This Advent Season is indeed an opportune time for us to be reminded of the reality that Christ will come again and that He will judge us at the appointed time. However, fear must not rule our minds and hearts as we await His coming. We must look forward to His coming with joyful and renewed hearts. The readings today tell us how all of us can prepare joyfully and with hearts renewed.
In our First Reading, Isaiah the prophet tells us that the One who is to come is a great leader of God’s people. He is of royal descent and One who possesses the Spirit of God. He is coming to the world to fulfill a great mission: To bring justice to the poor, to punish the wicked, and to establish security (cf. Isaiah 11:1-10). The Second Reading, taken from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Romans (15:4-9) reminds us that as followers of Jesus the Christ, we must live in unity and harmony. Paul reminds the Church in Rome and all of us today that we should look up to Jesus as our model of one who desires unity and inclusivity. In the Gospel, Matthew narrates Jesus’ call to repentance: The “Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent!” Repentance means doing what is right and good and shunning what is evil.
In this holy season of Advent, the Church tells us that we must prepare for the coming of Christ because His coming will bring justice, love, and peace. The best way to prepare for His coming is to individually and collectively repent and resolve to always do the will of God for us. Sin causes disunity. Repentance heals relationships.
May the second candle of Advent that we light today be a reminder of our Christian duty to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Peace and Joy,
Susan
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