Sunrise on December 21st, 2012, Winter Solstice, on Dominic's Hill, at Esker Monastery and Retreat Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway.

FOURTH SUNDAY  OF ADVENT: SOUL FOOD FOR HUNGRY ADULTS: DEC.23, 2012.  Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-44. Micah 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:5-10

The food is in; the presents are nearly all bought; the decorations and the tree are all ready; the Christmas lights are in place. All is ready, – but still we are waiting, excited and full of expectation: He Who is to Come is nearly here.

We’re waiting for the dawn of a new day!

‘And the child in my womb leapt for joy!’ When Mary arrived at her door, when Elizabeth heard the greeting coming from outside in the yard, the six-month old baby in the womb ‘leapt for joy’ at the voice of Mary,-  ‘Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’  And our hearts are ready to jump with joy. We’re waiting, counting the hours almost. ‘Are we there yet, are we there yet?’

The house is ready. But are our hearts just as ready, lit up with joy because of the coming of the Master, Jesus, the Son of Mary, the Son of the Most High?  He will come again, as if for the very first time. Remember your first kiss? Remember your first embrace? Remember the first time you welcomed Jesus with your whole heart and into your whole heart. It’s happening again in two days time,- as if for the very first time!

A few nuggats from the readings for this 4^th and last Sunday of Advent: pick any one and let your heart digest it joyfully:

• ‘Let the earth bring forth a Saviour’
• ‘Let us pray as Advent closes that Christ will truly come into our hearts.’
• ‘He will stand and feed his flock with the majesty of the name of his God.’ (Micah).
• ‘Let your face shine on us and we will be saved.’
• ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’
• ‘His will for us was to be made holy by the offering of his body one and for all by Jesus Christ.’ (Hebrews)
• ‘As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt
  

  'The child in my womb leapt for joy!'

  in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.’

• ‘Of all women you are the most blessed!
• ‘And blessed is the fruit of your womb ‘(Jesus).
• ‘Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?’
• ‘For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.’
• ‘Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

We’re nearly there!

Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R.

email: seamus.devittcssr@gmail.com

Sunrise from Dominic's Hill, December 21, 2012, the Winter Solstice, from Dominic's Hill, Esker Monastery & Retreat Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT,  Dec. 23, 2012.  (Gospel: Luke 1:39-44)

Letter to Sinead and Mark,- two young adults.

Dear Sinead and Mark,

As a child and young boy, I would sit out on the wall of the front garden of our house on the Navan Road in Dublin, waiting and waiting,- waiting for the arrival of Uncle Tadhg and Auntie Nell, and for our cousins. I would sit for ages, looking at every car that approached from the distance. I was excited and full of expectation.

The other morning, I stood on Dominic’s Hill,

Awaiting the dawn, Dec. 18th, 2012, on Dominic's Hill, near the Redemptorist Retreat Centre, Esker, Atnenry, Co. Galway

near our monastery here in Esker, to watch for the sunrise, around the shortest day of the year. The sky was lit up beautifully with colour for a good while before the moment of sunrise. I waited, watching, knowing that the moment would eventually arrive, but the waiting was wonderful,- wonder-full! There was this quiet excitement of expectation of something special. The waiting itself was really memorable for me, as the moment grew closer and closer.

And that’s how I feel, this weekend. We’re almost there. (‘Are we there yet?’)  We are waiting for the One who is called ‘the Rising Sun’ (Luke, Chapter 1). The moment is almost upon us, when He who is to come will arrive again for us, as if for the first time. As we wait, even as adults we are as excited as children waiting for their presents.

In our generation, as in every generation before us, He is looking for a place in which to lay his head,- he is looking for hearts that are wide open in welcome to him.

Put a candle in the window of your heart and home, to invite him to come and stay. “Let us pray as Advent closes that Christ will truly come into our hearts.”

‘Are we there yet?’ Almost.

Fr. Seamus

P.S. here are some of the wonderful lines from the readings for this 4^th Sunday of Advent: pick any one of them to ponder on, for these couple of days:

‘As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in

'The child in my womb leapt for joy!'

her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.’

Of all women you are the most blessed!

And blessed is the fruit of your womb (Jesus).

Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.’

Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

email address: seamus.devittcssr@gmail.com