Photo by Fr Sunny from Metropolitan Museum
First Sunday of Advent-Hope Sunday
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Advent means "coming." As often as we say, "Thy kingdom come" we express our faith that there is a kingdom of love waiting for us.
Have you ever faced with a question from anyone “what is these wreath and candles with different colors mean?” I know you know it, but I just wanted to refresh our memories.
The circle of the green wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy and Love, which has no beginning and end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.
Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of advent, which themselves symbolizes the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The Advent color purple is the color of penitence fasting and solemn prayer as well as the color of royalty the Advent of the King, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Three Candles are purple, symbolizing penance, preparation and sacrifice; the Pink candle symbolizes the same but highlights the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, when we rejoice because our preparation is now half way finished.
The Light reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God’s grace to others (Isa. 42:6).
The Purple Candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope or Prophecy. The second purple Candle is the Peace Candle or Bethlehem or John the Baptist or Annunciation. Third Sunday Pink Candle is Joy Candle or Angels or Magi or proclamation. Fourth Sunday Purple Candle is the Candle of Love or Shepherds or Mary or Fulfillment.
The Center Candle is the White and is called the Christ Candle. It is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Day. The Center location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season giving light to the world.
Have you ever watched people waiting? Waiting for their turn: waiting the call from the doctor regarding the results of a biopsy; the letter of acceptance or rejection at a university or for a new position; the vigil at the bedside of a loved one. Everyone’s reaction to waiting is different and unique. For some the waiting seems reflective; for others it seems annoying; and there are points in our lives when the waiting becomes fearful while we stain to cling to hope. When we hear the word advent our bodies resound “waiting”. We are waiting for the Coming of our Advent King.
Advent calls to mind the two comings of Christ; His second at the end of the world and His first, which we re-present at Christmas, and because of His first coming then, the coming of Christ into our lives, each day of our lives, through prayer, the Scriptures, the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments, and our communion or solidarity which we share with one another as members in Christ’s Body, the Church.
If we prepare well to re-present and re-live the first coming of Christ, then, we shall be ready for His second coming. As St. Augustine said: "Let us not resist His first coming, so that we will not dread His second coming."
The gospel uses two images to make the point that “you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42b). One is the flood which overtook the unprepared people of Noah’s time. The other is the analogy of a thief in the night, who always comes unannounced. The Lord’s coming and the end of the world as we know it will occur suddenly and unexpectedly. It will come unannounced, springing a surprise on an unsuspecting world. Like a wise householder, therefore, we are urged to be watchful and ready.
What does it mean to be watchful and ready? Paul says in 1Thessalonians 5:6-8
So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep; sleep at night and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
To be awake, therefore, is to live a life of faithful service to the Lord, following the Lord’s commands and abiding in his grace.
Why is it futile for us to run about in search of a calendar for the end-times and the Lord’s coming? Because actually the great Day of the Lord can overtake us individually any day, any time. The day we die is the day we appear before God. Why should I be stockpiling for the Day of the Lord in two or three years time when I am not even sure of tomorrow? For every one of us there is an individual Day of the Lord, the day we appear in personal judgment before God and there is the general Day of the Lord, the day of general judgment of all humankind. The Day of the Lord is as near to each of us as the day of our death, which could be any day.
A challenge to re-think and focus our lives on God's goodness is summed up beautifully in the words of Cardinal Newman, "….. Few will open to me immediately when I knock. They will have something to do first; they will have to get ready. They will have to recover from the surprise and confusion which overtake them on the first news of my coming, and will need time to collect themselves, and summon about them their better thoughts and affections. They feel themselves very well off as they are; and wish to serve God as they are. They are satisfied to remain on earth; they do not wish to move; they do not wish to change."
"When we stand there in the presence of the Son of Man, will there be anything we will wish we had done? Now is the acceptable time." This is an appropriate question to ask ourselves as we begin the Season of Advent and a new liturgical year, a new Church year.
The second reading, from the Letter to the Romans, reminds us that now is the time to change our lives. When we think about the end of the world, when we think about the end of our own lives, too often we think that there is still plenty of time for us to convert and to begin to live completely in Christ. The Letter to the Romans wants us to know that NOW is the time to change. There is no other time. So Advent keeps pushing us to think deeply about life and about death. How am I living today? The way that I am living today is how I shall be if I die today. Do I want to be for eternity as I am today? Let us turn to Jesus our Lord and ask Him to transform us so that we may live with His love entirely, now and forever.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Advent means "coming." As often as we say, "Thy kingdom come" we express our faith that there is a kingdom of love waiting for us.
