Advent Programme 2011
Waiting for Jesus
WEEK FOUR: LOVE
Jesus: God’s love made visible
Sunday 18 December
Scripture 2 Samuel 7: 1 – 5; 8 – 12; 16; Luke 1: 26 – 38
“I will build a House for you”
Reflection
In his final years as King of Israel, David was aware of many problems facing the kingdom: hostility on his borders, tensions amongst the Israelites themselves, and rivalry amongst his own sons over who would succeed him as king. He was also uncomfortable with the fact that he lived in a palace, while God, housed in the Ark of the Covenant, is living in a simple shepherd’s tent. He decides that he will build a “house for the Lord”, and he puts this idea to the prophet Nathan, who originally encourages him. However, Nathan then receives a message from the Lord and goes back to tell David that he, David, is not the “one to build a house for Yahweh” – that it will be David’s son, who will do this. The message that Nathan gives David settles his fears about the continuation of his dynasty, for he is assured that “his house and his sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established forever.”
The Jewish people waited for the promised Messiah, and expected, as had been prophesied, that He would be of the line of David. God, in His own time, sends His messenger to a young virgin in Nazareth, with news of an extraordinary birth that is to take place, and of the mission of that child. Mary, betrothed to Joseph, who is of the house of David, accepts to be the mother of He, who is to be called “Son of the Most High”. The prophecy is fulfilled once Joseph accepts that the child which Mary is carrying has been brought into being by the Holy Spirit.
Mary becomes the “house for God” – the house that will carry Him to birth, and then nurture Him until the time is right for His mission to begin.
She becomes the Christ-bearer. She presents Him to the world when the time is right.
In the Ark of the Covenant were kept three things – the staff of Aaron, the priest to the people of Israel on their Exodus journey; a dish of manna (the bread sent down from heaven); and the Law, given to Moses on Sinai.
Symbols of priesthood, bread from heaven, and the Word of God. Mary, when she agrees to become the temple that houses the Son of God, carries within her He who is the supreme High Priest, the Living Bread come down from Heaven, and the Word Incarnate.
Like Mary, we are asked to be temples for the Living God – to be Christ-bearers in our world today. Are we willing, as she was, to say, “Yes, Lord, let it be done to me”?
Practical Suggestion
Find a way, this week, to go and share Jesus with someone – in the parish, in your family, or amongst your circle of friends and acquaintances. Do this in some practical way – cook a meal, spend time with them, take someone out, take someone shopping who is not able to get about easily – there are many ways.
Prayer
Help me, Lord, to be willing to say “Yes” to what You ask of me – even when I do not fully understand what that “Yes” might mean. Let me be content in knowing that You will be there with me each day and in every way. Amen.
Monday 19 December
Scripture Ps 71: 8
“My lips are filled with your praise, with your glory all the day long.”
Reflection
We have now entered the last holy days of preparation for the celebration to help us remember not only the first coming of our Lord Jesus but also his second coming. Are our lips filled with praise as the psalmist says? So often we can catch ourselves not singing praises to God and especially when we are distracted with worldly, material activities. We need to be very careful especially in this Christmas season when even Muslims and many other people of different non-Christian faiths also have holidays - do we truly witness to them of the holiness of this season? When non-Christians see us about our Christmas business are we inspiring them with the message of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to do this is to be happy, joyful and sing Christian praises in a deeply loving, humble and merciful way. An important measure of this is to take note of the words that leave our lips – are they praising Jesus or embarrassing Jesus?
Practical Suggestion
Meditate for a few minutes on the words that have come out of your mouth today or even yesterday. Were they praising Jesus or embarrassing Jesus?
Prayer
Heavenly Father as I prepare to celebrate the gift you gave me of your Son and the promise of his second coming help me to sing your praises rather than embarrass you with my lips. Amen
Tuesday 20 December
Scripture Luke 1: 26 - 38
“Let what you have said be done to me.”
