General. Today’s Liturgy reminds us that, of his very nature, man cannot stand in expectation waiting for the coming of the Lord, no matter the evident times he is living in or his aging years. Through the Eucharist, however, we can renew our fortitude, recalling that the Emanuel had visited His people when least expected, giving them the grace to make amends with their Father Who is in heaven.

Isaiah. During Advent, Isaiah leads the way. He is just as much a prophet of real happenings, also a prophet of hope. He is telling the Lord, Look here, we have sinned against you and after all, we have not lived so much as people having faith but more like pagans. Now is the time to show Your strength, open wide the heavens and come down to us. Be an Emanuel unto us, and we are ready, perhaps, to take you on board.

Psalm 79. The name of the Lord has to be continually uttered if the Christian wants to encounter divinity on earth, here and now. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus, take care of what your right hand has planted.

First Epistle to the Corinthians. This early Christian people were called to the faith by God’s grace, according to the witness of Jesus fulfilled in their flesh, now that they were awaiting His second coming. It was Jesus himself who had called them to His Church, and in peresevering they had to see that they remained blameless.

St Mark. Jesus’ words are amply clear. Keep guard! The Lord may visit at any time. The days are growing shorter and Jesus wants to save, really living up to His name. Yet we do not know of the day and time of His coming. So, beware, keep guard, for the joys of the Lord’s coming may be even nearer for some of us than for others during this Advent season.

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