a self-reflection for the coming of Christmas

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT C

3rd December 2006 (NEO/SHC/SSC)

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 24:4-5. 8-9. 10. 14. R. v. 1
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28. 34-36

Theme: PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS AND AT THE END OF TIME

1. Today is the First Sunday of Advent! Today is also New Year’s Day for the Church Year C! Today is the first day of the New Year C of the Church. Advent means coming (Latin). Advent is a time when we prepare for the Coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas and at the end of time!

Jesus came 2000 years ago and Jesus Christ will come again a second time at the end of time! When we celebrate Christmas we remember the first coming of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, not only in the sense of remembering something of the past, but also in the sense of making present and effective in the power of the Holy Spirit what Jesus Christ did 2000 years ago, so that when Jesus Christ comes at second time at the end of the world, it will be a consummation, that is, fulfillment, completion and perfection of his first coming 2000 years ago!

Thus we speak of the 3 Comings of Jesus Christ, that is, Jesus Christ came in Memory 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ continues to come in Mystery every Christmas (Christ-Mass), and Jesus Christ will come at the end of time in Majesty! The 3 comings of Jesus Christ in Memory, Mystery and Majesty are distinct but inseparable!

2. From today, the first Sunday of Advent until the 16th of December, inclusive, the liturgy focuses on the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of time. From the 17th of December until the 24th of December (Christmas Eve), the liturgy focuses on the first coming of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.

The gospel today tells us of the second coming of Jesus Christ! The gospel tells us that at the end of time, the sun, moon, and stars will be shaken; the seas will be in turmoil and those who do not believe will die of fear! More importantly, the gospel tells us that the Son of Man will come in a cloud in glory and those who believe will be liberated, saved and redeemed!

Most importantly, the gospel tells us to stay awake and to pray, to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ! In order to stay awake for the coming of Jesus Christ we have to pray! The gospel of Luke is a gospel of prayer!

The gospel tells us not to be “intoxicated” with alcohol, sex, money, etc., and the world in general, but to stay awake with prayer; so that when Jesus Christ comes a second time we will be able to stand with confidence before Him!

3. The first reading tells us that the Jesus who will come again a second time at the end of the world is the same Jesus who came a first time 2000 years ago! Thus the first reading tells us of the first coming of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. The first reading tells us of the first coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah promised to David. He is the fulfillment of the promise made to David! He is the descendent and successor of David! He will be virtuous, righteous and just, and will do what is right and just, but not only in the ethical and moralistic sense, but also and especially in the spiritual sense, that is, he will liberate, save and redeem! (R H Fuller) Thus the first reading continues that, Judah will be saved and Israel will be secured and Jerusalem will be called ‘the Lord is our righteousness (HCSB), our justice (CSB), and our Saving-Justice’! (NJB)

4. The responsorial psalm is from psalm 25. Psalm 25 is a prayer for God’s forgiveness and guidance (CSB). The responsorial psalm today is an extract from psalm 25 on a prayer for God’s guidance. Thus the first stanza of the responsorial psalm: “Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my savior.” (Ps 24 (25): 4-5)

5. Finally, the second reading tells us to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ by loving one another (reciprocal love) and by loving the whole human race! The second reading also tells us to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ by living holy lives!

6. During this time of Advent, the Church also tells us to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas and at the end of time: (i) by repentance and conversion, that is, by going to confession; (ii) by doing penance, though unlike Lent, Advent is not primarily a penitential season, but a season of joyful expectation. Penance helps us to repent and to convert, and to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ. (iii) The Church also asks us to be Santa Claus (St. Nicholas, from Dutch) to the poor, the needy, the aged, the sick, the disabled, etc., especially to poor, sick and needy children, that is, to give gifts and to practice charity to the poor! (iv) The Church also asks us to go caroling to announce the good news of Christmas to others! (v) Above all, as in the gospel today, the Church asks us to pray! And one good way of praying is for every family to come together once a week for one hour to share and pray on the “Word of God” as proclaimed in the Sunday Mass readings!

7. Today in the Eucharist we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and our risen Lord will give us his Holy Spirit, to help us during this time of Advent, to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas and at the end of time!

Amen!

Suggested questions for individual reflection and for sharing in the families, in small groups and in small communities:

1. What does the gospel say to you? What does the first reading say to you? What does the responsorial psalm say to you? What does the second reading say to you? Read aloud any verse or verses that touch you in today’s readings: “ ….”

2. What do these verses from the gospel of today say to you:
(i) “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.”? (Lk 21: 27-28)

(ii) “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”? (Lk 21:36)

3. What does the first reading say to you: “See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfill the promise I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah: ‘In those days and at that time, I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David, who shall practice honesty and integrity in the land. In those days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell in confidence. And this is the name the city will be called: The Lord-our-integrity.’”? (Jr 33:14-16)

4. What does this extract from the second reading say to you: “May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.”? (1 Th 3:12-13)

5. What does the “Opening Prayer” of today’s Mass say to you: “All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.”?

6. What does this extract from the “Gospel acclamation” of today’s Mass say to you: “Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.”? (Ps 84:8)

7. What does this extract from the “Preface of Advent 1” say to you: “Father, when he humbled himself to come among us as a man, he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation. Now we watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.”?

8. What do these extracts from the “Solemn Blessing” of Advent say to you:
(i) “You believe that the Son of God once came to us; you look for him to come again. May his coming bring you the light of his holiness and free you with his blessing.”?

(ii) “You rejoice that our Redeemer came to live with us as man. When he comes again in glory, may he reward you with endless life.”?

9. During this time of Advent, how do you prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas and at the end of time?

10. Are you a “Santa Claus” (St. Nicholas, from Dutch) to the poor, the needy, the sick, the aged, the handicapped, the disabled, etc.?

11. “Praying” is the best way to “stay awake” for the Coming of Jesus Christ (Lk 21:36): how, when and where do you pray during this time of Advent?

12. During this time of Advent, how do you “love one another and the whole human race”? (1 Th 3:12)

13. Are there any other questions that you would like to suggest for reflection and sharing?

14. Are there any other experiences that you would like to share?


St. Peter’s College, 575 Jalan Sang Kancil Tiga, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, 4th December 2006