REFLECTION FOR FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Many of us know some degree of woundedness and easily empathise with persons and communities adversely affected by very traumatic experiences.   Our natural tendency is to be sympathetic to all who encounter a seismic shaking of the powers of heaven in their lives. 

When something of this magnitude happens, be it though abuse, war, death, illness etc., it takes time to pick up the pieces.  This weekend’s gospel passage is good news in that it reminds us that God also seeks to help, as suggested by the line “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory… for your liberation is near at hand”.

Present day realities, however, frequently remind us of how slow the work of recovery, restoration and healing can be.  Think for a moment of the people of Haiti or of victims of human atrocities.  Such signs, Christ suggests, ought in the first instance to lead us to prayer.  Why?  Because it is through prayer that we receive the graces necessary to prevent the coarsening of our hearts in the face of hardship.  Grace, to quote St. Thomas Aquinas, builds on nature, empowering us to be true instruments of the Holy Spirit in our broken messed-up world and allowing us “stand with confidence before the Son of Man”.                                                                         

Taking Our Hearts to the Lord, Advent Reflections 2016