Today the Church begins the season of Advent, which is divided into two parts, from the first Sunday to 16 December, we prepare for the future coming of Jesus and from 17 to 24 December, we recall his historical coming. The Church is a pilgrim Church. It journeys between this twofold coming of Jesus. During this journey, the Church, like any other pilgrim, goes through a threefold experience of loneliness, hope and watchful waiting. In moments of crises and struggles, we feel that we have been abandoned by God. It is not that God has deserted us but that we have forgotten or ignored His presence with us. Even in such situations, we have to believe that another world is possible. It is only those who see the invisible who can do the impossible. We ought to hop for the intervention of the Lord and wait for it patiently, just as the Church waits vigilantly for the second coming of the Lord. As we begin this season of Advent and a new Liturgical Year today, let us ask the Lord to grant us a deep sense of security and assurance during our journey of faith, a journey towards a new world of love, joy and peace.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come and visit your people.
We await your coming. Come, O Lord!
Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When he humbled himself to come among us,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ will come again in his glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
Today’s Readings – Daily Meditation:
Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem dwell secure.
We begin Advent coming to the Lord who promises to keep us safe. In awe we say:
“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul!”
Psalm 25
Let’s begin this week with a deeply felt prayer.
Even if we don’t know exactly what we need or long for,
today, let’s try to express our desire for God’s help and assistance.
The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. Jeremiah 33
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
Psalm 25
Today’s Daily Reflection – Intercessions:
To God our Father, who has given us the grace
to wait in graceful hope for the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, let us make our prayer:
Show us Your mercy, Lord.
Sanctify us in mind and body,
– keep us without sin until the coming of Your Son.
Make us walk this day in holiness,
– and live upright and devout lives in this world.
May we be clothed in our Lord Jesus Christ,
– and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us to stand watchful and ready,
– until Your Son is revealed in all His glory.
Closing Prayer:
Lord God,
I sense Your power, Your might
and I stand in awe, painfully aware
of how poor and weak I am before You.
As I begin this Advent journey,
teach me to turn to You in my fear and sorrow.
I don’t want to keep making my heart hard against You
turning a deaf ear to Your invitation.
Only You can help me to soften,
to be like the clay in Your gentle potter’s hands.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen. (Creighton University)
AnaStpaul 