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WORD FOR MISSION Every week CIAM offers
to lay, religious people and priests an itinerary of reflections on the
Sunday Liturgy in a missionary prespective. These are elements for a
missionary meditation, individual or in community, on the Word of God ,
which constantly and surprisingly continues to enlighten, strengthen
and sustain the missionary journey of the Church, for the life of the
World
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Advent: a time of Hope and of Mission  First Sunday of Advent Year C – 03.12.2006
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 24 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 Luke 21:25-28.34-36
Reflections The ‘good news’ of Jesus today, as we start a new liturgical year, casts light on three situations in human and Christian existence: the real situation in which we live, the response of Faith, the path followed by the believer.
1. Luke, the Evangelist who will be our companion on the journey through this new liturgical cycle, uses powerful words (Gospel) in presenting the real-life situation of humanity that lives in the midst of evils and longs for his coming. He mentions nations in agony, clamour, dying of fear, bewilderment… (v. 25-26). They are evils that do not refer to the end of the world, but to the present situation of humankind, with all the negative elements in it, brought about mainly by sin which contaminates all relationships with God, with oneself, with others, with the cosmos.
2. Humanity, immersed in evil and sin, is unable to save itself; it needs a Saviour who reigns from outside: Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, is the Saviour who is coming. He has the power of God to break down whatever evil affects the world (v.27). No evil, no chaos, no negative situation is stronger than He. This is the good news: delivery from evil is possible; indeed, it is close. All that is needed is to look on Him with trust: “Stand erect, hold your heads high (v.28). He has the new life of the branch that grows (1st. Reading), of life that is renewed, of a new world.
3. This is a dream from God, and it is possible on one condition: there is a path to follow in watchfulness and prayer, so as not to be weighed down by the distractions and anxieties of life (vv.34,36), but to behave in a way that is pleasing to God (2nd. Reading), to grow in the abundance of love for each other and for all (v.!2). Today’s liturgical texts also call for vigilance, for prayer and for hope: these are characteristic attitudes of the Advent period. The wait for the Lord who saves will not be an illusion; it will be satisfied. His Coming -- each day in Advent and especially at Christmas, is always a joyous surprise, but it is also a certainty.
The liturgy makes us live in joyful hope of the Coming of the Lord Jesus, and of his return. This helps us to celebrate His first Coming at Christmas effectively, in the true spirit. The special power of the Sacraments of the Church is to make present today the Christian mysteries that took place long ago. That is how history is repeated, and becomes the story of Salvation for every single believer today. But to obtain this it is necessary that the waiting becomes attention to the Lord who is coming; that is, the patient preparation of a heart that is well-disposed and purified, aware of the needs of others, and ready to share with them its own experience of Jesus the Saviour.
Christians who already believe in Christ, know that it is the Saviour who is coming. Non-Christians, who are still the vast majority of humanity (about two-thirds) are still awaiting the first proclamation of Christ the Saviour. So Advent is a liturgical time that is really suitable to re-awaken in Christians the awareness of their missionary responsibility. Pope Pius XII was already advocating this almost 50 years ago, calling for missionary prayer and commitment, especially during Advent, which is the time of waiting for all humanity. (*)
The Pope’s words * “You must see to it that earnest and unceasing prayers are offered by your priests and faithful in furthering this holy purpose ... at definite times during the liturgical year that seem to be more suitable for fostering and promoting interest in missionary work. … Advent, when we recall the expectation of a Saviour by the human race as well as the providential preparations for the coming of the Saviour … Pray, pray more. Think of the immense spiritual needs of many people still so far from the true Faith, or still deprived of the assistance needed to persevere in it.”
Pius XII (Encyclical Fidei Donum, 21.4.1957)
In the steps of Missionaries - 03/12: St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), a Jesuit priest, and missionary in India and Japan, who died on an island off the coast of China. He is the principle Patron of the Missions. - 04/12: Bl Adolf Kolping (1813-1865), a German priest, “Father of craftsmen”. He promoted Christian associations and formation of young workers. - 06/12: S. Nicola (ca. 250-326), Bishop of Mira and Patron of Bari in S. Italy. He is one Italian equivalent of Father Christmas, and Patron Saint of children, youth, chemists, merchants, sailors, fishermen, etc., etc. - 06/12: Bl. Pedro Pascual (ca. 1225-1300), Bishop of Jaén, who evangelised both Spain and Portugal. He was martyred by the Moslems in Granada. - 07/12: St. Ambrose (339-397), Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church, defender and organiser of the community and teacher and mentor of St. Augustine. - 08/12: Solennity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ the Saviour. - 08/12: Bl. Narcisa of Jesus Martillo Morán (1832-1869). She was born and lived in Ecuador, and died at Lima (Peru). She was a Dominican Tertiary, given to prayer, penance and the care of the poor and needy. - 09/12: St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (+1548), the Mexican peasant to whom Our Lady (of Guadalupe) appeared on Tepeyac hill in 1531.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Compiled by Fr. Romeo Ballan, mcci - former Director of CIAM, Rome Translated by Fr. J.M. Troy, mccj Website: www.ciam.org “The Word for Mission” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
