A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 7, n. 1)
1st Sunday in Advent, Year B – November 30, 2008
“On the Day of the Lord”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 // I Cor 1:3-9 // Mk 13:33-37
(N.B. Series 7 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year B from the perspective of the Second Reading. For other reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year B, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 1 & 4.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
As we begin the liturgical year in a spirit of thanksgiving, we welcome heartily the abundant grace that flows like a living stream. The liturgy of Advent celebrates the coming of Christ in history, in mystery and in majesty. We remember his historical coming at Bethlehem, welcome his coming in mystery in the “here and now”, and await his final coming at the hour of our death and at the glorious end time (parousia).
The Old Testament reading (Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7) enriches the Advent liturgy with a somber mood of repentance. While this season of expectation is filled with joy, the preparation for the Lord’s coming necessarily calls for repentance. The prophet Isaiah acknowledges Israel’s sinfulness and their need for the “potter’s hand” to refashion them into a faithful people they were meant to be. Their wretchedness and their painful experience as a conquered people moved them to turn to God and utter the powerful cry: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down!”
The Gospel reading (Mk 13:33-37) impels us to take on the Advent spirit of watchfulness. As a spiritual preparation for the Lord’s manifold coming and especially for the end time, we need to be vigilant and to take responsibility for the present moment, which has an eternal significance. Indeed, every moment brings us closer to eternity. Hence, we must live in the ad interim time watchful and responsible, creative and fruitful, in preparation for Christ’s final coming as Lord and Judge of all creation.
Blessed John Henry Newman remarks: “ All God’s works are in place and season … When we pray that he would come, we pray also that we may be ready; that all things may converge and meet in him; that he may draw us while he draws near to us, and makes us holier the closer he comes. We pray that we may not fear that which at present we justly fear; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
The Advent message in the Second Reading (I Cor 1:3-9) is very encouraging and optimistic. It fills us with hope as we wait in eager expectation for the ultimate revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us of the wondrous grace God has bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus. In union with Christ, we have become enriched and endowed with every blessing. Moreover, the faithful God will keep us firm to the end and blameless on the day of the Lord.
Harold Buetow comments: “The Advent theme continues as Paul speaks of the day of the Lord … Paul and the other early Christians looked upon that day as the time when the Lord would return in his full glory; it would also be a day of judgment. Meanwhile, reminiscent of the spirit of encouragement in Isaiah, Paul reminds us that through all our problems and difficulties God is faithful.”
The faith-filled Advent stance proposed by Saint Paul was exemplified in the life and works of Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971), the founder of the Pauline Family and the apostle who shared the Gospel to the modern world utilizing the mass media. Endowed with abundant spiritual riches and trusting in God unconditionally, Blessed Alberione journeyed to the future, propelled by the apostolic vision, Adveniat regnum tuum (“Thy kingdom come”). When the day of the Lord came to him at his death bed he was ready and blameless. The death of Blessed James Alberione on November 26, 1971 was a holy “triumph” and could really be called a dies natalis or “birthday” to eternal life.
The following account of the last days of Blessed Alberione – of the final advent of the Lord into his life - is very inspiring (cf. Luigi Rolfo, JAMES ALBERIONE: Apostle for our Times, New York: Alba House, trans. Bro, Salvatore Paglieri, 1987, p. 398-401).
