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11/29/2024 In Joyful AnticipationHello Friends, Advent is a time of preparation for the Lord’s coming. The season is intended to spiritually orient us to His second coming and prepare us for the joyful anniversary of His first coming, 2,024 years ago. In today’s Gospel reading, we hear Jesus tell his disciples, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” When passages like this shake me to attention, my mind is directed to the call for constant conversion, “The first work of the Holy Spirit is conversion... Moved by grace, man turns towards God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high.” (CCC, 1989). The apocalyptic tone of today’s Gospel can be jarring, but whether it is at the end of time or our particular moment of judgment, the Christian life is a preparation for that meeting. We have faith that our earthly pilgrimage with Christ will end with eternal life with Him. As we look forward to celebrating the Savior’s first coming. It is heartening to see the arrival of our Lord celebrated in broader culture and how the joy of this time of year is reflected in the communities where we live. We can see the Holy Spirit at work when the season’s joy sends the good news beyond the Church. Growing up, I enjoyed watching Christmas television specials during this season with my siblings. My wife and I passed on this tradition to our children. We still round up our family during the season and set aside an evening to watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The Charlie Brown Christmas special is just about as old as I am, and over the last 59 years, millions of people have heard the good news at the end of this short story. Many warm memories are rekindled in my heart when Linus recites from Luke (2:8-14 KJV): “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”  As we journey through this Advent season, let’s focus on the coming of the highest good, Christ our Lord. May this anticipation and preparation deepen our desire to seek Jesus and grow in our love for Him.
Siempre Adelante! Manuel Leon Business Manager Comments are closed.
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