We have the gift of this short, powerful season of Advent to heed the message of God’s love in the person of Jesus Christ. Are we ready? This is the time to take the message to heart and put it into practice.
Throughout our lives we have numerous experiences of vigilance: watching over a loved one, remaining attentive to someone’s needs or waiting in expectation for an arrival. The same is true everyday in the spiritual life as we are vigilant in living our faith for Jesus Christ.
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, and we hear how he and his brother responded to the Lord’s call. Indeed, the Lord continues to call all of us…will we follow?
Our faith clearly acknowledges that there will be a final judgment, and while this reality can bring a grim awareness of our sins, it can also serve as an inspiration to take hold of the gift of today and live our faith with conviction.
We are servants and stewards of Christ, our King. This means that our faith is not some hazy, vague experience; rather, it is dynamic and life-giving as we conform our lives to the commands of the one who claims our obedience.
As the Lord teaches about eternal life, we are reminded that our lives here on earth are a preparation for our encounter with the angels and saints gathered around God in Heaven.
In the Gospel today the Lord cleanses the temple and then teaches the people. Every time we enter into a church and stand before the Blessed Sacrament in the tablernacle, we encounter the same Risen Lord – body and blood, soul and divinity.
What are you thankful for today? What gifts do you recognize right now in your life and how do you share them gratefully with others? How has God’s grace transformed your life? Now go, and be a blessing in the world!
The parable today shows the outcome of three servants who were given the opportunity to serve their master. Like these servants, our lives have the power to make an impact in the world. It begs a question: What are we doing with our lives?