LUKE 21, 25 – 28. 34 – 36
25 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves;
26 men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.’
34 ‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly,
35 like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth.
36 Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.’
New Jerusalem Bible
Doubleday 1985
FAITH KNOWN
Article 59 of the General Directory for Catechesis reminds Christ’s faithful that “The model for all catechesis is the baptismal catechumenate … inspiring the other forms of catechesis in both their objectives and in their dynamism.”
Catechesis of adults — and of adolescents and children — following article 75.1 of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — thereby identifies the liturgical year with its celebration of the Word and prayer as appropriate in setting the direction and agenda for the continuing formation and training in the Christian life.
Themes for catechesis are generated by correlating the Gospel passage each Sunday with texts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC].
KEY THEMES
PROFESSION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
- Christ’s second coming in glory
CHRISTIAN PRAYER
- Jesus teaches his disciples to pray
Luk 21, 27 > CCC 671
JESUS WILL COME AGAIN IN GLORY
Christ returns subjecting all things to him.–Though already present in his Church, Christ’s reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled “with power and great glory” by the King’s return to earth (Luke 21, 27). This reign is still under attack by the evil powers, even though they have been defeated definitively by Christ’s Passover.
Until everything is subject to him, “until there be realized new heavens and a new earth in which justice dwells, the pilgrim Church, in her sacraments and institutions, which belong to this present age, carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures which groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the sons of God.”
Pilgrim Church awaits Christ’s daily comings
Art Source: terraverdechurch.org
That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ’s return by saying to him: Marana tha! “Our Lord, come!”
Luk 21, 34 – 36 > CCC 2612
PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Revelation of Prayer … in the fullness of time.–In Jesus “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” He calls his hearers to conversion and faith, but also to watchfulness.
In prayer the disciple keeps watch, attentive to Him Who Is and Him Who Comes, in memory of his first coming in the lowliness of the flesh, and in the hope of his second coming in glory (Luke 21, 34 – 36).
Keeping watch in prayer … in hope
Art Source: pegponderingagain.
In communion with their Master, the disciples’ prayer is a battle; only by keeping watch in prayer can one avoid falling into temptation.
SOURCE
Catechism of the Catholic Church Revised Edition. Burns & Oates 1999, 2006.
The New Jerusalem Bible. DLT & Doubleday & Company, 1985.
SONGS
Sing Out, Earth And Skies
Marty Haugen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTYOglt9ab0&hl=en-GB&gl=SG
Come Lord,Maranatha!
Ricky Manalo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOGE1Z15tP8
Let Justice Roll Like A River
Marty Haugen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GckRvdAoiqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5qfGjzwLMQ
FAITH CONVERTED
COP21
The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
30 November – 11 December 2015, Paris
- issue of climate change: scientists believe dangerous and unpredictable impacts on our climate system will take place when the earth warms about 2°C above pre-industrial times
- situation: we are already half way to that danger point
- key aim of COP21: the 195 countries taking part will agree on a practical action plan to stabilise greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system
- hoped for outcome: sustainability will be at the heart of everything we attempt to do in the future
Art Source: pittsburghclimate.org
how am I to pray and live this Advent
in vigilance and hope
that Christ’s daily comings in my life and others will make us strong
to use and share God-given resources in line with kingdom values?
SOURCE
COP21: Beginner’s guide to the UN Paris climate summit.
Matt McGrath, Environment correspondent, BBC News, Paris, 29 November 2015.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34953626
till Christ is formed 