Reflection
St Bernard wrote a beautiful reflection about the suspense in heaven, on earth and in the underworld as all of creation waited with eager longing for Mary’s response to God’s messenger. What would she say? If she were to say “yes,” she would conceive the Saviour and humanity would be set free and be recalled to life. On her word depended the salvation of the human race. “Answer quickly, O Virgin.”
Mary could have said “no” out of fear, or out of humility (‘I’m not worthy’), or to avoid the responsibilities of such an onerous role (‘ask someone else; I prefer not to get involved’). From the time of Adam and Eve people have said “no” to God’s call.
Mary’s answer came: “Let what you have said be done to me” – “Yes!” The infinite, eternal, immortal God, who created the universe, humbled himself to ‘come down,’ enter time and be enclosed in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The divine Word became flesh because of her willing and committed consent. Her words changed the course of human history.
God speaks to each of us, through his Holy Scriptures, through the Church and through his ‘angels’ – people who are close to him in faith, love and Christian living. God asks us, as he asked Mary, to trust him and to co-operate with him. God’s plans for us and the world can be very challenging, daunting, even disturbing and our consent to his will may entail some suffering as it did for Mary (‘a sword of sorrow will pierce your heart’), but there can be no greater sense of fulfilment than doing God’s will faithfully. Let us be courageous and committed and renew our “Yes!” to God every day, never consenting even to small things that are not good.
Practical Suggestion
Do you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood, the diaconate, or the religious life, or to a particular ministry or service in the Church or the community? God and his angels and perhaps some people are waiting with eagerness for your response. Will you say “Yes”? Will you bring Christ to a waiting world? Take the next courageous step.
Prayer
Loving Father, help me to be prayerful and attentive to your presence as Mary was. Grant me the courage and commitment of Mary to abandon myself to you and to trust in your plans, even though I don’t know exactly where you may lead me. Let it be done to me, according to your will. Amen.
Wednesday 21 December
Scripture: Luke 1:39-45
“For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for JOY”
Reflection
How much joy will we bring into the lives of the people whom we will greet today and not only today but every day?
Mary, our mother, has many titles attributed to her. One that moves me the most is the title “Theotokos” – meaning God bearer. It was her total surrender to the will of the Father that allowed God to enter her in the form of Jesus Christ. It is without a doubt that it was the presence of Christ within her that brought joy to Elizabeth and her expectant child, and indeed all whom she met.
Do you know that you are a God bearer? Do you believe that you walk around with Christ wherever you go? Does the presence of Christ within you bring Joy to others?
Practical Suggestion:
Make a conscious effort today to bring joy, peace and love to all whom you meet – focus on the presence of Jesus within you and allow his beautiful spirit to uplift you and all with whom you come into contact.
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for coming into my life – help me to feel your presence with me everyday, especially when there are so many distractions in my life, my home, my world. Allow me to share your Love, Peace, Joy and Hope with all. Amen.
Thursday 22 December
Scripture Luke 1: 46 - 56
Reflection
Alleluia! This song of Mary is called the Magnificat, the first word in this passage from the Latin translation of the Bible. Mary glorifies God, not only for the great things he has done for her, but also for the great things he is going to do for the world through her.
Do you realize that like Mary, God has done great things in your life? Are you aware of all the blessings and graces he has bestowed upon you? Every good thing in your life comes from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1: 17).
Like Mary, we should praise God for his many gifts and use them for his glory, not forgetting the Greatest Gift of all – Jesus. Someone once wrote: “In Christ we have a love that can never be fathomed, a life that can never die, a peace that can never be understood, a rest that can never be disturbed, a joy that can never be diminished, a hope that can never be disappointed, a glory that can never be clouded, a light that can never be darkened, and a spiritual resource that can never be exhausted.”
Ponder the wonder of Jesus!
Practical Suggestion
Is there something or someone in your life for whom you can give God thanks and praise today? This can be your own Magnificat!
