Advent Series: Season on Hope. Monday of Second week of Advent: Fragility vs Trust in God's Word

Fragile World

A teenager dies in a car accident caused by another teenager who was drunk.

Another country announces nuclear capability.

Floods, fires and famine claim untold lives.


The world as we know it can change with the wrong turn of a car, with the flick of a switch, with being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our world as we know it changes daily.

Where do we find hope in the midst of this uncertainty, among these tragedies?  Life is so fragility.

''All humankind is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it.  Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever". Isaiah 40:6-8

On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle is known the 'Bethlehem candle', symbolizing Christ's manger. It represents love.

Suggestion:

1.Light the Second Advent candle and quieten your spirit before the Lord. As you light it think of its name and all that Bethlehem means. If you have some difficulty with your own thoughts on Bethlehem, then, why not Google something about the manger, about Bethlehem itself. Share what you have learned in your note book or with family members/parishioners.

2. Write down your list of the fragile world- what is fragile in your world? What are the uncertainties, the floods, fires and famines in your life- loosing your job, being insecure in your employment, feeling burnt when you are overlooked for promotion, being flooded out physically in your home and emotionally/spiritually with negativity and depression.

3. Read the scripture from Isaiah.  What occurs to you about this scripture? What hope does it provide when the word of the Lord stands forever- do you believe it for your life?  Reread your list and apply hope to each one of them because the word of the Lord stands forever.

4.Notice in the scripture that we are likened to grass and our glory like a flower of the field- they fade and wither WHEN the breath of the Lord blows upon it.  In other words- in God's timing not ours.  This applies to our death- it is not for us to choose our timing but leave it to God in trust.
It also applies to our lives- we are grass and a beautiful flower- grass starts as a seed and then flourishes and then fades, likewise a flower- both show the glory of God, just as we do by what we do, what we are and what we say and behave.

5. Now commit your fragile world to the trust of the word of God.  Breathe in the hope from God that this season provides- it is a season of hope.

Second Week of Advent Homily

Most virtues that we know have their origins in God. God is very affectionate of preparing right from the beginning. God prepares the land and the seas before creating animals and plants. God prepares the Garden of Eden before the creation of man. The divine action always involves preparation. Before the people of Israel left Egypt, God used the Passover to prepare them. God prepares our redemption through the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today’s readings tell us about preparation: to prepare for the Lord. As we heard in the first reading today, the prophet Isaiah was told to comfort God’s people and to assure them that the period of warfare has ended. God returns to the people after a period of their separation from Him. To this end, the prophet went further to tell the people to prepare for the coming of the Lord. 

According to the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah, preparation is seen as a form of a road construction. It is a physical road construction which involves three activities: levelling, filling and making plain. In our spiritual life, the road represents our heart, which needs to be levelled, filled and /made plain for the Lord.  The road presents our hearts made rough by the paths we have chosen that lead us away from God.

We need to level our heart again by being cleansed of our sins and disobedience in our lives. We need to turn to God and fill our hearts with virtues and values which demonstrate that we belong to God. We need to change our lives and go back over our paths to God to make it plain for the Lord. It is good to prepare our spiritual life before the glory of God will be shown to forth to all of us.

Yet, many of us put advent on hold spiritually.  We prepare the home, the decorations, the food and buying the presents in readiness for our family celebrations.   Do we remember that we are celebrating the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas?  These activities are necessary practical preparation.  However, the Church provides Advent as a season of hope so that we can prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts spiritually.   We tend to anticipate the glory but only a few are ready to undertake the spiritual road. Many of us are seriously waiting to celebrate Christmas but only a few are ready to get there through the process of Advent.  We may be ready to celebrate Christmas with the food, presents and decorations, but we have often neglected our spiritual Advent preparation.  We have wasted our spiritual opportunity to level, fill and make our hearts plain for the Lord.  It is time for us to prepare our hearts for the Lord in our lives.

The Gospel reading is very much similar to the first reading where it emphasises the word preparation.  But it establishes with the idea of the baptism of repentance. In other words, John the Baptist challenges us to accept repentance as a very dependable way of preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord. There will be a strong need for us to approach the sacrament of reconciliation this season in order to prepare ourselves for the birth of our Lord. We need to reconsider and improve our lifestyles; we need to make a positive change in our hearts habitable for our Lord when he comes.

The barrier to preparing for the lord in our world today is so much about material possession. However, John the Baptist recommends detachment from material wealth as one way of preparing for the Saviour.  John the Baptism himself was “clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist.” This means that we should be modest with material things this season so that we have time and space to prepare the way for the lord. It is time now that we act because the day of the Lord will come like a thief that we don’t expect.

Often many people fix dates for the time of the coming of the Lord but they have also failed several times. Our waiting should not based on our human way of reckoning time. Our waiting should be that of preparation or being ready for the coming of our Lord. God expects us at this time to be concerned about preparing a way for Him. He is not coming to Bethlehem but into our hearts. Will YOU be prepared and ready to receive Him into YOUR heart?

