Monday - 2nd Week of Advent 2017 - What does love look like?

Inside our school entrance is a lovely advent wreath, and written on the wall behind the Advent wreath are the words: “Advent is a time for hope, love, joy, and peace”. Hope, love, joy, and peace, as I mentioned last week are the four Advent themes symbolized by the four advent candles.

The candle for love now has been lit as we have entered the second week of Advent. So, this week we meditate on the love infusing this beautiful season—the love of God which transforms us to love others.

The scriptures, songs, and prayers of Advent aid us in recognizing God’s love. How does the old Advent hymn go?  “O Come, O Come Emmanuel to ransom captive Israel.” God comes in the flesh to set us free from the captivity of sin because he loves us.

From love we were made, by love we were made, for love we were made, and Advent helps us to open our hearts to a God who longs to set us free from sin and selfishness.

God wants to see the deserts and parched lands of our souls bloom and flourish, as we heard from the prophet Isaiah. He wants “the eyes of the blind opened, the ears of the deaf cleared; the lame leaping like a stag, the tongues of the mute singing.” In the Gospel, Jesus causes a paralyzed man to walk and pronounces his sins forgiven. Jesus is born in Bethlehem to put an end to the reign of paralysis, the imprisonment of sin. Why? Because he loves us, and made us, not for the misery and paralysis and imprisonment of sin, but for the freedom and fullness of selfless love.

Recognizing God’s love, we in turn are compelled to spread that love. As St. John writes, “since God loved us, we ought to love one another.”

In the fourth century, Saint Augustine wrote, “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.”

May our Advent devotions open our hearts ever more deeply to the love of God that we may love others in return for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

For an increase in charity among the Christian people, that we may be cleansed of every vain and selfish desire, in order to become instruments of the love of God.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

For Pope Francis prayer intention for the month of December, “That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations.”

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant tha the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.