First Sunday of Advent: Year- C

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16: I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2: Coming of Jesus.

The Gospel: Luke 21:25-28. 34-36: Your liberation is near at hand.

We are starting today a New Year of Worship. We shall go again through the various times of the Year of the Church:

Advent

Christmas

Lent

Easter

Pentecost

Ordinary Time of the Year.

 

We do not notice the growth of our children, plants, flowers, trees, etc every day. Yet there is growth and development in each moment of our lives.

The church wants us to grow, day after day, year after year, and through the various times in the Year of Worship.

We don’t grow by just remembering in the Year of the Church, we can grow spiritually:

·       By re-living them within us year after year

·       By really getting ready for the coming of Christ at Advent time

·       By really having Christ born in our souls at Christmas

·       By really suffering and dying to sin with Christ during Lent time

·       By really rising to a new life with the Risen Jesus at Easter

·       By really receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

·       By actively and joyfully waiting for the final coming of Christ during the ordinary time of the year.

In a way, Christians ought to live these various times of the year of Worship at one and the same time throughout their life.

We should always be ready to welcome Christ since Christ keeps on coming to us in various ways day after day.

So we must live with Christ, walk with Christ, suffer with Christ, die with Christ, and rise with Christ on the last day and every day of our life.

1.    The time of Advent:

There are two types of time in Greek: 1. Chronos (calendar time) 2. kairos (the fullness or grace-filled time).

The word “Advent” means “coming” –who is coming? Not the historical Jesus as the physical body, but the transformed Christ at the last day for judgment.

2.    There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ:

We can see God and reach God through Jesus Christ the mediator between God and the people. Jesus saved us by his just living life, dying to sin, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

At the beginning of this season of Advent, we should make our prayer which the Prophet puts on the lips of the people of Israel in today’s first reading:

a.    We must acknowledge our own sinfulness

b.    We must get convinced that sin is at the root of all our miseries

c.     There is nothing in us to make us deserve salvation

d.    The sad state to which our sins have reduced us came about because we neglected prayer

e.     Fallen as we find ourselves, we are tempted, like the Jews to complain to God

We are wrong. It is not God who abandoned us but we who abandoned God. His invitation to repent during this time of Advent is fresh proof of his concern for us.

3.    Having acknowledged our sins, we should take a second step: confidently ask our redeemer to come to our rescue:

There is no way for a person to go back to God by himself or herself. So we must implore him to come and save us.  Isaiah expresses this beautifully when speaking to God on behalf of his people.

Is. 64, 8- “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands.”

Is. 63, 16- “You, O Lord, our Father; our Redeemer is your ancient name.”

Is. 63, 17- “Return for the sake of your servant, the tribes of your inheritance.”

Is. 64, 1- “Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down.”

4.    While waiting for Jesus’ coming, we must praise him for all that he has already done to save us:

5.    We must never grow discouraged in our waiting for Christ’s  second coming:

Paul gives us the reason why: Because God will never fail us. (1 Cor. 1, 8).

6.    In our waiting for Christ, we must keep both: Watchful and Active:

This is the message of Luke in the passage of the Gospel we have read. In carrying out our task, Jesus warns us to be watchful, since the devil is at all times trying to convince us that there is yet ample time left in life to prepare for Jesus’ coming. eg. The parable of the ten virgins: The five wise virgins were watchful and the other five were foolish without watchfulness and preparation.

Thought: Advent means “coming”: We await the first coming of Jesus for which is continuously His saving deeds or works carried out till the end and the second coming of Christ at the end of our lives (death) for the salvation of our souls.

The presence of Jesus Christ will be found in three ways: When we are gathered as a community to pray, to listen or hear to the Word of God, and to take part in the Eucharist.

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 LAST SUNDAY- IN ORDINARY TIME –B

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING

SOLEMNITY

CHRIST THE KING

Gospel: John 18:33-37: It is you who say that I am a king.

I Reading: Daniel 7:13-14: His sovereignty is eternal sovereignty.

II Reading: Apocalypse 1:5-8: Ruler of the kings of the earth…he made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God.

