Readings
Reading I: Isaiah 2:1-5 |
Preaching TipAre Preachers also Called to Be Entertainers? Here's what St Francis de Sales has to say about that question. "I know that many writers say that, thirdly, the preacher must give delight. For myself, I make a distinction and say that there is a delight that follows upon learning and the movement of the will. What soul is so unfeeling that it does not take very great pleasure from learning the path to heaven is so good and holy a way, and does not feel the greatest consolation in love of God? Such delight must be brought about; however, it is not distinct from teaching and moving but dependent on them. "There is another kind of delight which does not depend on teaching and moving and very often prevents them. This is a sort of tickling of ears, which derives from a certain secular, worldly, and profane elegance and from various affectations and arrangements of ideas, words, and phrases. In brief, it depends wholly on artifice. With regard to such pleasure, I strongly and firmly deny that a preacher should even think of it. It must be left to orators out in the world and to tricksters and flatterers who may amuse themselves with it. They do not preach "Jesus Christ crucified"; they preach themselves." On the Preacher and Preaching, by St Francis de Sales, Ed. John K Ryan, p 32-33 |
Adviento A I
VIGILAD PORQUE YA LLEGA EL SEÑOR
Hermanas y hermanos:
Es primer domingo de Adviento, tiempo de espera y de preparación para la venida de Cristo. Su venida histórica, ya tuvo lugar hace dos mil años. Jesús nació, vivió, sufrió, murió y resucitó en la tierra, en nuestra historia. Y así ha rescatado a la humanidad perdida en el pecado.
1. La Navidad o primera venida del Mesías, continúa siendo un recordatorio de su segunda venida. La historia de la humanidad se orienta toda hacia la "parusía", es decir, hacia la venida gloriosa de Cristo al final de los tiempos. Mientras estamos a la espera de ese "adviento", el más importante de la historia de la humanidad, debemos ocuparnos de preparar nuestro corazón para recibir a Cristo dignamente.
2. ¿Qué hemos de hacer? El Evangelio nos urge a "Vigilar porque no sabemos ni el día ni la hora en que vendrá el Señor" y San Pablo nos invita a "presentar nuestras peticiones a Dios en la oración y la súplica, llenos de gratitud". La oración es, sin duda, un ingrediente importantísimo. Dispone nuestra alma para no albergar temores, nos ayuda a confiar en Dios, protege la paz de nuestro corazón, nos da a conocer a Cristo y nos impulsa a entregarnos a él generosamente, sirviendo a nuestros hermanos. Jesucristo se hace presente con su Palabra, contenida en la Sagrada Escritura.
3. ¿Cómo podemos prepararnos? Debemos realizar el ideal del cristiano que Jesús nos vino a traer. Primeramente, a través de la recepción de los Sacramentos. Son vías especialísimas, signos visibles, por medio de los cuales Cristo se hace presente. En el Bautismo nos borra el pecado original y da a cada bautizado su gracia, que es su Vida misma. En la Confesión nos restaura la gracia perdida por los pecados cometidos. En la Eucaristía está realmente presente, vivo, y se da a nosotros en forma de alimento para nuestra alma, fortaleciendo nuestra vida espiritual.
Dejemos que Cristo venga a nuestro corazón y nos transforme cada vez más profundamente, de esta manera nos vamos preparando a su venida gloriosa. El Señor nos encontrará velando, como nos pide El insistentemente a lo largo de su Palabra y sobre todo en estos días de Adviento. Nosotros nos encontramos entre la primera y la segunda venida. La primera ya sucedió en Belén hace dos mil años. La segunda "no sabemos cuándo llegará". Pero sabemos que llegará.
Que la venida del Señor esta Navidad no sea inútil, sino que nos ayude a prepararnos a su venida final en gloria.
First Sunday of Advent Year (A)
BE WATCHFUL; THE LORD IS COMING
Sisters and brothers,
Today is the First Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. His historic coming took place two thousand years ago. Jesus was born, lived, suffered, died and rose again on this earth, in our history. And in this way he redeemed all mankind that had been lost in sin.
1. Christmas, or the first coming of Christ, is still a reminder of his second coming. The history of humanity is directed toward the "parousia," that is, the glorious coming of Christ at the end of time. While we await this "advent" or "coming," the most important one in human history, we should start preparing our heart to receive Christ worthily.
2. What should we be doing? The Gospel encourages us to "Be watchful, for we know not the day nor the hour when the Lord is coming" and Saint Paul invites us to "present our petitions to God in prayer and supplication, full of gratitude." Prayer is undoubtedly a very important ingredient. Prayer frees our soul from fear, helps us trust in God, protects the peace of our heart, helps us know Christ and moves us to give ourselves to him with generosity by serving our brothers and sisters. Jesus Christ becomes present with his Word that is found in Scripture.
3. How can we prepare ourselves? We must reach the Christian ideal that Jesus came to bring us. First, by receiving the Sacraments. They are very special paths, visible signs, through which Christ becomes present. By Baptism he washes away original sin and gives his grace, his very Life, to each baptized person. In Confession he restores the grace lost by sin. In the Eucharist he is truly present, alive, and he gives himself to us as food for our soul, strengthening our spiritual life.
Let us allow Christ to come into our heart and transform us more and more deeply, so we can prepare for his glorious coming. The Lord will find us watching, as He asks us insistently in his Word and especially in these days of Advent. We are living between the first and second coming of Christ. The first coming took place in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. "We know not" when the second coming will occur. But we know it will happen.
May our Lord's coming this Christmas not be in vain, but may it help us to prepare for his final coming in glory.