The new Liturgical Year commences with the first Sunday of  Advent and this year we are invited to begin with a renewed commitment to our faith by witnessing Christ through the Works of Mercy.

Advent and Christmas are two different things. Advent is not Christmas. Advent is a sacred season. It is a season of waiting for the coming of the promised One with hopeful anticipation, cheerful preparation and prayers.

If you walk to any shopping Mall, the commercial world already begins putting out Christmas decorations way before Advent begins. It continuously pressures us to make our Christmas bigger and more impressive than the previous years. Christmas seems to be  more on shopping, buying, baking, cooking, partying, exchanging gifts, decorating, carolling, etc. Some of you may have started shopping and decorating your houses by now.

This short season is important where the Child Jesus wants to make our hearts a spiritual place for Him to dwell in with all His grace. Let us motivate ourselves to live the present as a time of commitment and vigilance as we journey through Advent.

The apostles warned the Gentiles to wake up and be vigilant. Read the following: “Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).

On Monday (30/11/2015) the Sacrament of Confession will take place in our Parish.  A week later the universal Church will be   launching the Year of Mercy, as proclaimed by Pope Francis. This will commence from Dec 8th, on which also falls the Solemnity of the  mmaculate Conception, until the Solemnity of Christ the King, the following year

As we approach Advent let us start making a good examination of conscience which grounds us in humility, sorrow for sins and  loving gratitude for graces received and progress made. Let us make a    sincere Confession and a firm commitment to trust in God’s divine mercy, not only once but also throughout the Year of Mercy.

Mercy is God’s infinite love forgiving the sinner. We learnt abundantly our catechism lessons since our younger days. Generally, we know how to prepare for Confession. There are many booklets on the Ten Commandments as well as books  written on the Sacrament of Confession. We shall make use of them to prepare for this Christmas.

Let us break the bonds of our past bad habits, our powerful addictions, our bad desires and actions.

“O Come, Divine Messiah”!