Today we celebrate Christ the universal king. He did not claim to be only the king of the Jews. His kingdom was not to be an exclusive one. He is the king of all who is on the side of truth and listens to his voice.

Christ, our king belongs to our human family: In today’s first reading, the prophet Daniel tells us that “he saw one like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Dan 7:13)

Christ is a powerful king; his power will last forever: In the book of Revelation from which today’s second reading has been taken, Jesus is given the titles, and (Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5), “King of the kings and Lord of Lords.” (Rev 19:16).

Jesus told the apostles: “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). It will never end in the quality of Jesus’ power. The angel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of the redeemer, he said her son to be: “His kingdom will have no end” (Lk 1:33). The angel confirmed the prophecy of Daniel which was to be fulfilled in Jesus: “His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed” (Dan 7:14).

The Book of Revelation says the same thing and puts on Jesus’ lips the following words: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is, who was and who is to come” (Rev 1:8). “Everything starts from me and ends up in me, I was before anything existed and I will continue to be after everything ends.”

Christ our king loves us: he died for us and shares with us whatever he possesses: on the night of his passion, Jesus said to his apostles: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Today’s second reading reminds us “Christ loved us and has washed away our sins with his blood” (Rev 1:5).

No king was ever as generous as Jesus:

a. He shares his life with us.

b. He shares his own body and blood in the Eucharist.

c. He shares his own priesthood. Today’s second reading tells: Jesus made us priests to serve his God and Father (Rev 1:6). Since we are priests, our whole life can and should be “a holy sacrifice truly pleasing to God (Rom 12:1)

d. Jesus shares his own joy: “My own peace I give you” (Jn 14:27). “I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me” (Jn 17:24).

Hence Jesus is our true king and the king of the universe.

 

Jesus’ kingdom is described as:

·       A kingdom of truth and of life,

·       A kingdom of holiness and grace,

·       A kingdom of justice, of love, and of peace.

Jesus was right when he told Pilate that his kingdom/reign was not like the kingdoms of this world:

·       Where falsehood reigns and lives are destroyed,

·       Where sin abounds,

·       Where injustice and hatred bring in wars without number.

We must praise our king, Jesus, and be grateful to him:

·       For having brought us into his kingdom and made us members of his own royal family,

·       For having loved us through his own suffering and sacrifice of life for our salvation,

·       For having given us his love, peace, joy on earth and glory in heaven.

We have good reasons to rejoice on this feast of Christ the king of the universe and we shall rejoice in heaven at seeing him as he is, so great, so powerful and so loving.

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 SUNDAY- 33rd  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Gospel: Mk 13:24-32: He will gather his chosen from the four winds.

I Reading: Daniel 12:1-13: When that time comes, your own people will be spared.

II Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14. 18: By virtue of one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying.

The Coming of the Son of Man, Mk 13:24-27

The greatest event yet to happen in the history of the world will be the return of Jesus Christ. The disciples wanted to know, “When will these things happen?” (Mk 13:4), and “What will be the sign of your coming?” (Mt 24:3). Jesus began to answer the second question about His return in this passage.

1. He returns after the distress or tribulation (v.24)

2. Event 1: There will be astronomical happenings (v.24-25)

3. Event 2: There will be the return of the Son of Man in the clouds (v.26)

4. Event 3: There will be the gathering of the elect (v.27)

The End Time and Its Warning to Believers, Mk 13:28-37

Christ had just covered the signs of the end time and of His return. The truth is glorious but one thing is needful: people must turn their lives over to God or else they will be punished from the presence and glory of Christ forever. Jesus Christ gives six critical warnings to people.

1. The signs that point to the end are discernable (v.28-29)

a. Even as a fig tree

b. Even as a cause has its effect

c. Even to the point of being immediate-right at hand

2. The events occur rapidly in one generation (v.30)

3. The events are surety irrevocable (31)

4. The exact time is unknown-the day and hour (v.32)

5. The need is to be on guard: stay alert (v.33-36)

a. because time is unknown

b. because believers are assigned specific responsibilities and work

c. because Christ is returning unexpectedly –suddenly

d. because a believer can be caught sleeping

6. The warning is to all-watch (v.37)

Thought: Watch (gregoreo): to keep awake, to stay alert, to be watchful and sleepless, to be vigilant. It also to keep one’s attention (mind) upon a thing at all times.