Up until three days before his death, Father Alberione’s days retained the rhythm and shape that they had assumed for several years. He got up early. He celebrated Mass at 5:30 a.m. and continued his thanksgiving for all the day with long prayers. Apart from his age and crippling arthritis, his health did not cause serious preoccupation … Things changed suddenly on November 22, 1971 with the appearance of slight bronchial cold … But the first grave crisis overtook him a few days later: towards 1:00 a.m. on Thursday the 25th. It was clearly a serious case of bronchial pneumonia. All at once he seemed near the end … About 6:00 a.m., he sighed, in a language understood only by Brother De Blasio and Sister Judith: “I am dying … Paradise!” and after an hour, he added: “I am praying for everyone.” (…)
Father Enzo Manfredi, in charge of the telephone service at the Vatican, around 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 25, as soon as he was informed of the precarious condition of the Primo Maestro, rushed to get the news to the Holy Father. Through his own personal secretary, Monsignor Pasquale Macchi, the Pope did not waste time in showing his apprehensions, asking that his personal and very special Apostolic Blessing be imparted to Father Alberione. During the two days of the Primo Maestro’s agony, the Pope was kept continuously up to date, by his own express desire, and on the morning of Friday the 26th, he wanted once again to transmit to the patient his personal Benediction. Not content with this, on the afternoon of the same day, he decided to pay a visit to the dying Father Alberione. (…)
The Pope appeared around 5:00 p.m., as the sun was setting … “Oh, Father Alberione!” he exclaimed drawing near to his bedside. Sister Judith tried at that time to get the attention of the patient. “Primo Maestro, the Holy Father has arrived.” But he had already lost consciousness some hours earlier and did not react. (…)
The Holy Father took off his red mantle, recollected himself in silence for some moments, then asked for how long he had been in this condition. He was told that his agony had lasted two days, with alternating critical moments and slight improvement and long stationary phases. He turned then to Father Zanoni to ask if he had received all the sacraments. At an affirmative reply, he invited those present to join with him in prayer. He knelt alongside the bed and began the “Our Father” and the “Hail Mary”.
He got up. “Let us give him an absolution yet”, he said; and immediately after, he quietly pronounced the sacramental formula of absolution in Latin, concluding it with benediction. He then placed his hand on the head of the dying priest with affection and veneration, while his lips moved in silent prayer. He smiled at the nurse and moved toward the exit passing before the old desk which had followed our Founder in all his moves since 1936, the year in which he definitively established himself in Rome. (…)
And after having observed the old piece of furniture, he wrote this on a blank page of a register opened on it: In nomine Domini. Paulus PP. VI. 26 November 1971 (…)
The Pope wanted to see very quickly the sanctuary of the Queen of the Apostles and left again for the Vatican at 5:30 p.m. To Father Alberione there remained another hour of life on earth … The manifestations of life became ever weaker and uncertain and terminated entirely at 6:25 p.m. on Friday, November 26, 1971. From that moment on, Father Alberione was no longer here: he had passed to the Father’s house.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
When feeling wretched and distressed, do we turn to our loving God and utter the Advent cry: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down”?
How do we respond to Jesus’ Advent exhortation: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come”?
Do we eagerly await the definitive revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do we respond to the saving initiative of our ever-faithful God who will keep us firm to the end and blameless on the day of the Lord?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Leader: Loving Father,
we thank you for the beauty and rhythm of the changing seasons.
We welcome with joy the new liturgical year
and are deeply awed by the mystery of your presence in time.
With the Advent season,
we celebrate the manifold “coming” of your Son Jesus Christ.
In him you bestow upon us grace and peace.
Through him you fill us with every spiritual gift
that is beyond our imagining.
You are ever faithful and infinitely good.
But because of our fragile nature,
we tend to be unfaithful and unresponsive to your grace.
Forgive our sins and our failure to love and serve.
Make us ready and blameless
for the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
at the end time.
Let the day of the Lord be for us
an experience of grace, not judgment.
As a people of Advent expectation,
help us to work tirelessly to bring hope
and help overcome the wretchedness of today’s world.
Give us spiritual strength to serve your people
and promote your kingdom through all creation.
Adveniat regnum tuum! Thy kingdom come!
You are our compassionate God.
Through your Son Jesus Christ
and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
your saving mercy embraces us all.
Great is your love and we glorify you,
now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Cor 1:8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
ACTION PLAN: Pray for a salutary and meaningful celebration of the Advent season. Be deeply aware of the gifts received from God and endeavor to use them on behalf of the poor and the needy, and thus promote the coming of the heavenly kingdom.
ACTION PLAN: That we may make the Advent cry, “Adveniat regnum tuum” a reality, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year B, vol. 5, #1).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
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Website: WWW.PDDM.US