I
see the English have discovered Black Friday. Police called out all over the
country. Assaults, broken bones, arrests. You think they would know better.
Different
way to prepare for Christmas – Church invites us to consider Advent!
Adventus
– “coming” who is Coming? - Christ
3
Comings
in
Bethlehem – history
each
day – mystery
end
of time – majesty
1) History
Emperor
Hadrian very famous for building 126 AD the Pantheon in Rome– also in 135 built
a Temple in Bethlehem – for this we are grateful = marked the spot of the birth
of Christ! – Constantine 327 - Church of Nativity- present church 6th
century oldest surviving church in holy
land
Used
to have huge door – made small because would ride horses in - have
to bow. Then you go down steps – see the making on floor – and there you are
Believe
that Messiah was born here - changed the history of the human race – why
we celebrate Christmas
2) Mystery
Tragedy
of first Christmas – so few recognized what happened.
Even
today – so few recognize that Jesus is STILL with us.
1) Word - 2) Sacrament:
Eucharist, words of forgiveness, pouring with water, anointing with oil - 3) distressing
disguise of the poor.
Pay
attention to the Presence of Christ
3) Majesty
“As
we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior”
When
– we don’t know, stopped trying to figure that out a long time ago.
But – he will come - be
ready
“Sub
specie aeternitatis”
“View
everything under the aspect of eternity”
-
is this action going to help me get to heaven, or is it going to hurt
my chances?
-
How will this appear on the day of judgment?
History
– Mystery – Majesty -
The
coming of Christ.
Let
us use this Advent well - to prepare our
hearts!
