THE TIME OF GOD'S COMING - 12/17/22 (Saturday of the Third Week in Advent)

Matthew 1:15–16

Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121722.cfm

Blessed Saturday! The celebration of Christmas is fast approaching because we will celebrate the birth of our Savior after 8 days. We may be used to celebrate this important event yearly. At the same time, the gospel reading invites us to meditate on the reality that it took numerous generations from the time of Moses for the promised coming of Jesus Christ. There were 14 generations from Abraham to David, another 14 generations from David to the Babylonian Exile and the last 14 generations from the time of the Babylonian Exile to the birth of Jesus. This was a long time for the people in the Old Covenant, but it was worth the wait. Though the coming of Jesus as an infant is a common knowledge for us, we should remember that this also foreshadows a more glorious coming of our Lord. It's almost 2,000 years since Jesus was born, but we should always be vigilant because we do not know the exact time of His second coming. As we reflect on the time period between Abraham and Jesus, God is reminding us that despite the numerous failures and problems in Israel, nothing stopped God's plan of salvation. Today, some people may be saddened by how much the culture has become so secularized. Many are no longer aware of the sins that are promoted in our culture. People are focusing more on oneself, on their riches, worldly achievements and satisfactions instead of glorifying God. As time goes by, some people forget that the essence of Christmas is turning back to our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's not lose hope because in Christ, we have the assurance that He will come again for us. As we see the sins around us, let's pray for the conversion of people, especially through the rosary. By doing this, we are helping to bring more souls to Christ as we await for the coming of our Savior. 

We should also not forget that Jesus, who humbled Himself to be born like one of us, will also meet us in special way at the moment of our death. This is the day we should also be awaiting for, the day that God will come to us and bring us to heaven. We can only hope for this if we are in the state of grace and if we are following Christ. Following Christ is not easy. We may see our mistakes and imperfections everyday. We may be troubled by the sufferings in our daily lives. And yet, we should never forget to rejoice and give thanks to God. It's because He chose to come to us that we have the hope of salvation. It takes a long time for humanity to witness how God, in His mercy, dwelt among His people. Even if we feel that our earthly life is so long, Jesus is reminding us to keep our focus on Him. Our life in heaven is everlasting while our life here on earth is temporary. As we also await for the coming of Jesus at the end of our lives, let's use this time to renew our love for Him. Let's persevere in our prayers and in our resolutions to avoid sins and love God. The sins of the ancestors of Jesus did not hinder His love for humanity. In the same way, even amidst our sins, God loves us, and He is always giving us the opportunity to come back to Him. Jesus will grant us a share in His divinity because He humbled Himself to share in our humanity. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth