Fr Xavier Writes 10th December 2023
Our International Carol Service this coming Monday at 7pm in the Church that I am really looking forward to should be a time we come together with joy, chanting the hymns and prayers of this season with all fervent vigour of each culture. I am sure it will be colourful and cheerful. I wish you all well who are going to take part in it and do appreciate the efforts you put in to make it interesting and talents filled. I am hoping as many parishioners as possible will join us for the evening, with festive refreshments afterwards in the Hall.
St. John the Baptist is portrayed today on the Second Sunday of Advent as our model and he was a prophet, a chosen messenger whose role in life was to prepare the way for God’s entry among his people. His message soon after he came out of the desert was that the long-awaited day of salvation was about to dawn on the people and so they needed to mend their ways. The message was simple: ‘Do penance, reform your lives by prayer and fasting for the kingdom of God is at hand’. The same holds good for us across the ages and urges us to prepare a place for the Lord in our hearts.
How to change our lives for the better, it’s by filling in valleys of prejudice, levelling down mountains of pride and straightening out the crooked paths of injustice, a down to earth advice given by the Baptist. Preparing a way for God in our hearts is a timeconsuming and costly business. It demands listening to whatGod is saying to us and, if necessary, acting upon it by making changes in our behaviour. Welcoming God involves removing all blockages and obstacles which prevent him from coming close. It may mean walking a new path.
The voice of John the Baptist reminds us that we have his role of announcing Christ; that needs to be by how we live our lives, not just by mere words. That is through acts of kindness, honesty and faithfulness through which we tell others that Christ is right here with us.We may be the only book about Christ which many people will everread. Let us make thisAdvent season into a real spiritual homecoming by making real preparations for Baby Jesus, the real Saviour, to enter into the lives of all.
Wish you all a grace-filled Carols week.
