1st Sunday of Advent, (November 29, 2020)
Is 63.16b-17, 64.1,3-8; 1 Cor 1.3-9; Mk 13.33-37
As children of God, we were created to worship God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that, “God’s first call and just demand is that man accept him and worship him.” (CCC, 2084) The act of abortion which takes place in practically every corner of our world is the antithesis of the worship imagery presented in Revelation, where a great multitude from every nation, every race and tongue, are gathered before the throne to worship God. In abortion, an innocent life of the human family, willed into existence by God, is intentionally terminated and deprived of the faculty to worship.
The Second Reading highlights the fundamental reason why abortion and euthanasia have become so prevalent in the world. The dignity of the human person as a child of God is seldom recognized in our societies because too many people no longer know God. When God, the Source of Love, is removed from our lives, we no longer know our belovedness and the belovedness of the most vulnerable. One of the first steps in becoming a saint is knowing that we belong to our loving Father.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us the instruction manual to happiness. The adventure of life is not only filled with joys, but also unexpected challenges. In times of illness, suffering, and loss, we can be confident that the Lord is near to us. Even in difficult circumstances, such as terminal illness and unexpected pregnancies, He calls us to remain steadfast on the path of happiness and holiness. The saints are models of living a life of beatitude despite the challenges of their times.
Pro-Life Intercession: That by following the example of the heroic virtue of the saints, we may be steadfast in the spiritual battles of our times, courageously fighting to uphold the dignity of the human person, we pray to the Lord...