DAILY HOMILIES #prayerfulness

Jesus rose very early the next morning and went to a quiet place to pray. When the Holy Spirit leads us, we are stirred to pray. Jesus went to a quiet place to pray, teaching us that prayer is intimacy with God: “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites… go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6).

Remember that song: “When Jesus is in the family, happy home, happy home…” When Mary and Joseph noticed that Jesus was not with them, they didn’t even sit down to rest till the next day. They immediately began a very tedious journey back to Jerusalem. Dear friends, it is not too late if Jesus is not in your family. Thank God you are now in Jerusalem. Please, as you leave today, take Jesus with you.

The word Advent means “coming.” Who and what is coming? Our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, we celebrate two types of “coming” at Advent: the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (commemorating the Virgin birth of our Christ) and the second coming of Christ at the end of time. During the season of Advent, we think of the events leading up to the birth of Christ, but we also remind ourselves that Christ will come again and that this whole world will soon end.