"...
our salvation is closer to us now than we first learned to believe. The
night is far on its course; day draws near. Let us abandon the ways of
darkness, and put on the armour of light." (Extract from today's
Epistle, Romans 13. 11-14)
"And
then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with his full
power and majesty... the kingdom of God is close at hand."
(Extract from today's Gospel Luke 21. 25-33)
Mass at 5pm, St Patrick's Church, College Rd, Kilkenny.
Advent is a season of waiting and of fervent longing for the
Redeemer: “Drop down dew, ye heavens, and let the clouds rain the Just One!” As
St. Paul reminds us in the epistle today, Advent is a time to arouse ourselves
and bring forth the fruits of sanctity. The great fruit of Advent should be
that we “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light… put ye
on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13. 11-14). Now is the time to arouse
ourselves to a new life, to strip ourselves generously of our meanness and
weakness, and to put on Jesus Christ, that is, His holiness.
In the Gospel today we are reminded of that other great
theme of Advent. What is put before us is Christ’s coming at the end of time as
the supreme Judge. He came with great love to Bethlehem; He comes with grace
into our souls; He will come with justice at the end of the world: Christ’s
triple coming, the synthesis of Christianity, an invitation to a vigilant,
trusting expectation, “Lift up your heads, for your redemption is at hand!”
