WHICH WAY UP...
This month we continue to explore the meaning of Christ’s words and how they lead us closer to eternal life. “Jesus’ invitation to enter His kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of His teaching. Through His parables He invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but He also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything.
(Mt 13:44-45; 22:1-14) Words are not enough, deeds are required. (Mt 21:28-32)
The parables are like mirrors for a person: will I be hard soil or good earth for the word? (Mt 13:3-9) What use have I made of the talents God has given me? (Mt 25:14-30) Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. We must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to ‘know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.’ (Mt. 13:11) For those who stay ‘outside’, everything remains enigmatic (unknowable). (Mk 4:11; Mt 13:10-15) CCC #546
At the end of this month, we will enter the season of Advent. It’s a time in the Liturgical Year when we should slow down and reflect on how we’re doing on our Christian journey. But, it’s also a time in our secular year when things become more hectic. It can be easy to miss the miracles that surround us….the miracle of life itself; the miracle of the birth of Christ! The meaning of the word “Advent” is “coming”. The Church, in her wisdom gives us these four weeks to prepare not only for the coming of the birth of Christ, but for His coming again at the end of time, when He will hand over the Kingdom to his Father. CCC #2816
Fr. Robert Barron, in one of his reflections said this about waiting: “Is it possible that we are made to wait because the track we are on is not the one God wants for us? G. K. Chesterton said that if you are on the wrong road, the very worst thing you can do is to move quickly. And there is the old joke about the pilot who comes on the intercom and says, ‘I have good news and bad news, folks: The bad news is that we're totally lost; the good news is that we're making excellent time!’"
May you and your family have a blessed time of waiting for the greatest of Miracles!
(Mt 13:44-45; 22:1-14) Words are not enough, deeds are required. (Mt 21:28-32)
The parables are like mirrors for a person: will I be hard soil or good earth for the word? (Mt 13:3-9) What use have I made of the talents God has given me? (Mt 25:14-30) Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. We must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to ‘know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.’ (Mt. 13:11) For those who stay ‘outside’, everything remains enigmatic (unknowable). (Mk 4:11; Mt 13:10-15) CCC #546
At the end of this month, we will enter the season of Advent. It’s a time in the Liturgical Year when we should slow down and reflect on how we’re doing on our Christian journey. But, it’s also a time in our secular year when things become more hectic. It can be easy to miss the miracles that surround us….the miracle of life itself; the miracle of the birth of Christ! The meaning of the word “Advent” is “coming”. The Church, in her wisdom gives us these four weeks to prepare not only for the coming of the birth of Christ, but for His coming again at the end of time, when He will hand over the Kingdom to his Father. CCC #2816
Fr. Robert Barron, in one of his reflections said this about waiting: “Is it possible that we are made to wait because the track we are on is not the one God wants for us? G. K. Chesterton said that if you are on the wrong road, the very worst thing you can do is to move quickly. And there is the old joke about the pilot who comes on the intercom and says, ‘I have good news and bad news, folks: The bad news is that we're totally lost; the good news is that we're making excellent time!’"
May you and your family have a blessed time of waiting for the greatest of Miracles!