Prayer
Father God, I praise and thank you for your kindness to me – you forgive my sins, heal me when I am sick, protect me from harm, fill my life with good things, give me strength to do your will and bless me with love and mercy. Without you I cannot live, with you I cannot die. May I continue to bless you and praise you all the days of my life. Amen. (Based on Psalm 103: 1-5).
Friday 23 December
Scripture Luke 1: 57 - 66
Reflection
All week we have been following the extraordinary work of God in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary and the encounter between these two great women of faith. The Birth of John the Baptist today is a prelude to the Birth of Jesus. Those who joined Elizabeth and Zechariah for the naming and circumcision of John and their neighbours were filled with awe at the circumstances surrounding the birth of this child. “What will this child turn out to be?” they wondered. They could not possibly have known what he would turn out to be and how close they were to the dawn of salvation. Mary and Joseph would wonder the same at the birth of Jesus.
This is where we find ourselves today. The Saviour’s birth is very near. The voice of John the Baptist must resound deep within us this day “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.”
It is easy to get caught up in the many preparations for Christmas and to miss out on preparing ourselves; our hearts and our lives. To hear the voice of the Baptist we must have a certain stillness within us. This is why today and tomorrow we need to take some ‘time out’ to prepare for the coming of Jesus – most especially for him to be born again within us. John’s call to preparation was a call of repentance. Despite confessions earlier this week in preparation for Christmas there are many faults and failings – as well as temptations that plague each day. A good and sincere Act of Contrition today and tomorrow will help us to prepare our hearts for the Saviour’s birth.
We have the joy of knowing what John turned out to be and what Jesus turned out to be. Now we are invited to share in that same extraordinary work of God in Mary and Elizabeth by entering into the real spirit of this Christmas. May the coming of Jesus find you at peace and ready, waiting and prepared. May you be filled with his all-powerful presence.
Practical Suggestion
Take a little ‘time out’ today. In the stillness and quiet of your heart make a good examination of conscience. Then pray the Act of Contrition or use your own words to ask for forgiveness as you promise to try not to sin again. Then pray the prayer below – let this prayer come from the very depth of your being – in real, sincere invitation and with a genuine desire for the presence of Jesus.
Prayer
Come Lord Jesus, come into my heart, come into my life, come and be born again within me. Come fill me with your Love. Amen.
Saturday 24 December
Scripture Luke 1: 67-79
Reflection
When the Lord comes to redeem us he fills us with the Holy Spirit, the source of our hope and joy in the promises of God. John the Baptist was born some six months before Mary delivered her son, Jesus.
And John’s father, Zechariah, was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and with great joy. The Holy Spirit gave Zechariah a vision for his own son as a prophet and forerunner who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Every devout Jew longed for the day when the Messiah would come. Now Zechariah knew beyond a doubt that the day was very near.
Like Zechariah, the Holy Spirit wants to give us vision, joy and faith in the knowledge of God’s love, protection, and care which he offers us through his Son Jesus Christ. Like the Baptist, we too are called to prepare the way that leads to Christ. Those who hunger for the Lord will not be disappointed. He will draw them to himself and show them his light and peace.
After four weeks of Advent in preparation for the coming of the Lord, does the proclamation of today’s Gospel fill us with Hope and Joy?
Practical Suggestion
Pray for someone, and/or invite him or her to join you at a Christmas Day Mass, someone you know is finding it difficult to accept the message of hope, joy, love and peace that is manifested at the birth of Christ our Redeemer.
Prayer
Lord, you have been gracious and merciful towards your people. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may bear witness to the joy of the birth of the Saviour.
These Daily Reflections for Advent 2011 have been written by Irene Helsdon, Fr. Stephen Tully, Fr. Justin Stirton, Fr. Grant Emmanuel, Deacon Henry Blair, Fr. Desmond Nair and Deacon Peter Venter. We encourage you to copy and distribute these Daily Reflections to anyone you think may benefit from them. We wish you a Blessed Christmas. May Jesus in his coming find you at Peace, filled with Joy and ready to welcome the gift of Love.
Slideshow of us at St Anne's
Monday, December 19, 2011
Advent Meditation
Advent Programme 2011
Waiting for Jesus
WEEK FOUR: LOVE
Jesus: God’s love made visible
Sunday 18 December
Scripture 2 Samuel 7: 1 – 5; 8 – 12; 16; Luke 1: 26 – 38
“I will build a House for you”
Reflection
In his final years as King of Israel, David was aware of many problems facing the kingdom: hostility on his borders, tensions amongst the Israelites themselves, and rivalry amongst his own sons over who would succeed him as king. He was also uncomfortable with the fact that he lived in a palace, while God, housed in the Ark of the Covenant, is living in a simple shepherd’s tent. He decides that he will build a “house for the Lord”, and he puts this idea to the prophet Nathan, who originally encourages him. However, Nathan then receives a message from the Lord and goes back to tell David that he, David, is not the “one to build a house for Yahweh” – that it will be David’s son, who will do this. The message that Nathan gives David settles his fears about the continuation of his dynasty, for he is assured that “his house and his sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established forever.”
The Jewish people waited for the promised Messiah, and expected, as had been prophesied, that He would be of the line of David. God, in His own time, sends His messenger to a young virgin in Nazareth, with news of an extraordinary birth that is to take place, and of the mission of that child. Mary, betrothed to Joseph, who is of the house of David, accepts to be the mother of He, who is to be called “Son of the Most High”. The prophecy is fulfilled once Joseph accepts that the child which Mary is carrying has been brought into being by the Holy Spirit.
Mary becomes the “house for God” – the house that will carry Him to birth, and then nurture Him until the time is right for His mission to begin.
She becomes the Christ-bearer. She presents Him to the world when the time is right.
In the Ark of the Covenant were kept three things – the staff of Aaron, the priest to the people of Israel on their Exodus journey; a dish of manna (the bread sent down from heaven); and the Law, given to Moses on Sinai.
Symbols of priesthood, bread from heaven, and the Word of God. Mary, when she agrees to become the temple that houses the Son of God, carries within her He who is the supreme High Priest, the Living Bread come down from Heaven, and the Word Incarnate.
Like Mary, we are asked to be temples for the Living God – to be Christ-bearers in our world today. Are we willing, as she was, to say, “Yes, Lord, let it be done to me”?
Practical Suggestion
Find a way, this week, to go and share Jesus with someone – in the parish, in your family, or amongst your circle of friends and acquaintances. Do this in some practical way – cook a meal, spend time with them, take someone out, take someone shopping who is not able to get about easily – there are many ways.
Prayer
Help me, Lord, to be willing to say “Yes” to what You ask of me – even when I do not fully understand what that “Yes” might mean. Let me be content in knowing that You will be there with me each day and in every way. Amen.
Monday 19 December
Scripture Ps 71: 8
“My lips are filled with your praise, with your glory all the day long.”
Reflection
We have now entered the last holy days of preparation for the celebration to help us remember not only the first coming of our Lord Jesus but also his second coming. Are our lips filled with praise as the psalmist says? So often we can catch ourselves not singing praises to God and especially when we are distracted with worldly, material activities. We need to be very careful especially in this Christmas season when even Muslims and many other people of different non-Christian faiths also have holidays - do we truly witness to them of the holiness of this season? When non-Christians see us about our Christmas business are we inspiring them with the message of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to do this is to be happy, joyful and sing Christian praises in a deeply loving, humble and merciful way. An important measure of this is to take note of the words that leave our lips – are they praising Jesus or embarrassing Jesus?
Practical Suggestion
Meditate for a few minutes on the words that have come out of your mouth today or even yesterday. Were they praising Jesus or embarrassing Jesus?
Prayer
Heavenly Father as I prepare to celebrate the gift you gave me of your Son and the promise of his second coming help me to sing your praises rather than embarrass you with my lips. Amen
Tuesday 20 December
Scripture Luke 1: 26 - 38
“Let what you have said be done to me.”
