Fr. Martin Ali Keke Ndemsou sx
Second Sunday of Advent, Year A
We were baptized, as we heard in the message of John at that time, with the Holy Spirit and fire. Therefore, we are purified like gold in the fire. Our purification through the sacrament of baptism made us precious people of God. As God’s children, we are bound to produce the good fruits of the Kingdom of God, inaugurated by our Lord Jesus Christ, who came, is coming every day in our lives, and shall come at the end of time.
The fruits of God’s Kingdom are mentioned in the first reading, taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. They are among others peace, justice, and integrity. Through the sacrament of confirmation, we receive them. Unfortunately, what we see and hear happening everyday around us are violence, physical as well as verbal, injustice, etc. Our world seems to be sinking into the realm of evil.
However, the second reading, taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to Romans, motivates us to have hope which does not disappoint (cf. Rm5:5). Hope can help us to work for peace, justice, and integrity in our lives and in the life of our fellow human beings, despite the hardships we may encounter.
In addition, the appropriate fruit we need to produce during this providential season of Advent may be also the works of mercy: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick etc. Indeed it is by practicing the works of mercy that we can encounter the Lord (cf. Mt25: 31-46), who comes continually to visit us.
Thus, we should not be distracted by inappropriate things during this season of Advent. Distractions can cause Jesus to pass in our midst every day in the needy we encounter, without our recognizing him. That was the fear of Saint Augustine who once said: “I fear the Lord passing by, without my noticing him; I fear that the Lord may pass beside me in one of these little brothers of mine, without my realizing that it is him.”
May the Lord who is coming every day in our hearts help us to produce the fruit of his Kingdom which are peace, justice, and integrity. Moreover, may he help us to be attentive to his presence in our midst in the persons of our brothers and sisters in need!
Fr. Martin Ali Keke Ndemsou, sx
Second Sunday of Advent, Year A
We were baptized, as we heard in the message of John at that time, with the Holy Spirit and fire. Therefore, we are purified like gold in the fire. Our purification through the sacrament of baptism made us precious people of God. As God’s children, we are bound to produce the good fruits of the Kingdom of God, inaugurated by our Lord Jesus Christ, who came, is coming every day in our lives, and shall come at the end of time.
The fruits of God’s Kingdom are mentioned in the first reading, taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. They are among others peace, justice, and integrity. Through the sacrament of confirmation, we receive them. Unfortunately, what we see and hear happening everyday around us are violence, physical as well as verbal, injustice, etc. Our world seems to be sinking into the realm of evil.
However, the second reading, taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to Romans, motivates us to have hope which does not disappoint (cf. Rm5:5). Hope can help us to work for peace, justice, and integrity in our lives and in the life of our fellow human beings, despite the hardships we may encounter.
In addition, the appropriate fruit we need to produce during this providential season of Advent may be also the works of mercy: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick etc. Indeed it is by practicing the works of mercy that we can encounter the Lord (cf. Mt25: 31-46), who comes continually to visit us.
Thus, we should not be distracted by inappropriate things during this season of Advent. Distractions can cause Jesus to pass in our midst every day in the needy we encounter, without our recognizing him. That was the fear of Saint Augustine who once said: “I fear the Lord passing by, without my noticing him; I fear that the Lord may pass beside me in one of these little brothers of mine, without my realizing that it is him.”
May the Lord who is coming every day in our hearts help us to produce the fruit of his Kingdom which are peace, justice, and integrity. Moreover, may he help us to be attentive to his presence in our midst in the persons of our brothers and sisters in need!
Fr. Martin Ali Keke Ndemsou, sx