Advent, Oh, Advent (I)
Dearest brothers and sisters,
I would like to share one of the song that we sang in the church today as we begin this new season of Advent.
CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT
- Bernadette Farrell
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.
Chorus:
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your Church
Gathered today.
---
I personally feel that it is very appropriate that we reflect on our "Advent" as we approach this Christmas. And I myself found how beautiful the song tells us about Advent.
In today's celebration we light up the first candle of Advent as we move forward with hope for the full light of Christ in our lives.
"Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you."
Sometimes we are a bit confused of what we are waiting for in Advent. But in the midsts of all the expectation and hopes that the World offers, we are called to "retreat" and to look into our lives. We are called to look into our deepest longing and desire.
And as we journey in this life with difficulties and trials, with joy and sadness, deep in our hearts, we search for peace and rest. We search for light in the midst of the darkness of this world. We search for truth about who we are. The glamour of Christmas shopping and holidays sometimes leave us with emptiness to search for a deeper meaning of Christmas.
And in the midst of this darkness, and searching, we know that we can find the answer in Jesus. As the priest in my church today said in the homily, we are not called to do more activities in this Advent seasons, but we are called to look back into our life. We are called into a reflection of our lives and of who God is in our lives, of "Emmanuel", God who is with us.
It is in this christmas that we are called to see our faith of "God who is with us". God who is with us in our difficulties, in our darkness, in our problems, but also in our joy. We are called to ponder like Mary, of what it means of "God who became flesh". God who dwells in the midst of his people.
And as we celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus said to us, "this is my body", and as we receive Him, his body becomes ours, and ours become his. And the two shall become one. And only in this light and faith, we can cry out as the song cries...
"Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see."
It is only in union with this Light of the World, can we become light for others. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see. And we all cry with great Joy and Hope.
"Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your Church
Gathered today."
Christ, be our light! this a cry of hope. I guess many of us are terrified with the gospel reading of this first Advent. Many of us, would feel unworthy to stand erect before the Son of Man. And I feel the same way as well. But this is not the message of the Gospel. The message can be read in the light of the First reading: that God will send the Messiah to "Save", and this is the meaning of Jesus, "God saves"!. As Jesus himself said, that he came into the world not to condemn the world, but to Save. This is the truth that we have lost. The truth that is often blinded by the Father of Lies, who tries make us run away from the Love of God.
God is Love! as St. John said. And this is the truth that we long for. The truth that will set us free.
And so in whatever situation we are now, let us run to Jesus, our light, and when we fail to stand erect before the son of Man, let us kneel down before Him, crying
"Christ be our light! shine in our hearts..
shine through the darkness...of my heart"
And Jesus, as the Loving Father in the prodigal son story tells us, will raise us up, and embrace us. And with tears in his eyes and smiles in his face, He will hold us tight in His arms, for how much he loves us. And this is the meassure of His Love,...that He lays down his life for us.
----to be continued...
I would like to share one of the song that we sang in the church today as we begin this new season of Advent.
CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT
- Bernadette Farrell
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.
Chorus:
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your Church
Gathered today.
---
I personally feel that it is very appropriate that we reflect on our "Advent" as we approach this Christmas. And I myself found how beautiful the song tells us about Advent.
In today's celebration we light up the first candle of Advent as we move forward with hope for the full light of Christ in our lives.
"Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you."
Sometimes we are a bit confused of what we are waiting for in Advent. But in the midsts of all the expectation and hopes that the World offers, we are called to "retreat" and to look into our lives. We are called to look into our deepest longing and desire.
And as we journey in this life with difficulties and trials, with joy and sadness, deep in our hearts, we search for peace and rest. We search for light in the midst of the darkness of this world. We search for truth about who we are. The glamour of Christmas shopping and holidays sometimes leave us with emptiness to search for a deeper meaning of Christmas.
And in the midst of this darkness, and searching, we know that we can find the answer in Jesus. As the priest in my church today said in the homily, we are not called to do more activities in this Advent seasons, but we are called to look back into our life. We are called into a reflection of our lives and of who God is in our lives, of "Emmanuel", God who is with us.
It is in this christmas that we are called to see our faith of "God who is with us". God who is with us in our difficulties, in our darkness, in our problems, but also in our joy. We are called to ponder like Mary, of what it means of "God who became flesh". God who dwells in the midst of his people.
And as we celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus said to us, "this is my body", and as we receive Him, his body becomes ours, and ours become his. And the two shall become one. And only in this light and faith, we can cry out as the song cries...
"Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see."
It is only in union with this Light of the World, can we become light for others. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see. And we all cry with great Joy and Hope.
"Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your Church
Gathered today."
Christ, be our light! this a cry of hope. I guess many of us are terrified with the gospel reading of this first Advent. Many of us, would feel unworthy to stand erect before the Son of Man. And I feel the same way as well. But this is not the message of the Gospel. The message can be read in the light of the First reading: that God will send the Messiah to "Save", and this is the meaning of Jesus, "God saves"!. As Jesus himself said, that he came into the world not to condemn the world, but to Save. This is the truth that we have lost. The truth that is often blinded by the Father of Lies, who tries make us run away from the Love of God.
God is Love! as St. John said. And this is the truth that we long for. The truth that will set us free.
And so in whatever situation we are now, let us run to Jesus, our light, and when we fail to stand erect before the son of Man, let us kneel down before Him, crying
"Christ be our light! shine in our hearts..
shine through the darkness...of my heart"
And Jesus, as the Loving Father in the prodigal son story tells us, will raise us up, and embrace us. And with tears in his eyes and smiles in his face, He will hold us tight in His arms, for how much he loves us. And this is the meassure of His Love,...that He lays down his life for us.
----to be continued...
posted by Oka | 3:27 pm
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