Reflection
St Bernard wrote a beautiful reflection about the suspense in heaven, on earth and in the underworld as all of creation waited with eager longing for Mary’s response to God’s messenger. What would she say? If she were to say “yes,” she would conceive the Saviour and humanity would be set free and be recalled to life. On her word depended the salvation of the human race. “Answer quickly, O Virgin.”
Mary could have said “no” out of fear, or out of humility (‘I’m not worthy’), or to avoid the responsibilities of such an onerous role (‘ask someone else; I prefer not to get involved’). From the time of Adam and Eve people have said “no” to God’s call.
Mary’s answer came: “Let what you have said be done to me” – “Yes!” The infinite, eternal, immortal God, who created the universe, humbled himself to ‘come down,’ enter time and be enclosed in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The divine Word became flesh because of her willing and committed consent. Her words changed the course of human history.
God speaks to each of us, through his Holy Scriptures, through the Church and through his ‘angels’ – people who are close to him in faith, love and Christian living. God asks us, as he asked Mary, to trust him and to co-operate with him. God’s plans for us and the world can be very challenging, daunting, even disturbing and our consent to his will may entail some suffering as it did for Mary (‘a sword of sorrow will pierce your heart’), but there can be no greater sense of fulfilment than doing God’s will faithfully. Let us be courageous and committed and renew our “Yes!” to God every day, never consenting even to small things that are not good.
Practical Suggestion
Do you sense that God is calling you to the priesthood, the diaconate, or the religious life, or to a particular ministry or service in the Church or the community? God and his angels and perhaps some people are waiting with eagerness for your response. Will you say “Yes”? Will you bring Christ to a waiting world? Take the next courageous step.
Prayer
Loving Father, help me to be prayerful and attentive to your presence as Mary was. Grant me the courage and commitment of Mary to abandon myself to you and to trust in your plans, even though I don’t know exactly where you may lead me. Let it be done to me, according to your will. Amen.
Wednesday 21 December
Scripture: Luke 1:39-45
“For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for JOY”
Reflection
How much joy will we bring into the lives of the people whom we will greet today and not only today but every day?
Mary, our mother, has many titles attributed to her. One that moves me the most is the title “Theotokos” – meaning God bearer. It was her total surrender to the will of the Father that allowed God to enter her in the form of Jesus Christ. It is without a doubt that it was the presence of Christ within her that brought joy to Elizabeth and her expectant child, and indeed all whom she met.
Do you know that you are a God bearer? Do you believe that you walk around with Christ wherever you go? Does the presence of Christ within you bring Joy to others?
Practical Suggestion:
Make a conscious effort today to bring joy, peace and love to all whom you meet – focus on the presence of Jesus within you and allow his beautiful spirit to uplift you and all with whom you come into contact.
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for coming into my life – help me to feel your presence with me everyday, especially when there are so many distractions in my life, my home, my world. Allow me to share your Love, Peace, Joy and Hope with all. Amen.
Thursday 22 December
Scripture Luke 1: 46 - 56
Reflection
Alleluia! This song of Mary is called the Magnificat, the first word in this passage from the Latin translation of the Bible. Mary glorifies God, not only for the great things he has done for her, but also for the great things he is going to do for the world through her.
Do you realize that like Mary, God has done great things in your life? Are you aware of all the blessings and graces he has bestowed upon you? Every good thing in your life comes from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1: 17).
Like Mary, we should praise God for his many gifts and use them for his glory, not forgetting the Greatest Gift of all – Jesus. Someone once wrote: “In Christ we have a love that can never be fathomed, a life that can never die, a peace that can never be understood, a rest that can never be disturbed, a joy that can never be diminished, a hope that can never be disappointed, a glory that can never be clouded, a light that can never be darkened, and a spiritual resource that can never be exhausted.”
Ponder the wonder of Jesus!
Practical Suggestion
Is there something or someone in your life for whom you can give God thanks and praise today? This can be your own Magnificat!