 Let tomorrow we are expecting belongs to today and let us also remember that when we fail to prepare we prepare to fail. We may be tempted to say that we are half way through Advent so it is too late to start to prepare spiritually.  Let us make the decision today  to level out, fill and make plain for the Lord our hearts.

We pray that this season will be the time for us to devote and prepare the way for the Lord. 

This homily was given on 9th December at St Dominic's East Camberwell by

Deacon Lawrence Bosekana OP. 

New Horizons contributed in the process of editing.

Advent Season of Hope Series: Weariness and Release

Weariness:

I am so weary from the constant demands of parenthood- demands that never seem to stop, just change. I am tired from the household tasks, from the endless clutter, from my family never picking up after them.

I am weary with my job and in my weariness I am overlooking so many details. Constant complaints  wear me down.

I am weary of the Christmas parties- the office get togethers- always something to bring- I make the effort with the Kris Kringle but no one else seems to care. I am weary of making an effort.

Suggestion:

1. Light the Prophecy Candle of your advent wreath.  Spent some time quietening your spirit and coming into the presence of God in the bright warm light of the Candle. Read the scripture:

                                         '' For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder
                                     and the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed as on the day of Midian'' 
                                                                                     Isaiah 9:3.

2. What makes you weary? Write a list of as many as you can. Don't make yourself weary doing it- just name the incident/experience/ frustration/ people involved. 

3. Who are the taskmasters in your life? Is it myself, colleagues, parishioners, stranger down the street, your boss?

4. Read aloud this weariness of yours and the task masters of your life? Reading it aloud helps you to acknowledge it, get it out into the open ( in a safe environment) . You might even add more to your list.

5. Now spend some time with the Lord and ask for release from your weariness-  breathe in His love, feel the release in your body and mind and spirit.  Feel the burden being lifted and the rod  being smashed. You might even like to find a twig of a tree or something to break   so that you hear the smash of the rod of the taskmaster and you feel the pole on your shoulder being lifted.

 You may wish to listen to Thou shall Break them ( Messiah)

6. Before you end your time, revisit  what you have begun in this season of hope-
We have explored our need to Trust again,  to believe, to listen to the voice of hope, to bring comfort and to  find release.
Read the scriptures which were helpful to you this week to encourage you in your journey of hope .

NB This was for Friday/Saturday of First week- I thought I had posted. Sorry.

Advent series: Season of Hope: Thursday of First Week : Comfort.

Comfort:

The young nurse lightly touches the elderly woman's shoulders as silent tears stream down the pale wrinkled cheeks, flowing unceasingly.

The old man sits on a park bench remembering all that he has lost: his family, his friends, his careers.  He sits silently, saddened with lonely memories.

The whole room is full of people. The party is in fully swing.  Yet silently they suffer emotional pain- they long to be loved, understood and accepted.

Suggestion:

1. Light the Prophecy Candle of your advent wreath.  Spent some time quietening your spirit and coming into the presence of God in the bright warm light of the Candle. Read the scripture:

                                         
"Comfort, give comfort to my people,  says your God.
                   Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an  end,
                                                        her guilt is expiated.". Isaiah 40:1-2



2.Write down  what loneliness is for you. When does it happen, what do you feel physically, emotionally and spiritually?  What triggers are there and are these triggers connected to past experiences?  Take time with your list. Read them and get in touch with the feeling of loneliness. 

3. What do you think  loneliness is for other people?  How do they feel when they are lonely? What triggers might they experience when they are lonely?

4. Name 2 or 3 similarities and differences of your experience of loneliness and other people?


5. Now take a deep breath trusting in  God and give Him your list in this season of hope. Name one of these triggers of the lonely road  which you want to change into comfort.  Listen to the small voice within you to help you choose and be directed by Him.

You may choose to listen to Comfort Ye My People ( Handel).

6.  Decide on one or two actions that you could take that will be a starting point towards  Comforting yourself and others. Allow yourself to be filled with hope as you take a step towards Comfort of  Body, Mind and Spirit.

Use me Lord to comfort and give hope with a smile, a touch, a word an ear to myself and to others.

7. Re read the scripture again:  
                                      
                                            "Comfort, give comfort to my people,  says your God.
                   Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an  end,
                                                        her guilt is expiated.". Isaiah 40:1-2

You may also wish to listen to City of God ( Dan Schutte).

Advent Series: Season of Hope: Wednesday of First Week of Advent: Voice of Hope.

Voice of Hope.

Who speaks to me?  Someone I can trust?  Will the words I hear withstand the test of time?
Will they lead me to salvation or despair?

Who do I hear speaking to me in my darkness, speaking words of comfort, of hope?
I want to believe what I hear, but fear holds me back- fear based on past mistakes, fear based on caution. Dare I throw caution to the wind?

Still the voice persists, never growing weary- sometimes soft, sometimes strong, always loving, never giving up on me even when I am ready to give up on myself.

Dare I trust this Word?  Dare I not trust?

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is known as 'the prophecy candle' in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah



Suggestion:

1.Light the Prophecy Candle of your advent wreath.  Spent some time quietening your spirit and coming into the presence of God in the bright warm light of the Candle. Read the scripture:

                                          It is I who say to you " Fear not.  I will help you". Isaiah 41:13


2.Write down your fears- fears based on past mistakes, and fears based on caution. Take time with your list. Read them and get in touch with the feeling of fear.  What happens physically, emotionally and spiritually to you when you fear.


