Keep on hoping
The story is told about a wife who informed her husband that her stress level is very high. She quoted her doctor as saying that one option she should consider is to go abroad and spend some time shopping and sightseeing to lower her stress level. The husband responded: “Honey, another option is to see another doctor!”
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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 24, 37-44), Jesus tells us that there are two options we can take in life: to live in comfort and sin, or to live in vigilance and righteousness. Jesus also warns us that we must not be complacent, “for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” We do not know where, or when, or how we will exit from this life. We should be as the boy scouts are: “laging handa” (always prepared).
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Today is the First Sunday of Advent. It is the first of days of preparation for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the acceptable time of salvation, and the time to prepare to welcome the baby Jesus into our hearts and our lives. It is the time for peace and reconciliation. It is also the time for giving and sharing, especially to so many of our brothers and sisters in our country who are suffering.
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We light today the first candle in our advent wreath—Hope! In this world so full of sin and fragile peace, we dare to hope and believe in goodness and in the victory of the light over the darkness of sin. Keep hoping. BTS! Believe, trust, surrender!
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Let us be whisperers of hope. Let us continue to point to the Lord, and be heralds of hope. Let us not be prophets of gloom and doom. Rather, let us be the light to the world and the salt of the earth.
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At whatever age, at whatever life season, may we always have the Advent mindset, that joyful expectation and grateful preparation to meet the Lord, someday soon. Let us continue to refocus on the Lord as we journey on, confident that He is with us, and that something good is going to happen up ahead, and yes, to believe that the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived the beauty that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
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Think about this: “Life is full of uncertainties, and we’ll never know when our time on earth is up till it’s over, so share a lot, give much, take time to walk, see the stars, sing out loud, smile, forgive, reach out, smile at your God, because life is short, and every minute counts.”
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Let us pray today for the grace to live meaningful, beautiful lives. May we live lives spent for a mission for something or Someone greater than ourselves. May we not live empty and meaningless lives filled with selfishness, pleasure, and pride.
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Let us also pray today for the grace for a happy death. “Lord, when the time comes for me to leave this world, please grant that I will be in a state of grace, and that I have been reconciled with You, with the world, and with myself. May I come before You not empty-handed, but with lots of love. And may You welcome me, the sinful one.”
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Think about this: “Those who walk with the Lord will always reach their destination; those who dream with the Lord will always achieve their vision; those who stand for the Lord will always win the battle; and those who work for the Lord will always receive their reward.”
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I am writing this column in wintry Nagoya, Japan. The leaves of the trees have all turned brown and many trees are bare except the evergreens that remain green at the coldest winter, giving so much hope and inspiration amidst the gloom all around. May we remain evergreens in the Lord giving hope and warmth wherever we are.
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Walking around our SVD Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan I saw an incredible site—a tree abloom with flowers amidst the bare trees all around. Fr. Jonathan Villacorta, SVD told me that this tree is call “Kan Zakura,” a winter cherry blossom tree! Yes, even in the coldest winter, especially in the coldest winter in our lives, may we all continue to be strong and bring out something meaningful and beautiful.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to be bearers and bringers of hope. Amen.
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