1st Sunday of Advent, year ’C’
“There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars ; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves.”
A new liturgical year begins today. The aim of this liturgical journey is to allow us to be more present to our realtionship with Jesus in the presetn moment, whatever our situation may be. Time passes and never stops, we often have a hard time accepting these continuous changes. For each one of us there is the silence of what we shall bcome and the opening of the gospel of Saint Luke illustrates this very well.
The time of Advent, as we await the Coming of God, opens up before us and we need to tighten our links that unite us oen to another. The Word repeats to us :’ When all these events begin, stand up and raise your head up high, because your livberation is near.“Today, all these ’events’ are about the world and all our personal situations! Christ has conquered, he accomplishes teh victory of hsi Love in us, He accomplishes it across the whole world. It i with great hope that we celebrate the combat of Jesus for Life in this time of Advent. Let us pray fervently so that the victory of Love is accomplished once more and that we are found to be more available tot he Holy Spirit.”Men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heavens will be shaken."
Hope is a new motor that pushes us into action and incites us to do lots of generous activities. During this time when we are preapring to celebrate
Chrsitmas, we are invited to aprticipate in God’s new creation, to please others, forgive, renew contacts, come to the help of people,create a more fraternal world. To stay awake and to pray at all times, for we are a people moving ahead. We are the ones who hear the announce of the Coming of Jesus.
There are signs that bring me to the fact that the present time is in the process of ’becoming’ : the songs of the birds, the light behind my shutters…it is the time for prayer in thanksgiving for the One who gives us this Gift of life which is so beautiful. It is offered to me without any conditions. It is the time to be silent, to be quiet, to quieten noises so as to listen. I open up my space, that are not reduced to my present worries.
In the beginning of this liturgical year, Heaven commits us to consider the Infnite Love of God. His Love is free, and gracious and joins the deepest parts of our hearts. Let us remain awakened when we perceive exterior signs that take us out of ourselves, out of our dreamy torpor.
“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 up straight , because your liberation is near at hand.”
Mary’s little Child will be born at Chrsitmas time, he adapts himself to us in taking on our humanity. The Lord Jesus is victorious over evil! We want to be ’standing’ like someone walking ahead,who gives and who receives, who is present and desirous, open to what is unknown. So we can appear standing before Jesus when He makes himself closer to us, to be able to live the encounter with God, the encounter with the whole of humanity. So the Gospel can cry out and the apostle Paul encourage us : ’May the Lord increase and enrich your love for each other and for all, so that it matches ours for you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be bleamelss in the sight of God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.“God turns us into messagers of Peace, it is the will of our Father who lovingly watches over each one of us. He does so even more strongly when we are going through trials and hardships. He is offered up every day in the Eucharist so as to give us Life. He is made into ’Bread of Life” so that we take strength and vigour in Him.