3. Now take a deep breath trusting in  God and name one of those fears which you want to change into trust. Listen to the small voice within you to help you choose and be directed by Him.

You may choose to listen to You raise me up.

4.  Decide on one or two actions that you could take that will be a starting point towards  trusting. Allow yourself to be filled with hope as you take a step towards trusting/ retrusting God again in your life.

5. Re read the scripture again:  
                                      
                                            It is I who say to you " Fear not.  I will help you".  Isaiah 41:13

                        You raise me up

Advent Series of Hope: Tuesday of First Week of Advent: Believing.

Believing
'
'' You promised'' children often protest to their parents.  We as parents may think how did '' I will think about it'' become a promise?  How did the merest suggestion that I would consider their request take on the trappings of an oath?   It baffles me.
To children, a suggestion is as good as promise.  They believe in that promise, and their faith is unshakeable in you as parents.   Therein lies their hope.


So what is a promise?  What happens to us when a promise has been violated in any way.

In this day and age, words can be cheap.  People can promise to do something, be there for you or help you. It may give you some hope in a difficult situation that you are not going to be alone.
What do you feel when the promise of help, of being there for you in your hour of need is not followed through- is not fulfilled.

How we feel and think about a promise whether positive or negative can influence our belief in God fulfilling His promises to us.  Of course, God always fulfils his promises but we, may not see it that way. We may have lost hope or lost our faith and belief in God who loves us.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is known as 'the prophecy candle' in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah

During this advent let us renew our faith and belief in God who loves us. Let us relearn how to trust God again in our lives.

Suggestion:

1.Light the Prophecy Candle of your advent wreath.  Spent some time quietening your spirit and coming into the Be still for the presence of the Lord the bright warm light of the Candle. Read the scripture:

Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful ones';

the Lord will hear me when I call upon Him  Ps 4:4

2.  Consider what does a promise mean to me?  How well do I keep a promise?  What occurs to me when  a promise is not fulfilled?

3. Think of people whom you may have hurt during the year by not fulfilling your promises to them.  Pick up the phone/write a note to say sorry.  Let trust and belief in your words be restored.

4. What commitments did you make to God and have not fulfilled?  Examine those times and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

5.  Write down or discuss a promise which you would like God to fulfil this advent. Are you prepared to believe that God will fulfil this promise in the best possible way for you?  Do you give God the answer or allow God to provide the answer? 

6. Now in trust, in faith and in belief give your request to God.  Pray a prayer of belief and trust in God in your own words and carry the words of scripture with you throughout the day in your heart.

Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful ones';

the Lord will hear me when I call upon Him  Ps 4:4

                   

Advent Series of Hope: Monday of the first week of Advent: Trust

SOON:

''Soon'' a voice whispers in the night to the woman awaiting the birth of her first child.
''How soon?"' she responds.  She hears no answer.

''Soon'' the dying man hears.  ''When'' the relative asks.  No answer is the reply.

''Soon'' the search team member says to the troubled parents waiting for the news of their lost son.
''When?''  There is no answer.

How soon is soon? Today? Tomorrow? Next week? or Ten years from now?

In advent we hear this reading

" The days are coming, says the Lord

when I will fulfil the promise I made to the House of Israel and Judah''.  Jeremiah 33.14

In advent we are invited to view time with an advent perspective. We are to wait with expectancy and with hope. We know that God keeps His promises but God keeps His promises on His schedule not ours. We know from the Old Testament that the people of Israel waiting for centuries for your coming- You came.  They waited  and You came.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is known as 'the prophecy candle' in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Suggestion:

You may choose to do this as a personal reflection or you may choose to include your family.
If you choose to do it with your family, then you may wish to think about the timing of the reflection- perhaps ask family members to name one or two ways. Adjust this reflection exercise to suit your needs.

1. Review your year and recall the times God has fulfilled something in your life-when He has answered your prayers and/or given you something better than what you asked in His timing?

2 What are the ''soons'' in your life that you would like God to fulfil this advent? List as many as you wish.

3  From your list, which one on your list would you like God to fulfil soon. 

Now light the Prophecy candle on your advent wreath or if you do not have one, light a candle representing the advent wreath..  Let the warmth of the flame fill you with hope, with patience and with expectancy and trust in God.

4. Spend some quiet time  with God. Thank God for all the blessings and graces He has given you in your life and especially those you have recalled.  Thank God again- perhaps say sorry for not thanking Him at the time.

5.  In the spirit of trust and hope of Advent season,  present Him your list-  ask God to fulfil His promise soon.  When you present God your list, remember let it go- let God decide when soon is.
Wait patiently with hope and expectancy knowing that God will fulfil His promise in His own time in His own way but it will always be for my good.

6. Read the scripture now with trust, hope and expectancy.

         On this first Monday of Advent are you prepared to wait for God to fulfil His promises? 

Are you ready to learn to trust God a little more this advent.