Reading:
1 Peter 1:1-12
"According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Today marks the beginning of Advent. Advent is a the time of year that prepares us through works of mercy, prayer and alms giving for the celebration of Christmas, but just as important is the look forward to His return. The Holy Mother Church calls us to walk once again through the time of preparation and to look towards Christ's sure and certain return. So we spend these next four weeks in fasting and prayer in preparation for His return.
You must remember that our preparations are not done to earn our status before God. Because as St. Peter was teaching here our living hope that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading is according His great mercy. God's mercy is what secures our inheritance because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for us. His death on the cross, where He spilled His most precious blood is what allows us this inheritance. It is sure and certain not because of our works but because of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.
St. Peter went on to tell those whom he was writing that they did not see Jesus, they love him and believe in Him. This is the same for us today. We have not seen Jesus in the flesh like they did in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land when Jesus walked among us. However, we do still have Jesus coming to us today. He does so through the Word and Sacraments. It is in these great gifts that God gives to His Church that His presence is lived out today and we experience with certainty what they promise and that "obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:9)
May you all have a blessed Advent as we prepare once again for the great mystery of the Word made flesh and for His second coming!
No comments:
Post a Comment