After celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King last Sunday, which culminates the Liturgical Year, we have arrived at a New Liturgical Year (Year A) with the Season of Advent. For me, this is an awesome season because we are being asked to reflect, ponder and think deeply about the three "comings" of Christ, namely: The coming of Christ at the end time or Parousia, the commemoration or celebration of Christ's coming in history more than two thousand years ago, and the coming of Christ in the daily events of our life.

The Season of Advent for me is a beautiful liturgical season. The liturgical color is purple, which is one of my favorite colors. What is emphasized here is EXPECTATION, while the season of Lent is more on REPENTANCE and CONVERSION in lieu of the Paschal mystery of Christ that is, his Passion, death and Resurrection.

The first two Sundays stress this idea of expectation. In fact, our Gospel account emphatically says this: "So, you must also be prepared, for an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." The Church would want us to prepare spiritually for Christ's advent in our lives beginning today. Let us be mindful that we should not act like the people during the time of Noah who were unprepared for the deluge, except for the family of Noah. Many of the people taunted him when he was building the Ark.

One of the ways to expect for Christ's coming is to be able to stand erect before him with a clean mind, heart and soul. First, it would be appropriate then that we have to go for Confession to cleanse our souls. And it would even be more wholesome to have a general confession.

Second, spend more time in meditation or Lectio Divina by reading and praying the scripture, most especially the first chapters of Luke and Matthew which tell us about the infancy narrative of Christ.

Third, we should not allow ourselves to be swallowed and wallowed by the peripheral preparations of Christmas, like putting on Christmas decorations as early as September, which Filipinos usually do, Christmas shopping etc. Well, these things have something to do with culture, but they are not really essential. On a practical note, it would be nice to join Advent recollections. There is one coming organized by All Saints Catholic Church. The famous priest of EWTN, Fr. Allard, is giving the talks. The Filipino Community of our parishes will also hold an Advent Recollection on December 7 at Our Lady of the Valley. This invitation is extended to parishioners and the different groups like MFC, El Shaddai, Our Mother of Perpetual Help devotees and 2000 Hail Mary etc.

Supposing Jesus would come now either in Parousia, or in our death or in our daily event of our life, can we really welcome him with an open hearts and minds? Can we stand erect before Him with confidence and excitement or we bow our heads before him in shamefulness and fear?

-Fr. Jerome

P.S. As you know, Fr. Joshy left us on November 24th to report to his new assignment. We will surely miss him. Let us continue to pray for him that the Lord will bless him and his new work in Lake Havasu. Let us welcome Fr. Guido Ditalo to our beloved St. Raphael and Our Lady of the Valley community.

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