractions. So, I am called to be conscious of the need to put my salvation first , over and above everything else. This is by living in uprightness so as not to be carried away by the tides of time , thereby causing me to be found wanting at the coming of Christ, at reckoning.
Prayer : May God continue to sustain us with the needed grace to surmount the daunting challenges that threaten our christian life... so that we can be better prepared and ready whenever Christ comes calling , this we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Reflection
STRENGTH TO ESCAPE
There are times in life when it seems all hope is lost. We seem to be hopeless and each day becomes tiring and discouraging. If we do not fall into despair, the only thing we pray for is the strength to escape such situation. We pray for this strength because such situation have in one way or the other changed your attitude towards others and that of others towards you. At this time, you begin to wonder why the one who claim to love you so much does not seem to again, the regular calls and messages becomes so scanty as no rain in dry season. And you are probably left to frustration because at times, all your effort to make things work out well are not producing any positive results. My dear brothers and sisters, you need the strength to escape from such situation because it can become so dangerous that you are so frustrated to fall into despair.
It is a new year C of the Church, as we begin today the Advent season in preparation for the coming of the Lord at Christmas. The liturgy of today offers us hope amidst all that we are going through.
In the first reading, we are offered the hope of God fulfilling his promise to us by bringing forth a branch out of David. And in that time, we snap acclaim the Lord is our righteousness. Righteousness is for us to live right before the Lord and fellow man. In doing this, we must lift up our soul to the Lord who would give us the strength to escape anything that would not lead us to righteousness.
As we await the coming of the Lord, St. Paul admonishes us today by praying that the Lord increases us to abound in love to one another and to all men. This love is what he and others practiced, and so, we cannot claim to teach or tell others about love when we are not loving ourselves. If we do not practice love, how well can other learn it from us? Through love we are able to have the strength to escape any form of hatred, jealousy and envy because the season that we are now is a sacred one that requires us to exemplify our full practice of love to others.
Jesus tells us our redemption is near and that we need not to be afraid of the different happenings that may come our way or that we hear about. He admonishes us to take heed lest our hearts be troubled but we must keep watch at all times so that we are not carried away with the cares and enjoyment of this world. And to do that, we must pray for the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to be able to stand before the Son of man at the last day.
What is your plan for this new liturgical year? Do you have any resolution? If you don't, make one now, keep it simple and short so that you can be able to work on and with it. And do not forget to pray for the strength to escape any form of distraction to your goal, dream and agenda.
Lord, empower us with your grace, strength to escape any trial and make us worthy to stand before your presence at the last day through Christ our Lord. Amen.
#Shalom
