Br. Kornelius Glossanto sx
1st Advent Sunday Reflection Sunday, December 1st, 2019
By: Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX
This Sunday we begin Advent time. We already know that “Advent” means “Coming”. So, as faithful people, together with the whole Church, we prepare ourselves for God’s coming into this world. But, didn’t God already come into our lives thousands of years ago? So, why should we still prepare to welcome Him again, every year? What does Advent really mean for us at this time?
It is true that God has come into our lives through his incarnation. There was a time when Jesus, Son of God, really lived among us, in this real world. Sometimes we think that Advent is the only time for celebrating that historical event. Actually, it is not only about welcoming the mystery of the Word made flesh, through the womb of the Virgin Mary, which will bring ‘Light’ to this world. Advent is also about how we incarnate that mystery in our daily life, too. Since we are too busy with our life and work, we forget that God comes and lives among us all the time. Now, it is high time to wake up’, as we are reminded by St. Paul in today's letter to the Romans: “Besides this, you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rm 13:11). As St. John Henry Newman reminded us: “Advent is a time of waiting, it is a time of joy because the coming of Christ is not only a gift of grace and salvation, but it is also a time of commitment because it motivates us to live the present time as a time of responsibility and vigilance. This ‘vigilance’ means the necessity, the urgency of an active ‘waiting’. We must do that, because as Jesus said, “Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mt. 24:44) Finally, let us prepare ourselves during this Advent. Let's start by being kind, attentive, truthful, and compassionate with our family, neighbour, and all our brothers and sisters.
1st Advent Sunday Reflection Sunday, December 1st, 2019
By: Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX
This Sunday we begin Advent time. We already know that “Advent” means “Coming”. So, as faithful people, together with the whole Church, we prepare ourselves for God’s coming into this world. But, didn’t God already come into our lives thousands of years ago? So, why should we still prepare to welcome Him again, every year? What does Advent really mean for us at this time?
It is true that God has come into our lives through his incarnation. There was a time when Jesus, Son of God, really lived among us, in this real world. Sometimes we think that Advent is the only time for celebrating that historical event. Actually, it is not only about welcoming the mystery of the Word made flesh, through the womb of the Virgin Mary, which will bring ‘Light’ to this world. Advent is also about how we incarnate that mystery in our daily life, too. Since we are too busy with our life and work, we forget that God comes and lives among us all the time. Now, it is high time to wake up’, as we are reminded by St. Paul in today's letter to the Romans: “Besides this, you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rm 13:11). As St. John Henry Newman reminded us: “Advent is a time of waiting, it is a time of joy because the coming of Christ is not only a gift of grace and salvation, but it is also a time of commitment because it motivates us to live the present time as a time of responsibility and vigilance. This ‘vigilance’ means the necessity, the urgency of an active ‘waiting’. We must do that, because as Jesus said, “Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mt. 24:44) Finally, let us prepare ourselves during this Advent. Let's start by being kind, attentive, truthful, and compassionate with our family, neighbour, and all our brothers and sisters.