Community Word: A joyful spiritual preparation brings Jesus to birth in our lives.
Order: “…Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh.” (Rom 13:14)
Reflection:
The first Sunday of December this year marks the start of the Advent Season, the season when the faithful in joyous anticipation prepare, not only for the first Noel, but for what also could be the Second Coming. This could also be the time when people may overlook the spiritual significance of the Season and get carried away by the celebrations and social gatherings that come with the occasion.
The Word for the month of December: “A joyful spiritual preparation brings Jesus to birth in our lives” invites people to a change in perspective. Advent should be a time for reflection, repentance, and receiving sacraments, a fitting time to making amends, changing our ways and transforming our lives, a time to welcome Jesus’ birth within us and allow him to live in our hearts. It is a good time to give Him the gift He has long wanted from us: our steadfast and unwavering commitment to Him. We do know what will please Jesus for His birthday, let us give it to Him!
This month’s Order is: “…Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh,” (Rom 13:14). As true servants, let us recognize that every good we receive is by God’s grace. We have to persevere in our commitment and free ourselves from the distractions of this secular world. We have to spend time getting to know who Jesus is in our life. We should take delight in living a Christ-like life, glorifying God for every blessing. We ought to consciously act and live in faith, fervently asking the Lord to always fill our hearts with His goodness, love, peace and joy.
For the month of December, our weekly themes help us in having a joyful spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus and remind us to put Christ first in our life:
Week#1 Theme: “We bring Jesus to birth in our life when we prepare for His coming with vigilance.” The liturgical readings of the 1st Sunday of Advent are a timely wake-up call. We are to walk in the light of the Lord and learn to be a people of peace, casting off the deeds of darkness, putting on the armor of light. We are to stay awake, be prepared and be vigilant, for the Son of Man may come when we least expect Him.
Week#2 Theme: “We bring Jesus to birth in our life when we produce good fruit as evidence of our repentance.” In the readings of the 2nd Sunday, we hear St. John the Baptist proclaims with insistence: “Reform your lives! for the reign of God is at hand.” He calls for a fruitful and lasting conversion for those who have gone astray, lest they suffer the consequences of being thrown into the fires of hell.
Week#3 Theme: “We bring Jesus to birth in our life when we proclaim the Good News to the poor.” The readings for the 3rd Sunday give the reasons for the invitation to rejoice, for the Lord brings us His salvation. He will come to save His people, and the miraculous healing He performs reveals that, indeed, He is the long-awaited Messiah whose mission is to bring salvation to those who long for it.
Week#4 Theme: “We bring Jesus to birth in our life when, like Joseph, we listen to the voice of God, and obey.” In the 4th Sunday’s readings Mary and Joseph make God’s plan their own by accepting the call to be partners and instruments of God’s love for the awaited Messiah, a task that demands unparalleled faith and trust in God.
Week#5 Theme: “We bring Jesus to birth in our life when we honor our parents and those who exercise pastoral authority over us.” The last Sunday of December is the Feast of the Holy Family. Together, Jesus, Mary and Joseph are the model to be emulated by all families. Celebrating this feast should remind us to ever be grateful for the gift of our own family, where we first experienced and learned to love and to honor those in authority over us.
But there has to be a difference in our celebration of Christmas this year, as compared to the previous years. We have to pause for a while, step back and be more responsive to the reality of the times. We cannot play deaf and blind to the pressing needs of the victims of the recent earthquake and devastating typhoon in the Visayas. By scaling down our gift-giving, or even foregoing Christmas parties this year, we can channel the savings to help alleviate the plight of our stricken brethren. Let us content ourselves in the knowledge that we have what matters most – Christ’s presence in our lives, the source of our inner strength, joy, and wisdom.
We give glory, to You, Jesus Christ for coming into our lives!
