Our whole life may seem to be these ailments or problems, and we may feel like there is nothing else in the world that matters. This is the kind of world that Jesus entered. God became flesh and entered right into the darkness and suffering. God was not above everything watching what was going on with us.

Simeon’s response when he met the infant Jesus was to pray; he blessed God. Anna’s response on meeting the child Jesus was to speak about Jesus to others, especially to those who were waiting for God to visit them in a special way.

Jesus is still purifying His bride today. He wants to rid us of anything that may cause damage to our souls. If we don’t harden our hearts; if we are attentive to His voice; we will cooperate with His grace in our purification.

In the second reading the Church offers us a passage from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Paul was challenged in leading the Corinthian Christians to a fully devout Christian life. The city of Corinth was what Nineveh was to the ancient Jews.

Pastoral Planning at Sacred Heart answers the 2021 call from Archbishop Etienne to review and renew all that we do. He, and many Popes and theologians before him, explain that we are to be a mission church, charged, first and foremost, with bringing new souls to the Father.

In our Gospel reading, we heard another example of some people who listened attentively. John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. Two disciples of John heard what he said and followed Jesus. They would have understood what John meant by calling Jesus the Lamb of God. This would have referred to the Passover lamb that the Jews sacrificed during the Exodus from Egypt.

In our Gospel reading, the magi visited Israel in order to do homage to the newborn king. It may seem like a simple story, but it has all the classic aspects of a conflict between good and evil.

God decided that He wanted to enter into our world in human flesh by being born of the Virgin Mary. God chose Mary to be the Mother of Jesus. God chose Joseph to be the foster father that would help raise Jesus.

Today, we look with tender love on this boy. This baby, Jesus, enthralls us like all little children do. We quietly stare with wonder at this miracle - the miracle of God in human form.

There has been a sense of urgency though. Advent begins with the admonition to “Be Alert!” “Stay awake!” “Be watchful!” This advice is meant to help us be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

John was preparing people to receive the Lord when he came. As John stated, Jesus was in their midst, but they didn’t recognize Him.

“After me comes He who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. It is also the first Sunday of the liturgical year. Hopefully, you noticed something similar in the readings to the way that the previous liturgical year just ended. Did you? The last several weeks of the previous liturgical year contained the message to be prepared.