FR. LOUIS BIRA
There are various ways to explore as Advent begins. Isaiah calls us to confess our sins and hope for better days. Paul’s thanksgiving to God is about the grace given freely to Christians so as they can look to the future with hope. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against complacency, for the end is coming sooner than we expect. He invites us to stay awake. All these are meaningful insights which are helpful for our spiritual journey in this Advent.
A special Advent 2020
But Advent 2020 is very unique because of the uncertainties due to the covid-19 pandemic. The liturgical season of Advent is always a wonderful moment since we know already the end: joyful Christmas celebrations, Christmas parties, Christmas outings, boxing day, family gatherings…But likely all these long-waited moments may not happen as usual. Restrictions in traveling and gatherings, and social distancing are all norms we are obliged to follow if we have to survive!
But is it that all the end? The answer is no. Jesus is coming…He is coming among us. This confession has never failed Christians. It has always been their companion in times of sorrow and distress. As people of faith in God almighty, we believe and pray that God deliver us from every evil. And special evil of our time is corona virus. This time of advent may be a time where we pray with confidence the prayer usually said during the celebration of Eucharist in this from: “Come among us Lord, deliver us Lord, from every evil, deliver us from corona virus, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior Jesus Christ”. I see this prayer as a timely prayer for this Advent 2020.
In fact, by his death and resurrection, Jesus has already delivered us from evil. To the Corinthians saint Paul says: He must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death (1 Co 15: 26). By our baptism and in sharing his body and blood we have been made one with Christ. We share his victory. The discovery of the vaccine against corona virus may be one of the sings that God never abandons his people. Thanks be to God; it seems that the discovery of the vaccine may soon occur.
An advent of prayer and actions like saint Francis of Assisi
Though this special Advent 2020 calls us to grow in faith and in active prayer, the Gospel reading of this first Sunday of Advent asks us to be like good servants, always at work, awake, waiting for their master to come. What can we do in this time? A simple but meaningful answer is: Let us preach the Gospel. Or with the words of saint Paul: Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Ga 6: 9). The challenge is how to preach the Gospel?
Let us learn from a great saint: Francis of Assisi.
From the life of St. Francis of Assisi we read: “One day, St. Francis asked one of his brothers to come with him the next day to the town of Assisi to preach the Gospel. The brother was very happy about it. The next day morning, St. Francis and the Brother left their Convent and walked to Assisi. There St. Francis walked through all the streets of Assisi, talking friendly with them, cheering the sad people, visiting the sick, playing with the children, visiting the jail and giving words of encouragement for everyone. When evening came, the Brother started wondering when they would start preaching the Gospel to the people. At sunset, Francis told the brother, “Now my Brother, let us go home and thank God for the day and the good He allowed us do to the people”. In disappointment, Brother said: “But, Brother Francis, when shall we begin preaching? We haven’t started yet!” Francis replied, “Dear Brother, if what we did today was not preaching the Gospel, tell me what was it? Example, brother, example is what we have to give to the people, not just plain beautiful words!”
May the Lord who is coming among us, help us to grow in faith, hope and teach us how to bear him witness even in this time of fear.
There are various ways to explore as Advent begins. Isaiah calls us to confess our sins and hope for better days. Paul’s thanksgiving to God is about the grace given freely to Christians so as they can look to the future with hope. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against complacency, for the end is coming sooner than we expect. He invites us to stay awake. All these are meaningful insights which are helpful for our spiritual journey in this Advent.
A special Advent 2020
But Advent 2020 is very unique because of the uncertainties due to the covid-19 pandemic. The liturgical season of Advent is always a wonderful moment since we know already the end: joyful Christmas celebrations, Christmas parties, Christmas outings, boxing day, family gatherings…But likely all these long-waited moments may not happen as usual. Restrictions in traveling and gatherings, and social distancing are all norms we are obliged to follow if we have to survive!
But is it that all the end? The answer is no. Jesus is coming…He is coming among us. This confession has never failed Christians. It has always been their companion in times of sorrow and distress. As people of faith in God almighty, we believe and pray that God deliver us from every evil. And special evil of our time is corona virus. This time of advent may be a time where we pray with confidence the prayer usually said during the celebration of Eucharist in this from: “Come among us Lord, deliver us Lord, from every evil, deliver us from corona virus, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior Jesus Christ”. I see this prayer as a timely prayer for this Advent 2020.
In fact, by his death and resurrection, Jesus has already delivered us from evil. To the Corinthians saint Paul says: He must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death (1 Co 15: 26). By our baptism and in sharing his body and blood we have been made one with Christ. We share his victory. The discovery of the vaccine against corona virus may be one of the sings that God never abandons his people. Thanks be to God; it seems that the discovery of the vaccine may soon occur.
An advent of prayer and actions like saint Francis of Assisi
Though this special Advent 2020 calls us to grow in faith and in active prayer, the Gospel reading of this first Sunday of Advent asks us to be like good servants, always at work, awake, waiting for their master to come. What can we do in this time? A simple but meaningful answer is: Let us preach the Gospel. Or with the words of saint Paul: Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Ga 6: 9). The challenge is how to preach the Gospel?
Let us learn from a great saint: Francis of Assisi.
From the life of St. Francis of Assisi we read: “One day, St. Francis asked one of his brothers to come with him the next day to the town of Assisi to preach the Gospel. The brother was very happy about it. The next day morning, St. Francis and the Brother left their Convent and walked to Assisi. There St. Francis walked through all the streets of Assisi, talking friendly with them, cheering the sad people, visiting the sick, playing with the children, visiting the jail and giving words of encouragement for everyone. When evening came, the Brother started wondering when they would start preaching the Gospel to the people. At sunset, Francis told the brother, “Now my Brother, let us go home and thank God for the day and the good He allowed us do to the people”. In disappointment, Brother said: “But, Brother Francis, when shall we begin preaching? We haven’t started yet!” Francis replied, “Dear Brother, if what we did today was not preaching the Gospel, tell me what was it? Example, brother, example is what we have to give to the people, not just plain beautiful words!”
May the Lord who is coming among us, help us to grow in faith, hope and teach us how to bear him witness even in this time of fear.