Advent's Warning
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27555)
Philippines
December 1, 2019 6:11am CST
Today, the first of December, commences the first season of the liturgical year - Advent.
Literally, Advent means coming. For the whole Christendom, Advent is preparing and waiting for the commemoration of the Birth of Baby Jesus - known as Christmas.
Thus, the excitement that we see and feel in the holiday rush. As we hear from an old carol - people making lists and buying special gifts.
Advent has turned into a season of spending and partying even before the big event - Christmas Day.
The Gospel for today is from Matthew 24: 37-44. This tells "At the coming of the Son of Man it will be just as it was in the time of Noah. In those days before the Flood, people were eating and drinking, and marrying, until the day when Noah went into the ark. Yet they did not know what would happen until the flood came and swept them away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man."
This means we must know that the world is in pretty much the same scenario as was in Noah's. In our busyness, we have misconstrued the spirit of Christmas with adorning decorations and endless partying.
Paul reminds - "let us behave with decency; no banquets with drunkenness, no promiscuity or licentiousness, no fighting or jealousy."
As in Noah's, except for his family, only the animals were saved. No other man made it to the ark.
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4 responses
@ExplorewtMe (6332)
• Nairobi, Kenya
1 Dec 19
Enjoy your day and be prepared for the holidays.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
1 Dec 19
Thank you.
Actually, after Mass I had lunch with 15 High School batchmates @ Sweet Inspirations. Two birthday celebrators, a classmate from a faraway province, and another classmate we have not seen in four decades - four reasons to make time for old friends. Yup, we did eat plenty - from appetizers to main course, two kinds of salad, six cakes plus additional cupcakes, colas, coffee. It was a party. Nope, I did not make my self a glutton. I ate only my portion of the shared food, with plain water.
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@ExplorewtMe (6332)
• Nairobi, Kenya
1 Dec 19
@eileenleyva that's all in a single day?
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
1 Dec 19
@ExplorewtMe Mass @ 8 am and Lunch @ 11 am.
Yup, all in a single day. Some of classmates had other dates after the long, long lunch.
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@rsa101 (40952)
• Philippines
1 Dec 19
I am guilty of not being able to go to church on time today. My wife went to parlor and said we will just meet at the church. I on the other hand stayed and cleaned my aquarium after an hour cleaning it, I still have an hour free and decided to take a short nap but I didn’t realize that I overslept. I rushed going to attend mass and reached at the middle of it already. I missed the reading and the sermon. 
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@rsa101 (40952)
• Philippines
2 Dec 19
@eileenleyva I did try to make my own sorry prayers on when I attended the last part of the mass. I do not know what happened I got tired and overslept.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
2 Dec 19
@rsa101 Okay, this is crazy but I think, if you offer a Rosary for the Bicol Region, which is the path of the super storm, our merciful God will already forgive you.
Fifteen minutes, my friend, for our sisters and brothers currently receiving now lashing winds and hard rain. Tonight is critical, so perhaps we should pray all four mysteries.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
1 Dec 19
Wow, your better half is home! Yipee.
Now, as to the tardiness, hmmm, I believe you must make amends with out God. The one hour each week demanded of us is not up for excuses. The aquarium should have come after, as we have to seek first the Kingdom of God.
But you know the liturgy na, so say sorry tomorrow, and make mortification. Our God loved King David because he became weak many times, but his remorse was real and his penitence intense.
Sometimes, when I offend the Lord, I cry.
Now, as to the tardiness, hmmm, I believe you must make amends with out God. The one hour each week demanded of us is not up for excuses. The aquarium should have come after, as we have to seek first the Kingdom of God.
But you know the liturgy na, so say sorry tomorrow, and make mortification. Our God loved King David because he became weak many times, but his remorse was real and his penitence intense.
Sometimes, when I offend the Lord, I cry.1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
2 Dec 19
I keep my Sunday obligation to heart, ever since. Our God is good Sunday date.
Advent - I do my best not to get lost in other people's merriment. I keep my silence.
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