PARADOXICAL

(From the one that Fr. Dave gave last Saturday)

Advent is not yet Christmas. Advent is not a season, it’s a way of life. There are things that we can’t rush. We can’t rush Christmas. We go through Advent as a way of waiting for Christmas. In rushing things, we tend to end up going back to what we should have been through when we were a lot younger. It’s like growing old – nothing wrong with growing old, which is a gift. But we must prepare for our old age by enjoying our youth and not rushing headlong to adulthood, only to act like a teen at an advanced age. Advent is supposed to remind us that the celebration of Christmas is near, but that means we are merely celebrating the First Coming. In deeper terms, Advent is a reminder of the biggest waiting that we are to do: waiting for the Second Coming, the Day of Judgment.

Are we ready for the Second Coming of the Lord? Are we ready for Advent? This question can be answered by reflecting on the joyful mysteries in the life of Christ (as detailed in the Rosary, which is essentially a prayer to Christ, together with Mary (not a prayer to Mary)).

The 1st Joyful Mystery: Annunciation

The annunciation is a scandalous thing for Mary to go through. During her time, she could’ve been stoned to death for bearing a son without a visible father. But why was Mary not shocked? Because Mary was sensitive to the Word.

Are we?

Insensitivity to the Word makes our conscience calloused.

Can we say as Mary said, “God knows I break no vows”? “God knows I’m faithful?”


The 2nd Joyful Mystery: Visitation

Similarly, the visitation was a scandalous thing for both Mary and Elizabeth to go through. Can you imagine an elderly woman giving birth? Impossible! Scandalous! But why were Mary and Elizabeth not scandalized? Because Mary and Elizabeth were sensitive to the Word and thus they were also sensitive to their neighbors. If we are sensitive to the Word, we will be sensitive to our neighbor.

Are we? Have our conscience turned calloused, by which we then become defensive, until we fall into sin?

“At the end of our life, we will be judged according to our relationships, not through the length of our prayer.”


The 3rd Joyful Mystery: Birth of Jesus; The Word Made Flesh

In this mystery, Mary becomes the bearer of good news, literally and figuratively.

If we are not sensitive with our neighbors, we won’t experience our own Nativity, we won’t be bearers of good news.


The 4th Joyful Mystery: Presentation

Do we present ourselves to the Lord out of a sense of gratitude?

Losing our sense of gratitude results in grumbling. And if we are too unfaithful, we have nothing to present to God.


The 5th Joyful Mystery: Finding of the Lord in the Temple

Do I find myself in the temple?

Examine yourself: Take time to pray, confess your sins, let go, and participate in the liturgy.

Let go. Sometimes, our possessions possess us.


Pray. Listen to this parable of the psalm:

"There are two prayerful persons. The first recites a prayer from memory in front of a crowd, and the audience applaud aloud. The second does not recite it as well, but delivers it from the heart; the people fall silent. Why? Because the first one knows the psalm, the second knows the Shepherd."