Advent: A Journey and An Encounter




Today marks the beginning of Advent-the time to prepare for the three-fold coming of the Lord: in his birth, in his Second Coming and in our daily encounters with him as we journey in life. Traditionally--or popularly, it is the three-to-four weeks that precedes Christmas. But as Christians, we are reminded by our observance of it to recall his first coming to prepare us to recognize him when he comes again in our neighbor. We prepare for his second coming in the spirit of the poor who awaits for the day of the Lord when he frees us from the bondage of oppression that enslaves us. And in hidden ways he comes to us, we encounter him in our brothers and sisters, in the least among us as we do about with the business of our days.

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