Homily For 1st Sunday of Advent
We begin our journey through Advent this today. Many call it the run into Christmas. It is certainly that but it is also much more.
Advent has been described as a spiritual treasure. This treasure is not hidden or meant just for a select few. It is ours to explore and to know that there is a beautiful message waiting to be discovered.
At the heart of this message is that we are loved, unique, precious and special. The God of Christmas is a God of love. In a world where darkness and negativity seem to have lots of momentum, Christmas reminds us that this momentum can be slowed down. On Christmas Eve and Christmas day it comes to a gentle halt.
We have our Advent Wreath here. We have seen it many times before and for me it is always a sign of hope. It is circular to remind us of God’s eternal and constant love of us. Nothing will ever change this.
The late Pope Francis said in one of his Christmas letters: “Those who open their hearts to God’s love and are open to receiving the light of Jesus, cannot keep this gift to themselves.”
Advent is often pushed to the sidelines because there isn’t time to become reflective or there isn’t time to be quiet in the run up to Christmas. Does this make Advent less important? Not at all. It is our treasure waiting to be discovered. I hope you have a lovely journey through Advent.
And now I’m going to light the first candle here on the wreath. The flame is a sign of hope. A sign of the difference God’s light can make in our lives.
And I will finish with a prayer to bless this Advent wreath
Loving God, bless this wreath and the light it will give. This candle flame reminds us that Jesus is with us. Bless us with hope, peace, joy and love. There are many shapes, but the circle of light and love that are part of this Advent wreath are ours to hold and to share. Bless us with light and love today. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen
(All of the above is updated daily)
Video 🎥
This one is called ‘Ballyfeard Ploughing’
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Thought For The Week
There was only one King in the news all week long and that was Troy Parrott. The 3 goals he scored for Ireland last Sunday against Hungary have been shown many times especially the goal that was scored in the 96th minute and the wild celebrations after. It was such a good news story for November and I think everybody soaked up the good news story with great joy. Right now we can look forward to next March and as they say anything is possible!
Last Sunday we had the feast day of Christ the King which marks the end of the Church’s calendar year and Advent begins next Sunday. In Cork, you have Turner’s Cross Parish and their church is called Christ the King and the local girls secondary school is also called Christ the King.
But other than that it’s a title we hear very little about and if we do it’s a title that doesn’t really connect with peoples lives. When we think of a King we think of pomp and ceremony. This is not what we think of when we talk about Jesus. The only word that mattered to Jesus was love. He never forced but always invited people to live their lives built on kindness and love.
If a King is special, then Jesus is special because his kingdom is built on the beautiful values of compassion, kindness, love, words of thanks and encouragement, walking with someone in their darkness, holding the light in their darkness when there are no words and just being there for someone in their moment of need.
Today’s feast of Christ the King is put before us this weekend as a sign of hope. Nothing can ever extinguish light, love and the hope that these can bring. But so often they can get lost in the waves of negative news that keep sweeping in.
Finally the Irish word for a King is Rí. Irish words get across their meaning so much better. Rí in old Irish culture is a leader who protects his people, someone who guides the community and someone who led the way with a vision of love, care and kindness.
This to me sums up what today’s feast is all about. Jesus as our Rí is the one who protects us, guides us and is the one who leads us through all of life’s darkness and complexities.
Thought For The Week is updated each Monday
