Saturday 17 December
17 December O Sapientia! Gospel - Matthew 1:1-17 “The genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham…”. The genealogy of Jesus Christ is not some names. It shows how God prepared the way for His incarnation. Genealogy embraces different generations, different places, different situations, different moments of history, but through all these differences run the single reality of the plan of God for the incarnation of His Son in our midst. When we read this genealogy, this should also be our thought: in my life, happening different things, coming and going different persons, moving to different places, different tasks and jobs, different situations, but in all these circumstances, there is something that connects all these in my life, that is the plan of God for my life so that I can feel the love of God. Advent is the time to feel the plan of God that runs through all the situations in my life.
Friday 16 December
Friday of the 3rd week of Advent Gospel - John 5:33-36 “John was a lamp alight and shining”. And Jesus is the source of this light. Being united to the source of light is the way to keep our light aflame. He was united to the source of light by his testimony to the truth. “...he gave his testimony to the truth”. It’s our testimony to the truth that connects us to the source of light and it’s then we began to shine in the darkness. Our testimony to truth comes when we have true love in us. Our testimony to truth comes when we can enjoy the true love of God in prayer. Our testimony to truth comes when we can see the best in others. Advent is the time to be a light by giving testimony to truth.
Thursday 15 December
Thursday of the 3rd week of Advent Gospel Luke 7:24-30 “Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet”. In the person of John the Baptist, there is someone more than a prophet. He not only announces the Word of God but also prepares the way before the Lord. We must encounter with him to prepare within us the way for the Lord. We must encounter in the wilderness of prayer John the Baptist, not as reed swaying in the breeze but as strong as that not even tempest can sway it. This determination is that keeps us in the path of the Lord. Not swayed by different breezes in life. Not swayed by different temptations. Not swayed by different opinions. But firm in faith and mission. That makes him the messenger of God. Advent is the time to prepare ourselves by determination to stay in the way of the Lord.
Wednesday 14 December
Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor on Wednesday of the 3rd week of Advent Gospel - Luke 7:19-23 “Are you the one who is to come or have we to wait for someone else?” Our life should be the answer as we have the life of Christ in us. The life of Christ which we have received in the sacrament of Baptism. That presence of Jesus in us should do the miracles, should give sight in those moments in my life when I become blind with selfishness; should cleanse the leprosy in me, leprosy of racism; should let me hear in those moments of my life when I become deaf to the cry of the poor; should let the dead parts of my life with revenge be raised to life by forgiveness and pardon. This transformation in us and around us is the testimony of the presence of Jesus in us. Advent is the time to underline the presence of Jesus in us with our testimony.