General. This Sunday’s Liturgy reminds us that Salvation is a doorway which is open to all, no matter a person’s past. Though various obstacles arise along the way, we pray God in the Collect (which always contains an explicit summary of the Sunday Liturgy) to be our guide in our hastening to meet His Son. To accomplish this we need discernment, or divine wisdom, which we can acquire when we accomplish oneness with God. This state may be achieved mostly by union with God during the Divine Liturgy of the Eucharist on Sundays and throughout the week.

Baruch. There is a time of hope for Jerusalem and indeed, it is fast approaching. It will be a time when Jerusalem will see its faithful sons gathered to listen to the Word of the Holy One. Whoever listens to this Word will no longer find any obstacles in his progress towards saintly life and will tread the path of mercy and justice which lead to the One God of all nations.

Philippians. Time is fast approaching for the arrival of the Lord who will bring accomplishment to all that which has been started, even if from very weak origins. St Paul states here, and elsewhere too, that he lives and loves with the heart (sentiments, feelings) of Jesus. For this love to grow, even among us, there need be discernment which is the hall-mark of the Christian. With it the christian would be able to give judgment and meaning to all that which is happening around him in the world and in everyday life, knowing there is hope where the pagan would see no sense and less faithful persons an abandonment by God.

St Luke. This Gospel is a throwback to Isaiah’s words about repentance. In a precise historical and geographic context, John the Baptist preaches ‘a baptism of repentance’ for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism cleans us of all our sins, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (formerly called Penance) is none else but a subsequent ‘baptism’ or cleansing of the person. The Lord’s coming is a providential gift of God opening our way to Salvation. Isaiah says that if we prepare the way, each one of us will see God’s Salvation coming his way. Yet there is also a part we should play, namely to open up our hearts and listen to God’s Word which He has given us through His Son and the Prophets. In not being stubborn to listen to the Word, we would be throwing a life-line to our God and Saviour which ultimately He would have put in our hands.

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