ADVENT WITH EVELYN 3 Where is He coming from?

    

 (From the Sermons of St Bernard)

 “…Ponder well, in assiduous meditation…and diligently reflect on the meaning of this ADVENT, asking yourselves: Who is it that comes? Whence does he come? To what place does he come? For what purpose does he come? At what time does he come? By what road does he come?” St Bernard

Second Question: WHENCE DOES HE COME? (from where?)

“Behold, you have heard Who He is that comes, consider now whence and to whom He comes. He comes from the heart of God the Father to the Womb of a Virgin Mother; He comes from the highest heaven to this low earth, that we whose conversation is now on earth may have Him for our most desirable companion. For where can it be well with us without Him, and where ill if He be present? "What have I in heaven, and besides Thee what do I desire upon earth? Thou art the God of my heart and the God that is my portion forever"; Ps 72(73):25 and "though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil," if only "thou art with me." Ps 22(23):4. But here I see that our Lord descends not only to earth, but even to hell; not as one bound, but as free among the dead; as light that shines in the darkness, "and the darkness did not comprehend it." Wherefore His soul was not left in hell, nor did His holy body on earth see corruption. For Christ "that descended is the same also that ascended . . . that he might fill all things"; Eph 4:10 "who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil." Acts 10:38. And elsewhere we read, He "hath exalted as a giant to run his way His going forth is from the highest heavens, and his circuit even to the end thereof." Ps 18:7 Well might St. Paul cry out: "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God." Col. 3:1 In vain would the Apostle labour to raise our hearts upwards if he did not teach us that the Author of our salvation is sitting in heaven. But what follows? By considering Who He is that comes, we see His supreme and ineffable majesty, and by contemplating whence He comes, we behold the great highway clearly laid out to us. The Prophet Isaiah says: "Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from afar."Is 7:14.”

THREEFOLD COMING OF CHRIST

WHO IS COMING? ADVENT WITH EVELYN 2

ADVENT WITH EVELYN  2                   

 (Based the Sermons of St Bernard)

First Question: WHO IS COMING?

Truth is coming to restore what was destroyed by the of father of lies.

 “…Ponder well, in assiduous meditation…and diligently reflect on the meaning of this ADVENT, asking yourselves: Who is it that comes? Whence does he come? To what place does he come? For what purpose does he come? At what time does he come? By what road does he come?” St Bernard

St. Bernard encourages us to consider in astonishment and admiration the credentials, the greatness and identity of our expected Guest who, according to the testimony Gabriel, (He) is the Son of the Most High. Surely if he is God’s Son then He is God, coequal with His Father. He is coequal in majesty; He is coequal in dignity. A prince begets a prince.

Why the Son and not the Father or the Holy Spirit that became Man? I imagine this was not without cause. But "who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?" The Trinitarian choice of the Son was necessitated by the arrogance Lucifer, who attempted to usurp a similitude with the Most High, and "it was thought robbery in him to equal himself with God," an equality which was the Son’s by right. The Trinitarian mission was an act by He to whom alone belongs vengeance! When the Son empowered and sent out His disciples, He declared "I saw Satan as lightning falling from heaven." LK 10:18.

PRIDE OF SATAN VS PRIDE OF MAN

Satan, the most beautiful of the heavenly spirits, had committed no overt act he had but consented to a thought of pride, yet in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye he was irreparably rejected because, as the Evangelist says, "he stood not in the truth." Jn 8:44. Dust and ashes, why art thou proud? If God spared not pride in His angels, how much less will He tolerate it in thee, innate corruption? "Pride is the beginning of all sin" Ecclus 10:15. Lucifer became envious of man’s happiness, and by his false promises infused his evil in man. Wretch! What dost thou promise, when thou knowest that the Son of God has the key of knowledge yea, and is Himself the "key of David, that shutteth and no man openeth "that" in him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God"? 2 Wouldst thou, then, wickedly steal them away to give them to men?

Man became seduced by the counsel of the serpent, or, rather, of the devil in the serpent, they tried to seize upon what belonged by birth right to the Son of God. The Father therefore let His hand fall heavily on us all, "for in Adam all have sinned”.

The angels sinned through malice and were unwilling to repent so they perished and God created men to take their place. Man who had been supplanted by another’s malice would by the charity of another redeemed.

