A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
As we light up the second candle in the Advent Wreath, ‘the candle of Peace’, the first reading and the Gospel promises peace to the people. The second reading explains the methods of receiving peace through the prayer of St. Paul, ‘And this is my prayer, that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge, and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value…..for the glory and praise of God. Conflicts within oneself or with others start due to lack of knowledge, perception and discernment.
In my neighborhood, I saw many houses putting up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. The knowledge, perception and discernment of Christmas is more peripheral now rather than finding the deep-down reality of joy and peace. The Christo-centric Christmas is changed to Santa-centric Christmas by the commercial world. Global tensions of war are increasing every day. Our society is falling prey to false ideals under the sweep of freedom. At a personal level, there is so much ignorance, arrogance and violence. This advent season invites us to prepare ourselves to make Jesus born in our personal lives. We need the knowledge to seek God, skills to perceive and strength to discern His values. Let the candle of peace glow in our world, our society and our family.
God Bless You,
Fr. Jay Raju
- Reading 1: Baruch 5:1-9
- Reading 11: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
- Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
