Advent 2014

4th Sunday of Advent

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“The power of the most high will overshadow you …..for nothing is impossible with God.” These two phrases from today’s Gospel reading say it all. Our journey through Advent leads us to Mary. You may ask, “Why Mary?” It was Mary who surrendered to God’s plan although she could not understand it. She left herself wide-open to all that God could and would do in her. In her own words,”I am the servant of the Lord.”

Throughout these three weeks of Advent we have been challenged to change, to allow God’s transforming power to overshadow us. We cannot accomplish this on our own. Like Mary, we must stand before God in humility and utter dependence, knowing that it is God who gives success to all our endeavors. It is God who does all things in us but only when we recognize that we are the servants of God.

To complete the gift of ourselves to God, let us surrender all that we are and all that we do to the God who loves us so deeply.

This is my prayer for you today. May the power of the Holy Spirit come upon you. May you be filled with the spirit of Jesus as you walk your discipleship journey May the light of that same Spirit guide you always and illuminate your hearts and minds to see the truth…the truth of Jesus.

Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF Copyright © 2008

3rd Sunday of Advent

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There was a man named John sent by God to give testimony to the light! This was John’s mission but in Advent we are reminded that it is also our mission. The first two Sundays of Advent challenged us to bring the Word of God into our living and into our world. Today the Gospel challenges us to absorb the Word in order to fill up with light and to shine that light into our world. By absorbing Jesus in the Word, we become pregnant with the Word in order to give birth to the Word in our world.

The first reading tells us how to achieve the above. We must be open to the Spirit, bring the Good News of God’s salvation to all, heal those who are broken, and release prisoners from the chains that bind them. The second reading endorses the above program for change. Of course, all that I have said is just a bunch of words unless we come to recognize Jesus in our midst. My light will shine when I recognize the Jesus in me and meet the Jesus in my neighbor or the stranger who comes into my life. Clearly this calls for a change in my attitude. This calls for a change in OUR attitudes. This is what advent is all about. Am I, are you up to the challenge? Remember, we are preparing ourselves to be gift for Jesus on Christmas day.

Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF Copyright © 2008

2nd Sunday of Advent

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“A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!” This line from the first reading on this Second Sunday of Advent, invites us to go into the desert to prepare a way for God’s coming. Now most of us don’t have the luxury of going to an actual desert, but we can create a desert space in our hearts and in our lives. In that desert space, apart from the noise and busyness of the world around us, we can enter into silence. That silence will enable us to go to the deepest part of our being and encounter God. If we truly surrender to the silence, God’s presence will fill us, bringing comfort, healing and truth. We will emerge from our desert place more aware of God’s kingdom in our world, and what we can do to make the kingdom come every day. In other words, God comes to us, transforms us and uses us as channels of that transforming love.

In the second reading, Peter exhorts us to conduct ourselves “in holiness and devotion.” Holiness is not becoming a perfect person without faults or frailties. Holiness is the struggle to conform our lives to the Gospel; to live in the world according to Gospel values. This is not always easy and God knows that. But, God requires us to be faithful to the effort even though at times we may fail. Then, like John the Baptist in our Gospel reading, we will cry out to our world, ”Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Hopefully, not only will our lives be a gift for Jesus on Christmas day, but so will the lives of those we have touched by our Gospel living.

Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
Copyright © 2008

1st Sunday of Advent

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Be watchful; be alert! This is Jesus’ exhortation to all of us on this First Sunday of Advent. This sets the theme for our preparation for Christmas, for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

In today’s gospel Jesus compares himself to a man who leaves his business in the hands of his workers while he goes away. Upon his return, the man expects to find things have progressed and the business has been successful. So too, does Jesus. His business is the kingdom and he has left the building up of that kingdom in our hands. Advent is a time to take stock of how we are doing. Building up the kingdom requires faithfulness to gospel living. Are our homes and communities places of generosity, forgiveness, compassion and love? Are we visible signs of the love of God for our world?

Of course there will be times when we fail but the first reading attests to God’s unfailing mercy. When we turn to God, that same God can take the clay we are made of and mold it and reshape it into a vessel of service. In the second reading, St. Paul confirms this by telling us that God has graced us with countless blessing. Therefore we can stand firm in our resolution to serve our God.

During these coming weeks, we will be preparing for the greatest birthday of all times, the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our redeemer. What gift can we give for such great love? We can make a greater effort to build up the Kingdom of God in our lives and in the world around us. We do this by turning away from sin and living a life of justice, compassion and gentleness, allowing God to mold us into a beautiful gift for the Son whose birthday we will celebrate soon.

Watch! Wait! Be alert!

Sr. Josephine Aparo, MPF
Copyright © 2008


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