TRUTH COMES TO SET US FREE

Be it so, dear Lord, I beseech Thee. Be pleased to deliver me, for I am weak. Like Joseph of old, I was stolen away from my country, and here without any fault was cast into a dungeon. Yet I am not wholly innocent, but innocent compared with him who seduced me. He deceived me with a lie: let the truth come, that falsehood may be discovered, and that I may know the truth, and that the truth may make me free. But to gain the freedom I must renounce the falsehood when discovered, and adhere to the known truth; otherwise the temptation would not be human nor the sin a human sin, but diabolical obstinacy. To persevere in evil is the act of the devil, and those who persevere in evil after his example deservedly perish with him.

Behold, you have heard Who He is that comes; consider now whence and to whom He comes. 

ADVENT WITH EVELYN 1. (Based the Sermons of St Bernard)

INTRODUCTION.

Could this be your last Christmas? Probably, or perhaps not, who knows? I tend to think that one of the easiest ways to get to heaven is to live each moment as though it were our last. Some people I know were here during the last Christmas but they are not here this year. They are dead. Why did they die? Were they better or worse than those who survived the year? Who is next? Similarly, the best way to fully benefit from Christmas is to prepare well and celebrate it as though it were our last.

My friends complain that I talk about death all the time. “It is too sad”; “you are too young to think about death”; “that is depressing”; “why are you so negative?” are some of the reactions that follow. As a young college student many years ago, I travelled to Lagos to spend my holiday with my mother’s best friend. She had an only child aged seven, and he was the center of her world. One day the little boy asked me “if my mother dies, what will happen to me; can you be my new mother?” I rebuked him so much, and tried to reassure him that his mother would be around till he became a man. He persisted until his mother joined us. She in turn rebuked me for making such a claim to the child. She always answered all his questions truthfully, she insisted.  Two days later I was suddenly recalled because we had to resume sooner than previously scheduled. My hopes of travelling to Abuja with my mother’s friend were dashed and I left for Onitsha. A few days later, she travelled to Abuja without me, and died in a car crash! At her funeral, the little boy was really angry with me: “you lied to me, you said she wouldn’t die”. Why? Why did she die? So I learnt the hard way that death is at once most certain and most unpredictable.

Advent marks the beginning of a new Liturgical Year and is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. New baby, new year, new life, so why should we think of death when Christ is just beginning his life?

Dear friends, I invite you to come with me on a four week journey to discover the true meaning of Christmas.  In the words of St Bernard, whose Sermons will form the basis of our reflections during this Season of Advent, let us:

“…Ponder well, in assiduous meditation…and diligently reflect on the meaning of this ADVENT, asking yourselves: Who is it that comes? Whence does he come? To what place does he come? For what purpose does he come? At what time does he come? By what road does he come?” St Bernard

BIRTHDAY REFLECTION John 5:1-9

“One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years.”

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Beth-za′tha,^[a] which has five porticoes. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed.^[b] 5 One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.  

This evening during Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, I read this passage, in preparation for my birthday tomorrow. The choice was not spontaneous, because I had consulted with the Holy Spirit beforehand. I had expected to be directed to thanksgiving passages but no, He had a different idea. With an open mind, I responded, curious to know where He was leading me to.

When the Tabernacle opened, I burst into tears…

O Saving Victim opening wide

The Gate of Heaven to man below

Our foes press on from every side

Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow!

To Thy great Name be endless praise

Immortal Godhead One in Three

Oh grant us endless length of days

In this Thy Native land with Thee. Amen!

There in the presence of uncountable angels and saints (I imagined what they looked like because I knew they were there), I saw Jesus in Jerusalem, hidden inside the Sacred Host. 

My God; my Lord; my Saviour; my Maker; my Joy; my All! 

You are the sole object of my longing, of my quest…morning, noon and night I pine for you ceaselessly. Oh wonderful privilege! What have I done to merit Thee Oh my God…my Love my Prince my King…

I wept and wept…

How many years Oh Lord hast Thou reached out to me with the warmth of Thy Love?

As I read the passage right before Him, I saw my entire life represented in the multitude of ailments described therein. My life of sin had weakened and deformed the beautiful life of grace I received at Baptism. I have indeed been blind to the Truth of God’s compassionate love. My spiritual life is suffering from the paralysis of a lukewarm faith and my life of virtue is but a lame duck. 

I thought of so many idle words that were better not said, so many thoughts that had no charity in them, so many times I acted as though I was better than others. Oh how lazy I have been with the business of my salvation! How hypocritical I have been at times.

Yes I see myself in the man who has been sick for (more than) thirty-eight years! 

