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將臨期第二主日 Homily Second Sunday Advent Cycle A December 4

 

Homily 2nd Sunday Advent 2022

December 4, 2022

Franklin Fong, OFM


Each candle of our Advent wreath has a name. The first Candle we lit last week is called the PROPHECY Candle and it represents hope. The second candle we lit today is called the BETHLEHEM candle and represents peace and preparation.

 
Many of our present moments are given to remembering and hoping, or another way of describing it is to looking back and gazing ahead. This is exactly what we do during the Advent season. In Advent we prepare to recall the birth of Jesus. We also look forward to his coming again.
 
In the first reading from Isaiah we hear about a future of peace and unity under a wise and just leader. In this passage, he wants to stir up hope among his people, hoping that God would soon intervene dramatically to change their world and their fortunes by the advent of a new king. To describe the king in hopeful, recognizable terms, Isaiah reaches for an image from their glorious past. Their national pride had peaked during the kingship of David, about four centuries earlier. The shoot or branch that is sprouting from the stump of Jesse, means a new king in the family of Jesse and David.
 
 In Psalm 72 we hear about how God’s peace will happen if we prepare for it by doing various acts of justice.
 
 In the second reading we are told that while we await and work for God’s future we are to live in ‘perfect harmony with one another’. So this message is about being prepared by having patience, endurance and hope in one’s life.
 
In the Gospel of Matthew we listen to John the Baptist giving us what first sounds like an old fashioned “fire and brimstone” sermon. But he does more than put the fear of the Lord into some of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He is strong in his denunciation of self-righteous people.
 
John clearly sees how foolish someone is when they are denying themselves the riches of God’s reign. To refuse to welcome God’s gifts is the essence of evil. John calls for a personal conversion or a radical change in the way of living through the turning of one’s mind and heart to God and not away from God.
 
• What kind of vision and purpose explains our actions?
• On what hopes are our present lives based?
• How have we fashioned our vision according to the Word of God or scriptures as John the Baptist talked about in the second reading.
• Have we let God to come through to us to reveal new ways of engaging our lives.
 
We have been reminded in today’s readings that we do not yet have the peace and harmony that God wants in our world.
 
During this second week of Advent, let us reflect on our lives and work on becoming better-versions-of-ourselves in preparation for Jesus’ coming.
 
Consider reflecting on:
1. How have we planted the seeds of peace in our minds and hearts?
2. How have we prepared our hearts and minds for the presence of God in our lives?
 
Conversion can excite us as there is so much more to see, more to experience, and more to love, than we now know!
 
 We only have to look at the journey Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to Bethlehem to give us wonderful examples of hope, peace and preparation of their heads, hearts and hands for the coming of Jesus.
 
So brothers and sisters of the Chinese Catholic Community
 that is the wonderful Good News
for this 2nd Sunday of Advent!
Alleluia Alleluia !
 

 

(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)

 

鄺神父主日道理中譯本

禮儀年甲年將臨期第二主日 2022 年 12 月 4 日


讀經一: 依撒意亞先知書 11:1-10
讀經二: 羅馬人書 15:4-9
瑪竇福音 3:1-12

		
		我們的將臨期花環中的每支蠟燭都有一個名字。第一支蠟燭-即我們上週點亮的
		蠟燭叫做預言蠟燭 (PROPHECY Candle),它代表著希望。我們今天點燃的第二
		支蠟燭叫做白冷蠟燭 (BETHLEHEM Candle),代表平安與準備。

		我們現在許多時間都被用來緬懷和冀望,或者描述它的另一種方式是回顧過去和
		展望未來。這正是我們在將臨期所該做的。我們回憶耶穌的誕生第一次降臨人間
		。我們也期待他的再度來臨。

		在讀經一依撒意亞先知書中,我們聽到在英明公正的領導下,未來將是和平和團
		結一致的。在這段話裡,依撒意亞先知想激勵他的子民,並在他們中燃起希望,
		希望天主會很快介入,並戲劇性地改變他們的現況和他們的命運,就是有一位新
		生王的來臨。依撒意亞先知為了描繪這一份人們可認識的希望,他引用了他們過
		去輝煌的形象。因他們的民族自豪感源於大約公元前四世紀達到頂峰的達味王朝。
		這從葉瑟的樹幹上發的嫩芽或幼苗,意思是從葉瑟和達味家族將出現的新生王。

		在聖詠 72 篇中,我們聽到天主的平安恩寵將如何地降臨。為妥善做好準備,我
		們必需通過履行各種正義行為來為此作好準備。

		在讀經二中我們被告知,為了光榮天主,當我們等待祂來臨時,我們要“彼此完全
		和諧”地生活。所以這條信息是關於通過耐心、耐力來做好準備和對生活應懷著的
		希望。

		在馬竇福音中,我們聆聽洗者約翰給我們的乍看像是舊約式的“火葯味濃”般宣講。
		但他所做的不單單只是提醒法利塞人和撒杜塞人需敬畏上主。他正在強烈譴責自以
		為是的人。

		約翰清楚地看到一個人在否認接受天主豐盛的國度時是多麼愚蠢。拒絕接受天主的
		恩寵是邪惡的本質。約翰呼籲個人皈依或通過一個人的思想和心靈的巨大轉變來改
		變現存生活方式而歸向天主,而不是遠離天主。
		-什麼樣的願景和目的可以解釋我們的行動?
		-我們現在的生活基於什麼希望?
		-我們該如何根據洗者約翰在讀經二中所分享的天主話語/經文作為構成我們的願景?
		-我們會否讓天主通過我們來揭示新的一種方式令我們更投入我們的日常生活?
		
		今天的讀經提醒我們,我們此刻還沒有在我們的世界中擁有天主想要的平安與和諧。

		在將臨期的第二週,讓我們反思我們的生活和更努力成為更好的自己,為的是耶穌
		即將的來臨。

		請考慮並反思:
		1. 我們如何在思想和心中播下和平的種子?
		2. 我們如何準備思想和心中為了天主可臨於並存活在我們的生命中?

		皈依的確可以讓我們興奮,因為比我們現在知道的將有更多東西可觀,將有更多的
		可體驗和將有更多的無盡的愛!

		我們只需要看看聖若瑟和聖母從納匝肋到白冷的一段歷程中怎樣給我們帶來了希望
		、平安的美好榜樣並示範應怎樣準備通過他們的思想、心靈和行動來好好迎接耶穌。

		所以華人天主教會的兄弟姐妹們, 那是在將臨期的第二個主日美妙的好消息!

		亞肋路亞, 亞肋路亞!