Homily for First
Sunday of Advent 2014
Watch! Look out!
The Lord is coming! A word we
often hear during advent is “preparation.”
We often have to prepare ourselves for many things in life. Perhaps we have to prepare cleaning the home
and cooking food for a family gathering or prepare for an upcoming test by
studying. Maybe there is a big game
coming up and one needs extra practice.
Advent is a time for us to prepare spiritually.
How does one
prepare spiritually? This advent I would
like each of us to think of those times we have to pack a bag for a trip,
however keeping in mind that this trip has no clear return date. If the Lord would come today, what would we
need? What should we pack in our bags
this advent? I would strongly encourage
everyone to consider purchasing if not this year get one ready for next an
advent wreath for your home, just like the one we have here in Church of course
much smaller. There is something
spiritual about gathering as a family at home and lighting the candle each
weekend.
The other
thing I would encourage everyone to have is a bible so that we can read and
reflect on the scriptures. For those
with young children at home it would be good to invest in a children’s bible
that will help make the readings more understandable for them. I will be including some links at the end of
my written text which I post on the blog to several Children’s Bibles that are
available. It is important during advent
that we take some time to reflect and study God’s written word. The bible also helps give us another tool to
focus on prayer. For those interested in
studying the next weekend’s readings you can visit the USSCB website and read
over them or better yet you can attend Sister Monica’s bible study class on
Tuesdays where she specifically uses the next weekend’s readings for their
reflection. She has one class at 10am
and the other at 7pm.
Finally I want
to say something about a sacrament in which is near and dear to my heart as a
priest and it’s a sacrament in which I have mentioned many times but the
sacrament of reconciliation. Go to
confession! If it has been years…go! If you do not know what to do or what to say…don’t
worry about it, we as priests will help you.
That’s why we get paid the big bucks!
If you are afraid of the priest…let’s pause…now look at me do I really
look that scary to you. Perhaps God did
not bless me with good looks, but that is why you can go behind the
screen. Putting humor aside…go to
confession! The readings speak of
staying alert. We do not know when the
Lord will come again in glory…we do not know when the Lord will call us
home. Starting this week I will be
hearing confessions 7 days a week, so there will be plenty of opportunity
available for the sacrament. So let me
say it again…go to confession! Put
myself and my brother priests to work.
Brothers and
sisters in closing we sang in our responsorial psalm, “Lord, make us turn to
you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.” Part of us being watchful also is about
letting the Lord into our hearts. Today
we have reflected on some of the tools we can use to orient our hearts and
minds to the Lord. God gives us tools,
let’s put them to use. Stay alert! The Lord is coming!
Links to Various Children's Bibles
No comments:
Post a Comment