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 SUNDAY- 32^nd  WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

I Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16: The widow made a little scone from her meal and brought it to Elijah.

II Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28: Christ offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself.

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44: This poor widow has put in more than all.

 

The Warning to the Crowds and Religionists:

Some Things to Guard Against, Mk 12:38-40

Jesus warns the crowds and religionists to guard against sins, corruption and injustice. The passage discusses six of these sins. All six have to do with pride or flaunting oneself, either by elevating oneself above others or by misusing others.

1. Dress: To draw attention (v.38)

2. Greetings and titles: To exalt man (v.38)

3. Showing self: To be seen in the marketplace (v.38)

4. Front seats and high places: to be seen, admired, and honored (v.39)

5. Devouring widows: to use widow for gain (v.40)

6. Long prayers: to show piety (v.40)

Thought: People exalt one another with titles: Reverend, Doctor, Director, Executive, Chairman, President, Prime Minister, Governor, etc.-all to elevate one above the masses below (Mt.23:12). All are our responsibilities must be based on humility, love, service, compassion and total commitment to establishing God’s kingdom on this earth.

 

The Widow’s Offerings: Real Giving, Mk 12:41-44

This is a touching story with a powerful message often ignored. This passage shows how God’s heart reaches out to those in need reaches out in tenderness and compassion and love. It also shows how much devotion and commitment and boldness meant to Him. This shows how deeply God is moved by those who give all they are and have to Him (contrast the Rich Young Ruler, Mk 10:17-22). Finally the lesson is what real giving is.

1. Jesus observed some people giving (v.41-42)

a. Saw the wealthy give much

b. Saw a widow give little

2. Real giving is sacrificial giving  (v.42)

3. Real giving is measured by how much a person has left-not by how much a person gives (v.43)

4. Real giving seeks to have a need met (v.44)

5. Real giving is giving all a person has

Thought: We lack devotion and dedication in our commitment to God, whether commitment of life, time, gifts, or money.

We lack boldness in giving and using what we have for God and needy people.

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 All the Faithful Departed, 2^snd November

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

I Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9

II Reading: Romans 6:3-9

The Parable of the Sheep and Goats:

The Final Judgement of Nations, Mt 25:31-46

Jesus taught about the final judgement of nations (all nations of people) which will be the judgement of the world through the parable of the Sheep and Goats. He judges two types of beings, sheep and goats, not the same type of being. The sheep are faithful whereas goats are not faithful and don’t serve Christ.

The only faith that God knows and accepts is the faith that servers Christ by ministering to people. A man who says he has faith and does not minister to people is only professing faith in Christ. Scripture says, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (Jas 2:18). God knows no faith apart from good works, that is, apart from ministering to the needs of the people.

1. The Son of Man is coming to judge (v.31-33)

a. coming in glory

b. coming with angels

c. coming to be enthroned

d. coming to gather all nations

e. coming to separate the nations, both sheep and goats

          1) sheep- favoured seat

          2) goats- unfavoured seat

2. The judgement of sheep will occur (v.34-40)

a. the judge: the king

b. the invitation: come

c. the reward: the kingdom

d. the basis of judgement: ministering to Christ

e. the ministry defined

          1) a humble, instinctive ministry: no thought of reward, only of helping people in need

          2) a ministry to the Lord’s brothers and sisters

3. The judgement of goats will occur (v.41-45)

a. the judgement

          1) cut off from God

          2) eternal fire

b. the basis of judgement

          1) a failure to minister

          2) a selfish life

          3) a spiritual blindness

4. The judgement is for eternity (v.46)

Thought: Selfishness, indulgence, extravagance, hoarding-all that leads to and indicates the neglect of others-will visibly condemn a person when he or she stands before Christ (Mt 19:16-22, 23-24,27-30).

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