Fourth Sunday of Advent (Cycle C, Year I)
Community Word: Disciples of Christ prepare with vigilance and rejoicing for His coming
Theme: We celebrate the coming of Christ when we believe, like Mary in God’s word.
Promise: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:45)
Reflection:
The last Sunday of Advent will give us one last reminder to prepare spiritually for Christmas. Let us reexamine our plans one last time. Are our plans still self-centered and self-absorbed? What have we resolved to offer our Lord on His birthday? Will these please Him?
The Community’s Word for the month is clear: “Disciples of Christ prepare with vigilance and rejoicing for His coming.” What should be the source of our rejoicing? The Holy Spirit was the source of Jesus’s joy as Luke 10:21 tells us. In another passage from Luke (1:46-47), Mary rejoices at the announcement of the angel that the Holy Spirit will come upon her “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior”. Obviously the source of joy for both Jesus and his mother is the Holy Spirit who also brings joy to our hearts, and is the reason we experience the joy of others.
In this gospel depicting Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, we are invited to compare ourselves with Mary, whose life was characterized by her unwavering faithfulness and obedience to her God. If we can emulate her attitude of total openness to the Spirit (not only because our name, Bukas Loob sa Diyos means openness to the Spirit), and make ourselves fully available to God’s plan, we shall become more Christ-like in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. If we truly consider Mary to be our spiritual model, following the Community Direction to: “emulate our Blessed Mother’s faith and obedience in following the guidance of our spiritual leaders and the Church” would be easier to do.
Our Theme for the week states: “We celebrate the coming of Christ when we believe, like Mary, in God’s word.” We believe in God’s Word when we respond freely and generously to God’s plan for us, and we experience deeper and lasting joy in living closer to God. We believe in God’s Word when we can unhesitatingly commit to Him: “I come to do your will, O God.” (Hebrews 10:7) We believe in God’s word when we generously share with others the blessings and joys we receive.
Last week’s gospel asks: “What should we do?” (Luke 3:10). Mary did her part when she went out of her comfort zone to visit her cousin Elizabeth. We, in turn, must reflect upon the same question. What should we do? How are we preparing for Christmas? As we profess our love for Jesus, we too should express the joy of this love to others. BLD has many mission fields waiting for willing hands to help bring in the harvest. Are we ready to join any, or all, of these, or bring joy to someone we don’t know this Christmas? Can we make Christmas a time of giving (of self, of time, of our treasures and talents), good works and affirmation of family ties? Can we turn everyday into Christmas in our giving and receiving? For no one is so poor, he cannot give, and no one is so rich, he cannot receive. And we owe it to our God – and to ourselves – to prepare spiritually for the coming of the Lord anew into our life.
Joy, tranquility and peace are the blessings we associate with Christmas. As we claim the Community Promise for the week, “ Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled ” (Luke 1:45), let us allow the Lord increase our faith in all His promises, our hope in the joys of heaven and our love for Him as our all in all.
Prayer
Lord, human as we are, we aspire to be like God. Yet in all humility and obedience to the Father’s will, Jesus became man, to be one with us. May we be able to always imitate Him and Mama Mary in our faithfulness and obedience, as we resolve to live lives pleasing to the Father now and forever. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the relevance of the birth of Jesus to my spiritual life?
2. How can I experience the joy and peace that come from God?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
December 23, 2012 (Sun) Mi 5:1-4/ Ps 80:2,3,15,16,18,19/ Heb 10:5-10/ Lk 1:39-45
December 24, 2012 (Mon) 2 Sm 7:1-5,8-12,14,16/ Ps 89:2-5,27,29/ Lk 1:67-69
December 25, 2012 (Tues) Is 52:7-10/ Ps 98:1-6/ Heb 1:1-6/ Jn 1:1-18 or 1-5, 9-14
December 26, 2012 (Wed) Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59/ Ps 31:3,4,6,8,16,17/ Mt 10:17-22
December 27, 2012 (Thur) 1Jn 1:1-4/ Ps 97:1,2,5,6,11,12/ Jn 20:1-8
December 28, 2012 (Fri) 1Jn 1:5-2:2/ Ps 124:2-5,7,8/ Mt 2:13-18
December 29, 2012 (Sat) 1Jn 2:3-11/ Ps 96:1-3,5,6/ Lk 2:22-35
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
