The Nexus

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4th Sunday of Advent, Year C

Lectionary Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent, Year C
http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/4th-advent-c.html

“Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord’s words to
her would be fulfilled.”
This statement made by Elizabeth to Mary is a statement
that teaches us how we will be blessed if we trust in
the word of the Lord.  If we recall how Mary felt troubled
by the visitation of an angel, and how she questioned the
Lord how she could be the mother of her Son - being only
a virgin - we can see that her trust in the Lord’s word
not only blessed her but also blessed other people -
like Elizabeth her cousin.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s
greeting, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb stirred, and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

So great was Mary’s trust in God that she set out
[despite her pregnant condition] to help Elizabeth who
was already very much more of age in her pregnancy. 
That faith of Mary was inspired by the Word that is
enfleshed already in her immaculate womb.  The word
that the angel spoke in behalf of the Lord has now
become the Word Incarnate - the Son of the Most High
God, Jesus, in the very womb of the Virgin Mary.  It
is because of Mary’s humble and obedient response to
God’s will that our world received the Light that
will be called to steer us out of darkness and sin.

Let us examine ourselves and check our level of trust.
Do we trust God enough?  Do we have enough faith
in His Word?  We go to the Eucharist very committedly
every Sunday, but how much have we really let His Word
that is proclaimed in the Mass bear fruit in our souls?
Perhaps we can rationalize and say: “I do what I am
supposed to do and isn’t God’s will fulfilled in
that?”  Now that Christmas will soon dawn upon us,
there is still time to make an examination of how
much we have trusted in God this whole year.  And
as we see areas in our lives that need more trust
in God, and greater faith in His promises, then
let us wisely open these areas of our lives to
the Spirit of Christmas: which is Jesus Himself.
Let this Christmas be one of joyous praise for
the trust we have placed in Him and a solemn
prayer for greater trust in Him for all areas
of our life for the coming year.

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3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C

Lectionary Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C
http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/3rd-advent-c.html

“What ought we to do?”
In the gospel, we see the people whom John had converted
asking him what they were to do in following his teaching.
And John simply answered them to renounce their pagan
ways.  So, for one who has been living greedily without
concern for others, the answer to “what ought we to
do?” is simply to share their extras, be it food or
an extra coat.  And for others who have been living
exploiting others, then the answer would simply be
to be fair, honest and righteous in one’s business
dealings and transactions.

People during the time of John the Baptist have been
used to living lives which are considered pagan:
lives immersed in the pleasures of the flesh,
impurity, exploitation and greed.  So when John
called for the repentance of people and to seek
God’s mercy and forgiveness, he was calling them
to renounce their pagan ways and to live lives more
in accord with the Spirit - and that would mean
the Spirit of the Messiah whom he was announcing
would soon come to baptize everyone in the Holy
Spirit and in fire.

For many of us Christians, we also need to shake
off a lot of our pagan ways - pagan ways that have
not really departed much from the way it had been during
the time of John the Baptist. So, even though we have
been baptized and live committed lives of serving
God and our brethren, we are never completely or
entirely free from engaging and working still “in the
world” - which is a world not entirely Christian
but also filled with pagan influence.  So, the best
spiritual answer we can give to the question:
“what, then, must we do?” is to look more deeply within
ourselves - searching our soul and examining our
spirit.  Sometimes the rush to celebrate Christmas
makes us forget the “Reason for the season”.  Let
us then ask ourselves: have I shaken off pagan ways
that prevent me from really understanding the “Reason
for the season”?  How spiritually prepared am I
to receive the coming of Jesus this Christmas?

Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love archives
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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C

Lectionary Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C
http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/2nd-advent-c.html

“Make ready the way of the Lord…”
Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote a book entitled, “Life
of Christ”.  In this book, there is a chapter that
says that Jesus is the only person in our human
history who is “pre-announced”.  And this is true.
Many religious leaders and founders of world religions
claim that they come from God but they were never
pre-announced by others.  Jesus, on the other hand,
was pre-announced by many prophets and sages. We
only need to read the Old Testament prophetic books
to see this.

Of the many prophets who prophesied on the coming
of a Messiah from the stock of David, St. John the
Baptist is the last in line.  In today’s gospel,
we see him mentioned - proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  His
ministry and mission was to “make ready the way
of the Lord” - to help men and women acknowledge
their sinfulness that they may recognize Jesus as
the Light that shall lead them out of darkness.

This Advent season, many people are already preparing
for the Christmas celebrations: buying gifts, decorating
their homes and offices, organizing for Christmas
parties and get togethers, and choosing that special
gift for their spouse, children or loved ones.  In all
this Christmas rush, many are forgetting to prepare
what is really most important: their “gift” to the
Christ-Child - the One whom we are commemmorating His
birth.  If we have not really seriously thought of
what we are to give to the Christ-Child this Christmas,
then let us take some serious moments how we are to
prepare that special spiritual gift for Him. 

Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love archives
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1st Sunday of Advent, Year C

Lectionary Readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C
http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/1st-advent-c.html

“Pray constantly for the strength to escape whatever
is in prospect…”
Those who study our Catholic liturgy tell us that
the first two Sundays of the Advent season give
readings that speak about the second coming of
Christ.  And true to what they say, this Sunday’s
gospel speaks about that end time when “men
will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with
great power and glory.”  What is frightening
about this second coming of the Lord is that
it warns us that “men will die of fright in
anticipation of what is coming upon the earth”.

In our contemporary times, there are truly signs
that tell us that the end time is near.  Wars
are escalating and religious conflicts are also
worsening.  Also, in the natural realm, disasters,
calamities, and the destruction of the ozone layer
gives more heat to the world climates.  Some who
are vigilant, know that they have to prepare
for the second coming of Christ.  Those who are
more apocalyptic in their Christian faith know
this very much and they also warn others of that
impending day when God’s judgment will come
upon all peoples and the whole world.

But we can be made fearlessly Christian in our
commitment to persevere until the end. The gospel
also tells us how to do this: to “pray constantly,
and to stand secure”; “to be on guard…[against]
indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares”;
“to be on watch”.  This requires much discipline
on our part since we have to deal with many
things in the world: family life, professional
life and business affairs and social obligations.
But we can be vigilant and always alert if we
do not let ourselves be carried away by the
merriment of the world, the pleasures of our
bodily senses, and the spirit of excessive
desire for possessions and material things.
When we keep our eyes and gaze on Christ, we
shall be ready for that day when we can
“stand secure before the Son of Man.”