|
Reflections
for Sunday, November 29, 2009
Every year when we begin Advent, we can remind ourselves that this word
Advent means for us the coming of the Lord. Our Catholic tradition reminds
us that there are three comings of the Lord: in the flesh at His
incarnation, in our hearts when we respond to grace and at the end of time
when the universe is transformed and the final judgment takes place.
The first reading today, from the Prophet Jeremiah, speaks eloquently
about the desires of our hearts. God has promised to be with us and to
save us. Once we begin to believe, our hearts can deepen in this desire to
experience God's presence and God's salvation. At times we can get small
glimmers of this God who is with us and constantly is saving us. If we
allow this loving God to open our hearts, that experience can grow so
profound as to overwhelm us with God's love.
The second reading, from the First Letter to the Thessalonians, urges us
to allow love for one another and for all to grow in our hearts. This love
is a gift of God but also shows that we are walking the path given to us by
our Lord. The author of this letter is convinced that the following of
Christ can be fairly simply described as conducting ourselves to please God.
That is another way of saying: seek His face, seek His will, do what He
asks of you.
The Gospel, today from Saint Luke, is written in a style that can convince
people to go sit on their rooftops and wait for the end of the world. It
is really meant to change our hearts so that we become completely sensitive
to God's presence and remain alert and open to the Lord. It is our hearts
and beings that the Lord wants. God wants us to follow Jesus and to come
to the Kingdom.
As we begin this time of Advent, this journey through Advent to celebrate
the birth of Jesus, to celebrate the mysteries of our faith, we can once
more invite the Lord who has been born for us to dwell in our hearts and in
our world. May our hearts cry out with faith: Your kingdom come on earth
as it is in heaven!
Readings of the day:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
| |
Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
|
