"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" Mt. 1, 18-24.
During this time of Advent the Catholic Christians continue in this important waiting; the waiting for a Savior who has been announced to us for a long time. Throughout our lifetime we have learned to celebrate Advent as a preparation time for the glorious arrival of our Savior. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, let us give ourselves the opportunity of quietening our soul and spirit for a moment and let our heart prepare itself with humility and simplicity to receive him who frees us from our sins. Pray saying: Come Lord Jesus! Come to save me from my own sins!
"He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name" Jn. 1, 1-18.
Let us enjoy! Salvation was born for us; the light of the world, our Lord Jesus was born and made us children of God. Salvation has come to the world and we have to recognize it; we can’t continue living in this world celebrating Christmas as just a date or another tradition. Christmas is the opportunity to recognize Jesus as our only Savior, receive him in our heart and receive the power of being children of God, a power that is just the power of LOVE. In this Christmas time, give love, give forgiveness, and believe in the name of Jesus, the name that means Salvation.
"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart" Lk. 2, 16-21.
Let us begin a new year with the celebration of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God. Nothing better than to say goodbye to a year and begin a new one of the hand and company of our beautiful mother of the heaven. On this day we must learn also from the shepherds who saw Jesus in the manger and like them let us praise and glorify the Lord for all the good we received in the past year and for the good that comes with this new year. "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them."
"Where is the newborn King of the Jews?" Mt. 2:2
It is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord and with it Christmas time comes to an end. As the kings wondered where was the king of the Jews, it is good that we wonder on this day, on these first days of the year and the last ones of Christmas, where is our king, the Lord Jesus, and what place does he occupy in our heart and life? And when we find him just as the three wise men, let us adore him.
"Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God" Jn. 1, 29-34.
Continuing this new year and beginning the ordinary time in the liturgical year, let these words of John’s Gospel be the ones that mark the rest of our year. We who have celebrated Christmas and have seen Jesus in it, let us dedicate ourselves this year to bear witness of Jesus, as the Son of God and as our Lord and Savior.
Father Viloria is parochial vicar in the parishes of St. Mary and St Mary and St. Martha in Auburn.