Have you ever faced with a question from anyone “what is these wreath and candles with different colors mean?” I know you know it, but I just wanted to refresh our memories.
The circle of the green wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy and Love, which has no beginning and end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.
Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of advent, which themselves symbolizes the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The Advent color purple is the color of penitence fasting and solemn prayer as well as the color of royalty the Advent of the King, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Three Candles are purple, symbolizing penance, preparation and sacrifice; the Pink candle symbolizes the same but highlights the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, when we rejoice because our preparation is now half way finished.
The Light reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God’s grace to others (Isa. 42:6).
The Purple Candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope or Prophecy. The second purple Candle is the Peace Candle or Bethlehem or John the Baptist or Annunciation. Third Sunday Pink Candle is Joy Candle or Angels or Magi or proclamation. Fourth Sunday Purple Candle is the Candle of Love or Shepherds or Mary or Fulfillment.
The Center Candle is the White and is called the Christ Candle. It is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Day. The Center location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season giving light to the world.
Have you ever watched people waiting? Waiting for their turn: waiting the call from the doctor regarding the results of a biopsy; the letter of acceptance or rejection at a university or for a new position; the vigil at the bedside of a loved one. Everyone’s reaction to waiting is different and unique. For some the waiting seems reflective; for others it seems annoying; and there are points in our lives when the waiting becomes fearful while we stain to cling to hope. When we hear the word advent our bodies resound “waiting”. We are waiting for the Coming of our Advent King.
Advent calls to mind the two comings of Christ; His second at the end of the world and His first, which we re-present at Christmas, and because of His first coming then, the coming of Christ into our lives, each day of our lives, through prayer, the Scriptures, the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments, and our communion or solidarity which we share with one another as members in Christ’s Body, the Church.
If we prepare well to re-present and re-live the first coming of Christ, then, we shall be ready for His second coming. As St. Augustine said: "Let us not resist His first coming, so that we will not dread His second coming."
The gospel uses two images to make the point that “you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42b). One is the flood which overtook the unprepared people of Noah’s time. The other is the analogy of a thief in the night, who always comes unannounced. The Lord’s coming and the end of the world as we know it will occur suddenly and unexpectedly. It will come unannounced, springing a surprise on an unsuspecting world. Like a wise householder, therefore, we are urged to be watchful and ready.
What does it mean to be watchful and ready? Paul says in 1Thessalonians 5:6-8
So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep; sleep at night and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
To be awake, therefore, is to live a life of faithful service to the Lord, following the Lord’s commands and abiding in his grace.
Why is it futile for us to run about in search of a calendar for the end-times and the Lord’s coming? Because actually the great Day of the Lord can overtake us individually any day, any time. The day we die is the day we appear before God. Why should I be stockpiling for the Day of the Lord in two or three years time when I am not even sure of tomorrow? For every one of us there is an individual Day of the Lord, the day we appear in personal judgment before God and there is the general Day of the Lord, the day of general judgment of all humankind. The Day of the Lord is as near to each of us as the day of our death, which could be any day.
A challenge to re-think and focus our lives on God's goodness is summed up beautifully in the words of Cardinal Newman, "….. Few will open to me immediately when I knock. They will have something to do first; they will have to get ready. They will have to recover from the surprise and confusion which overtake them on the first news of my coming, and will need time to collect themselves, and summon about them their better thoughts and affections. They feel themselves very well off as they are; and wish to serve God as they are. They are satisfied to remain on earth; they do not wish to move; they do not wish to change."
"When we stand there in the presence of the Son of Man, will there be anything we will wish we had done? Now is the acceptable time." This is an appropriate question to ask ourselves as we begin the Season of Advent and a new liturgical year, a new Church year.
The second reading, from the Letter to the Romans, reminds us that now is the time to change our lives. When we think about the end of the world, when we think about the end of our own lives, too often we think that there is still plenty of time for us to convert and to begin to live completely in Christ. The Letter to the Romans wants us to know that NOW is the time to change. There is no other time. So Advent keeps pushing us to think deeply about life and about death. How am I living today? The way that I am living today is how I shall be if I die today. Do I want to be for eternity as I am today? Let us turn to Jesus our Lord and ask Him to transform us so that we may live with His love entirely, now and forever.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.
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