ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HIS COMING?

 “SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”

Daily Spiritual Reflections

28th November 2021

------------------------------------------------

SUNDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5,8-10,14; 1 Thes 3:12 - 4: 2; Lk 21:25-28,34-36

------------------------------------------------

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HIS COMING?

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. Today also marks for us the first day of the new liturgical year. The word advent comes from the Latin word ‘adventus’ which means coming or arrival. Advent is a season wherein we prepare for the coming of Christ. When we speak about the coming of Christ we often think about two events one that has already happened and the one which is about to happen. The first coming of Christ which is depicted in the mystery of the incarnation is the event which has already happened. The parousia that is the second coming of Christ is an event that we await for. 

The first coming of Christ is mentioned in today’s first reading from the book of Jeremiah in the form of prophecy which is fulfilled when Christ was born in Bethlehem. This is the first coming which we anticipate and prepare for as we celebrate the solemnity of Christmas. Whereas in today’s gospel we hear Christ himself prophesying about his second coming in the glorious form. This is a the coming of Christ which we the baptised faithful await for, and famously known as parousia. However, in between these two comings of Christ, we also have another coming of Christ, a third or intermediary coming of Christ, which happens every day of our life especially when He comes into our life through the Eucharist. In brief, his first coming was in the flesh and in weakness; his intermediary coming is in the spirit and in power; and the last coming will be in glory and majesty. This intermediary coming is like a road leading from the first to the last coming. 

When Christ comes everyday in our hearts we are filled with the grace to contemplate on the first coming of Christ that is the mystery of incarnation while also preparing ourselves to welcome Christ at the time of the parousia. All the comings of Christ may it be in the Incarnate form or through the Eucharist or at the time of the end of the ages are focused upon our salvation.  

When we say we are in the season of advent, we do not merely wait for the coming of Christ, rather we need to prepare ourselves and make ourselves worthy to receive him when he arrives. The second reading today from the first book of Thessalonians urges us and teaches us how we can detach ourselves from the worldly ways and sin while we attach ourselves to things that help us to prepare and make ourselves worthy to receive Christ. 

When we speak about preparation so many things pop up in our mind like buying new dresses, building the crib, decorating the Christmas trees, preparing goodies and so on. While all these things are required to build the atmosphere of a festive celebration, we also require an internal preparation, mainly spiritual, to prepare the atmosphere to receive Christ in our hearts. We must know that Jesus is wanting to be born in our hearts rather than in the crib we prepare for him. 

When Christ was born in the incarnate form, the world was not ready to receive him. The people around were hostile and were seeking to kill him eventhough he was just an infant. This trend continues till the end of his life where we see his own people deny him and crucify him to the cross. Even today when he comes into our hearts, and if our hearts are filled with sin and malice, we once again deny him and cause him pain. Therefore, as we clean our homes and dress ourselves with new clothes for Christmas, let us also strive to clean our hearts by repenting and changing our lives, and by partaking in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), and clothe ourselves with the new self in Christ. 

Let us also remember that advent is not the only time for preparation, rather we have to prepare for the coming of Christ every day and every moment of our life. Advent, however, is the season that comes every year at the very beginning of the liturgical year reminding us that our Lord Jesus Christ will come again and that we need to prepare ourselves for the same. Let us pray that our hearts may become a fitting and worthy place for Jesus Christ to be born.

Response: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul

Copyright ©2013-2021 ©Springs of Living Water by ® http://springs.carmelmedia.in