Adult Faith Formation Column for the Sunday Bulletin of St. Michael Parish, Livermore, California

This weekly column is a short meditation on the Bible readings of the Sunday Mass. The meditations are direct quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, papal encyclicals, writings of the Saints, and similar orthodox sources.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Sunday 27 November 2011

The Grace of the Coming

    Christian expectation:  Perseverance in faith and in struggle.

    Advent makes us see that salvation has been given to us through the grace of the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Let us open our hearts afresh so that the grace of this year's Advent may work in us with the fullness of its riches and depth.

    Advent is the period of waiting:  of Christian waiting and perseverance in faith and in struggle, by virtue of Christ's grace in us..  Advent opens a new chapter every year in that book of salvation which God writes in the Church through the story of man.

    It is necessary to be humble to receive the divine teachings; there is need to be humble so that divine grace may operate in us, transform our lives and bring out the fruits of goodness.

    Elevation of the soul is accomplished through knowledge of the Lord and His ways:  Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me..." (Ps 25: 4-5).

    As you see, it is not a matter of abstract knowledge but of knowledge having influence upon life.  "Teach me your paths" means teach me to live in conformity with God's will

    In this internal effort it is given to us to discover once again and convince ourselves that "the Lord is good."

                        -- Blessed John Paul II
                            28 November 1982

                Rouse your power,
                    and come to save us.
                        (Psalm 80)

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