30th November 2008 - First Sunday of Advent
As a people, we are often left waiting for many things, examination results, phone calls, buses and so on. Waiting can be very anxious and frustrating. It disturbs us because we are in a sense no longer in charge, and we do not like that. Advent is a great lesson in the art of waiting. We use these four weeks to prepare to recall the birth of the Saviour. From today the big countdown begins, and the big hype also. In the middle of all the fuss and bother, we will each Sunday meet people in the Scriptures who will help us in our journey, the prophets and Mary the one who first knew the joy of salvation.
The early Church expected the Second coming of Christ to be soon after the first, so they were always in a state of readiness. They were alert to the signs of the times, and hoped that they would not be caught on the hop again. However, the Second coming is still to be realised. So we need to be ready for it, we need to be awake and to understand that it will come some day when we least expect it. The prophets of doom and gloom who speak of dire warnings of Apocryphal disaster have lost the point of salvation history. The Lord will come again, but his coming will be as simple as the first, maybe not in a stable, but as gently as dew falling on the grass. Therefore, we need to have the eyes of faith to be able to recognise his coming. We need to get serious about our faith and its many implications.
So how can we prepare for this Christmas? We can set aside some time each day, even five minutes and allow ourselves to become quiet before the mystery of God. Someone once said if you discover your own peace, it would allow others to discover theirs. Even if we did that, the place we live and work in would be a happier place, a place of tranquillity. Our prayer this Advent is Marantha, come Lord Jesus come. Amen.
|
 |
Homilies Archive
2009 HOMILIES
25th December 2008
Christmas
21st December 2008
14th December 2008
8th December 2008
Immaculate Conception
7th December 2008
2nd Sunday of Advent
30th November 2008
1st Sunday of Advent
23rd November 2008
Christ the King
16th November 2008
2nd November 2008
All Souls
1st November 2008
All Saints
26th October 2008
12th October 2008
5th October 2008
28th September 2008
21st September 2008
14th September 2008
7th September 2008
31st August 2008
24th August 2008
17th August 2008
15th August 2008
Assumption
10th August 2008
3rd August 2008
20th July 2008
13th July 2008
29th June 2008
22nd June 2008
1st June 2008
23rd March 2008
Easter Sunday
22nd March 2008
Easter Vigil
2nd March 2008
24th February 2008
17th February 2008
10th February 2008
|
