ADVENT PILGRIMAGE: A Journey of Faith…A Grace from God

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ADVENT PILGRIMAGE: A Journey of Faith…A Grace from God

(December 2, 2023)


Immanuel. God is with us. (Matthew 1:22-23. Isaiah 7:14)

The Advent Season of the Catholic Church brings the faithful to a period of preparation for the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, our Savior. Indeed, it is a very opportune time to clear the manger – our heart – for Jesus to lay down as He is re-born in our heart and soul thus giving us the privilege of faith-rebirth and renewal. 

Joining an Advent Pilgrimage is a blessing in ways more than one.


First, the Advent Pilgrimage is a RECALL of our journey of faith. Our life journey began at our conception. Our faith journey started at our Baptism – our cleansing from the stain of original sin and our entry into a community of faith as a child of God. The Advent Pilgrimage brings us back to that moment when we began our faith journey – to REMEMBER the grace of our baptism.



Second, the Advent Pilgrimage is a GRATITUDE to God for the gift of faith. Our faith journey is a gift from God. He alone is the source of our faith. He alone is the object of our faith. He joins us in this experience. He journeys with us. At the same time, God reminds us that together with Him is the faith community who journeys with us. Our baptism birthed us into a Community of Faith. The same community is our companion both in the life journey and our pilgrimage of faith. We are not alone. We are never alone. “I will be with you until the end of time.” (Matthew 28.20) We thank God and our Faith Community for walking with us in our life and faith journeys.



Third, the Advent Pilgrimage is a RENEWAL. Journeying in the spirit of faith is a call and an opportunity for renewal of faith commitment to God and to the Christian Community, the Church. “See how they love each other.” (1 Peter 1:22-23) “Whenever 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I will be in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) The Advent Pilgrimage is a time to refresh, re-energize, restore our faith in the ever-faithful God who is Love. (1 John 4:16)


 


Fourth, the Advent Pilgrimage is a RESPONSE. With the gifts of Recall, Gratitude, and Renewal comes the challenge to respond to the call of God to fidelity and commitment to Him and His Christian Community, the Church. A call to action is the renewed challenge to every baptized Catholic of not only to be personally pious but also to manifest our piety in service to others in our own special way in accordance with our respective life-call, our vocation.

 

Over and above, the Advent Pilgrimage is a GRACE from God as we prepare ourselves – heart and soul – for the celebration of Jesus’s birth.

 

Our birthday gift to Jesus is a heart full of love and a spirit filled with joy.

 

PAX ET BONUM. SHALOM.

 


Acknowledgments:

·        https://news.byu.edu/news/byu-releases-journey-faith-documentary

·        https://cbcsiouxcity.org/baptism

·        https://www.kristineshreve.com/an-attitude-of-gratitude/

·        http://www.cucmatters.org/2015/09/renew.html

·        https://www.pinterest.com/pin/388646642829855048/

·        https://www.holyart.com/religious-items/bas-reliefs/various-bas-reliefs/pax-et-bonum-small-ceramic-basrelief

 


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