In Advent the Church celebrates the three “comings” of our king, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The first is His coming in history; Jesus born of Mary as the prophets foretold, and as we remember. The second is His coming in mystery¾in the Word and Sacrament and in the members of the Assembly (we, the Body of Christ). Fr. Richard Rohr said: “The Second Coming of Christ is us.” We are the ones who bring Christ to life again in this world, in this time. We are the ones called to live in hope, to serve one another, to love God and neighbor to continue to work for the poor, to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, and to keep on working for justice and peace. We participate in this “coming” every day of our lives. The last is His coming in Majesty, at the end of time, in glory, to judge the living and the dead.
Today is the First Sunday of the new Liturgical Year, the beginning of the cycle of Scripture readings, the dawn of Advent, the return of anticipation and expectation. Happy New Year! The readings are filled with images of peace, of waiting, readiness and light. The Prophet Isaiah tells us what is to come: we shall be instructed in the ways of the Lord, be judged, live in peace and walk in the light of the Lord. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans tells us to stay awake, to throw off the (works of) darkness and put on the armor of light.
Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew today refers to Noah, and like Noah prepared his ark according to God’s plan for salvation, so we must ready our souls to make them worthy for His return. He tells us to be vigilant always: “stay awake!” We do not know when He will return; we must be prepared for when He comes again. The ark was Noah’s vehicle of salvation; Christ is our salvation. We must shed light on our old destructive ways, our self-centered and compromised lives of disobedience and obliviousness to God. No more choice for war, for apathy, for sin, for darkness, for terror, greed and fear. We must turn to the light of Christ to lead us home.
Last weekend we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King and we asked Christ to remember us when He comes into His kingdom. How will we be remembered? This weekend we bless and light the Advent Wreath¾an image of light that represents the coming of the light of Christ into the world. Advent is a gift of time for us to rededicate ourselves to holiness. As we light our Advent wreath we praise God for all the advents of His son: yesterday, today and forever. Lord, lead us to your light! Come, Emmanuel, God with us!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
Today is the First Sunday of the new Liturgical Year, the beginning of the cycle of Scripture readings, the dawn of Advent, the return of anticipation and expectation. Happy New Year! The readings are filled with images of peace, of waiting, readiness and light. The Prophet Isaiah tells us what is to come: we shall be instructed in the ways of the Lord, be judged, live in peace and walk in the light of the Lord. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans tells us to stay awake, to throw off the (works of) darkness and put on the armor of light.
Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew today refers to Noah, and like Noah prepared his ark according to God’s plan for salvation, so we must ready our souls to make them worthy for His return. He tells us to be vigilant always: “stay awake!” We do not know when He will return; we must be prepared for when He comes again. The ark was Noah’s vehicle of salvation; Christ is our salvation. We must shed light on our old destructive ways, our self-centered and compromised lives of disobedience and obliviousness to God. No more choice for war, for apathy, for sin, for darkness, for terror, greed and fear. We must turn to the light of Christ to lead us home.
Last weekend we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King and we asked Christ to remember us when He comes into His kingdom. How will we be remembered? This weekend we bless and light the Advent Wreath¾an image of light that represents the coming of the light of Christ into the world. Advent is a gift of time for us to rededicate ourselves to holiness. As we light our Advent wreath we praise God for all the advents of His son: yesterday, today and forever. Lord, lead us to your light! Come, Emmanuel, God with us!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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