Prayer
Father God, I praise and thank you for your kindness to me – you forgive my sins, heal me when I am sick, protect me from harm, fill my life with good things, give me strength to do your will and bless me with love and mercy. Without you I cannot live, with you I cannot die. May I continue to bless you and praise you all the days of my life. Amen. (Based on Psalm 103: 1-5).
Friday 23 December
Scripture Luke 1: 57 - 66
Reflection
All week we have been following the extraordinary work of God in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary and the encounter between these two great women of faith. The Birth of John the Baptist today is a prelude to the Birth of Jesus. Those who joined Elizabeth and Zechariah for the naming and circumcision of John and their neighbours were filled with awe at the circumstances surrounding the birth of this child. “What will this child turn out to be?” they wondered. They could not possibly have known what he would turn out to be and how close they were to the dawn of salvation. Mary and Joseph would wonder the same at the birth of Jesus.
This is where we find ourselves today. The Saviour’s birth is very near. The voice of John the Baptist must resound deep within us this day “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.”
It is easy to get caught up in the many preparations for Christmas and to miss out on preparing ourselves; our hearts and our lives. To hear the voice of the Baptist we must have a certain stillness within us. This is why today and tomorrow we need to take some ‘time out’ to prepare for the coming of Jesus – most especially for him to be born again within us. John’s call to preparation was a call of repentance. Despite confessions earlier this week in preparation for Christmas there are many faults and failings – as well as temptations that plague each day. A good and sincere Act of Contrition today and tomorrow will help us to prepare our hearts for the Saviour’s birth.
We have the joy of knowing what John turned out to be and what Jesus turned out to be. Now we are invited to share in that same extraordinary work of God in Mary and Elizabeth by entering into the real spirit of this Christmas. May the coming of Jesus find you at peace and ready, waiting and prepared. May you be filled with his all-powerful presence.
Practical Suggestion
Take a little ‘time out’ today. In the stillness and quiet of your heart make a good examination of conscience. Then pray the Act of Contrition or use your own words to ask for forgiveness as you promise to try not to sin again. Then pray the prayer below – let this prayer come from the very depth of your being – in real, sincere invitation and with a genuine desire for the presence of Jesus.
Prayer
Come Lord Jesus, come into my heart, come into my life, come and be born again within me. Come fill me with your Love. Amen.
Saturday 24 December
Scripture Luke 1: 67-79
Reflection
When the Lord comes to redeem us he fills us with the Holy Spirit, the source of our hope and joy in the promises of God. John the Baptist was born some six months before Mary delivered her son, Jesus.
And John’s father, Zechariah, was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and with great joy. The Holy Spirit gave Zechariah a vision for his own son as a prophet and forerunner who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Every devout Jew longed for the day when the Messiah would come. Now Zechariah knew beyond a doubt that the day was very near.
Like Zechariah, the Holy Spirit wants to give us vision, joy and faith in the knowledge of God’s love, protection, and care which he offers us through his Son Jesus Christ. Like the Baptist, we too are called to prepare the way that leads to Christ. Those who hunger for the Lord will not be disappointed. He will draw them to himself and show them his light and peace.
After four weeks of Advent in preparation for the coming of the Lord, does the proclamation of today’s Gospel fill us with Hope and Joy?
Practical Suggestion
Pray for someone, and/or invite him or her to join you at a Christmas Day Mass, someone you know is finding it difficult to accept the message of hope, joy, love and peace that is manifested at the birth of Christ our Redeemer.
Prayer
Lord, you have been gracious and merciful towards your people. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may bear witness to the joy of the birth of the Saviour.
These Daily Reflections for Advent 2011 have been written by Irene Helsdon, Fr. Stephen Tully, Fr. Justin Stirton, Fr. Grant Emmanuel, Deacon Henry Blair, Fr. Desmond Nair and Deacon Peter Venter. We encourage you to copy and distribute these Daily Reflections to anyone you think may benefit from them. We wish you a Blessed Christmas. May Jesus in his coming find you at Peace, filled with Joy and ready to welcome the gift of Love.
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