2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle C, Year I)

Community Word:Disciples of Christ prepare their hearts for His coming with joy.

Theme: We prepare for Christ’s coming when we repent of our wrongdoings and seek forgiveness.

Promise:“…the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”(Phil 1:6)

Reflection:
The season of Advent is an opportune time to recall those occasions when we neglected to put Jesus at the center of our lives, when we disrespected Him in our thoughts, by our actions or in actions. We are asked to remember and recognize those times when we did not love others the way Jesus teaches us to love, failing to be His hands and feet to others and turning our backs to our Lord away from His grace and love. We are invited towards conversion of heart, to confess our sins, and to resolve in avoiding temptations, with sincere and fervent penance to restore our lost relationship with God.

The theme for the 2nd week of Advent which states – We prepare for Christ’s coming when we repent of our wrongdoings and seek forgiveness, reminds us of our need to be repentant and to ask forgiveness for our sins, as the best ways to prepare for the Lord’s second coming. Repentance is turning back to the heart of God, admitting our brokenness and having fallen short from our vocation to love. We come to His throne of grace and mercy believing that He is the only One who brings healing to our sick souls and who possesses the power and authority to release us from the bondage of sin.

We encounter God’s power to forgive and His might arm of mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the priest who acts as the minister of His forgiving love. When the priest raises his hand, makes the sign of the cross and grants absolution, he sets the penitent free of his offenses, by the grace of God. He is using the authority entrusted by Christ to His Church by which sins are forgiven. Confession is the indispensable sacrament and font of God’s grace in making our preparation for this season as fruitful, meaningful and complete.

Sadly, nowadays going to confession has lost its value and attraction to many people. It is noticeable that present-day society is losing the “sense of sin.” We hear that many countries have already legalized divorce and some are making laws which circumvent the preservation of the unborn fetus. More and more countries are permitting same sex marriages. These horrible offenses against God, nature and humanity are no longer considered morally wrong and sinful simply because these are accepted by society and are legal. As Christians, we know that not everything legal is morally right. But some lawmakers think that personal freedom is absolute and they can change moral laws as they wish.

In the Acts of the Apostles, it is written, “Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,” (Acts 3:19). This may sound like a simple invitation, but it is really a command from the Lord for all of us, whether bigor small sinner, to experience His forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to break the barrier which sin created between us and God. He stirs our hearts constantly, humbles and encourages us to allow Him to rule over our lives where sin once prevailed, making our heart His home and as the shining star of Bethlehem, pointing others to Jesus, our loving Savior.

Being reconciled with God gives us a new life of grace. He showers us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to guide and help us resist all temptations, giving us love, joy, peace and self-control. He gives us wisdom and fortitude to preserve our relationship with Jesus and pursue what right and true. As we remain in God’s grace, we become steadfast even in the face of insurmountable challenges of life for the Lord has promised us, “…the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus,” (Phil 1:6). May Advent become meaningful for us in continuing our faith journey with Jesus, our Emmanuel, always with us until He comes again.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, grant us the grace of repentance through the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that we may be free from the slavery of sin as we grow in faith and in humility, the essential ingredients of our spiritual preparation for Your coming – in history, in mystery and in glory. Make us aware of the many things that keep us from You and to sincerely turn away from them. Keep us holy during the season of Advent that we may celebrate Your birthday with joy, not only this Christmas but every day of our lives. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1. How do you prepare spiritually for Christmas during the Advent Season? When was the last time you made a meaningful confession?
2. Where you have a difficult time repenting for certain offenses and asking forgiveness, how do you intend to overcome these struggles?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
Dec 9, 2018 (Sun) – Bar51-9/Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6/Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/Lk 3:1-6
Dec 10, 2018 (Mon) – Is 35:1-10/Ps 85:9,-14/Lk 5:17-26
Dec 11, 2018 (Tue) – Is 40:1-11/Ps 96:1-3, 10-13/Mt 18:12-14
Dec 12, 2018 (Wed) – Rv 11:19, 12:1-6/Jd 13:18.19/Lk 1:39-47
Dec 13, 2018 (Thu) – Is 41:13-20/Ps 148:1, 9, 10-13/Mt 11:11-15
Dec 14, 2018 (Fri) – Is 48:17-19/Ps 1:1-4, 6/Mt 11:16-19
Dec 15, 2018 (Sat) – Zp 3:14-18/Is 12:2-6/Phi 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”