Lord Jesus, today you have noticed me in a special way once again. You know that I have been sick for so long. What hast Thou to say to me Lord? Speak for Thy handmaid listens to Thy sweet voice. “Do I want to be healed”? You ask. Yes Lord I do want to be healed. I have no other hope but Thee, and with Thee I have no need of anyone else. Thou art the healing stream, Thou the sweet unction of my soul. HEAL ME.

Today I come to the end of a chapter in my life and tomorrow another year begins. I thank you Lord, for though you were angry, your anger has abated and you console me with renewed hope in your never-ending Mercy.

My Jesus I commend myself to Thy Providence.

“Thou knowest Lord how very weak I am

And now I fear to stray;

For strength to serve I look to thee alone

Thy strength You must supply.

I will, I will, I will God helping me I will Oh Lord be Thine

Thy precious blood was shed to purchase me

I will be wholly Thine.”

DOMINA MEA

To thee O holy Mary
My sovereign Queen

To thy blessed trust and special care

And to the bosom of thy mercy

This day and every day and at the hour of my death

I commend myself, my soul and my body

To thee I commit all my hopes and all my consolations

My distresses, my miseries, my life and the end thereof

That through your most holy intercession and through your merits

All my works may be directed and disposed according to thy will

And the will of thy Divine Son. Amen

BIRTHDAY REFLECTION John 5:1-9

“One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years.”

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Beth-za′tha,^[a] which has five porticoes. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed.^[b] 5 One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.  

This evening during Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, I read this passage, in preparation for my birthday tomorrow. The choice was not spontaneous, because I had consulted with the Holy Spirit beforehand. I had expected to be directed to thanksgiving passages but no, He had a different idea. With an open mind, I responded, curious to know where He was leading me to.

When the Tabernacle opened, I burst into tears…

O Saving Victim opening wide

The Gate of Heaven to man below

Our foes press on from every side

Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow!

To Thy great Name be endless praise

Immortal Godhead One in Three

Oh grant us endless length of days

In this Thy Native land with Thee. Amen!

There in the presence of uncountable angels and saints (I imagined what they looked like because I knew they were there), I saw Jesus in Jerusalem, hidden inside the Sacred Host. 

My God; my Lord; my Saviour; my Maker; my Joy; my All! 

You are the sole object of my longing, of my quest…morning, noon and night I pine for you ceaselessly. Oh wonderful privilege! What have I done to merit Thee Oh my God…my Love my Prince my King…

I wept and wept…

How many years Oh Lord hast Thou reached out to me with the warmth of Thy Love?

As I read the passage right before Him, I saw my entire life represented in the multitude of ailments described therein. My life of sin had weakened and deformed the beautiful life of grace I received at Baptism. I have indeed been blind to the Truth of God’s compassionate love. My spiritual life is suffering from the paralysis of a lukewarm faith and my life of virtue is but a lame duck. 

I thought of so many idle words that were better not said, so many thoughts that had no charity in them, so many times I acted as though I was better than others. Oh how lazy I have been with the business of my salvation! How hypocritical I have been at times.

Yes I see myself in the man who has been sick for (more than) thirty-eight years! 

Lord Jesus, today you have noticed me in a special way once again. You know that I have been sick for so long. What hast Thou to say to me Lord? Speak for Thy handmaid listens to Thy sweet voice. “Do I want to be healed”? You ask. Yes Lord I do want to be healed. I have no other hope but Thee, and with Thee I have no need of anyone else. Thou art the healing stream, Thou the sweet unction of my soul. HEAL ME.

Today I come to the end of a chapter in my life and tomorrow another year begins. I thank you Lord, for though you were angry, your anger has abated and you console me with renewed hope in your never-ending Mercy.

My Jesus I commend myself to Thy Providence.

“Thou knowest Lord how very weak I am

And now I fear to stray;

For strength to serve I look to thee alone

Thy strength You must supply.

I will, I will, I will God helping me I will Oh Lord be Thine

Thy precious blood was shed to purchase me

I will be wholly Thine.”

DOMINA MEA

To thee O holy Mary
My sovereign Queen

To thy blessed trust and special care

And to the bosom of thy mercy

This day and every day and at the hour of my death

I commend myself, my soul and my body

To thee I commit all my hopes and all my consolations

My distresses, my miseries, my life and the end thereof

That through your most holy intercession and through your merits

All my works may be directed and disposed according to thy will

And the will of thy Divine Son. Amen