杏MAP导航 at Angelus: Advent helps us find Jesus in the needs of others
By Devin Watkins
At the beginning of the new liturgical year, the 杏MAP导航 took a moment ahead of the traditional Marian prayer to comment on how the Advent season reminds us that Jesus constantly enters our lives.
He said the certainty that Jesus will return at the end of time urges us to look to the future with confidence and hope.
Drawn to the mountain
Turning to the First Reading, the 杏MAP导航 said the prophet Isaiah paints a picture of the mountain of the Lord鈥檚 house to which all nations shall be drawn.
After the Incarnation of the Son of God, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, Jesus revealed Himself as the true temple atop that mountain.
鈥淭he marvelous vision of Isaiah is a divine promise,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd impels us to assume an attitude of pilgrimage, of journeying towards Christ, who is the meaning and goal of history.鈥�
Advent, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥� is the time to welcome Jesus鈥� coming, as He comes as a messenger of peace to show us the ways of God.鈥�
Staying awake
In the day鈥檚 Gospel reading, Jesus urges us to 鈥渟tay awake鈥� for His coming.
The image of staying awake does not mean keeping one鈥檚 eyes literally open at all times, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, but means having one鈥檚 heart 鈥渇ree and oriented in the right direction鈥� by offering ourselves for the benefit of others in service.
鈥淭he sleep from which we must awake is created by indifference, by vanity, and by the inability to establish genuinely human relationships and to take care of our brothers and sisters who find themselves alone, abandoned, or ill.鈥�
Paying attention to those in need
The 杏MAP导航 said our expectant waiting for Jesus requires vigilance in the form of 鈥渕arveling at God鈥檚 action and at His surprises.鈥�
Vigilance, he continued, means 鈥減aying attention to our neighbor in difficulty and allowing their need to draw us in, without waiting for him or her to ask us for help.鈥�
Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis asked the Virgin Mary for her guidance along the Advent journey.
鈥淢ay Mary, the vigilant Virgin and Mother of hope,鈥� he said, help us 鈥渢o turn our gaze towards the 鈥榤ountain of the Lord鈥�, the image of Jesus Christ, who draws all people to Himself.鈥�
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