Letter for Advent
To all the brothers and sisters
of the Oases – Realities of
Koinonia john the baptist
Christ is risen!
Dear brothers and sisters,
“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, from you will come for me a future ruler of Israel whose origins go back to the distant past, to the days of old” (Mi 5:1).
Micah is one of the prophets who announce the birth of the Messiah. His announcement dates back to before 722 BC, centuries before the actual event took place. In his gospel Mathew quotes him to show that Scripture was fulfilled with Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem.
On the surface we don’t find anything strange about this, we are used to receiving biblical data; it’s only referring to a prophecy which announces the birth of the Messiah, an event which has now taken place. This may be true, nevertheless the prophetic announcement has a message for us today: it is an invitation to hope in the Lord’s promises.
Many centuries passed from the time of Micah’s prophecy until Jesus’ birth. The long drawn-out period surely wasn’t good for expectations, especially for those connected with this prophetic word. Time passed and nothing happened. Maybe it’s this type of waiting: where you are expecting something to happen but it never comes about that makes us lukewarm, shuts us inside a complex of powerlessness which closes us off to every act of courage and hinders us from opening ourselves to a vision of hope. All that is left is a heavy sense of time passing but no change. You could call it the Bethlehem complex: to remain always small and to be kept on hold.
But this isn’t the truth. “The smallest will grow into a thousand, the weakest one into a mighty nation. When the time is ripe, I, the Lord, shall quickly bring it about” (Is 60:22). Isaiah announces hope to a people coming back to Israel after the exile and who find themselves facing a situation which bears the signs of distruction. Is be possible to return to former glory?
God always astonishes his people and doesn’t hesitate to proclaim that the glory of the new house will be even greater than that of former times (cf Haggai 2:9). These prophetic words shake us out of our routine: God always renews everything and the waiting-time for the fulfilment of his promises does no more than enlarge our vision. So as Paul says, let us encourage one another and strengthen one another in hope.
What should we do?
To begin with, don’t complain about your brothers and sisters nor about life’s trials: all it does is snuff out hope and cool enthusiasm.
Secondly, always be joyful and in every thing give thanks: joy strengthens our will and praise purifies the eyes of our mind.
Thirdly, let the Word of Christ abound between us: it’s the power of God for our salvation.
And fourthly, may your pleasantness be noted by everyone: witness to the presence of Jesus in our midst by the candour of our words and the strength of our mutual love.
These are the instructions for Advent this year. It is a time of waiting, a time of fulfilment of the promises. God fulfils his promises but it is up to us to know how to use this waiting period. Use it prophetically and it will already be a foretaste of fulfilment.
Everyone talks about the economic crisis; for us instead it is a time of blessing, not because we aren’t affected by the crisis but because it is the ideal time for proclaiming God’s faithfulness which never fails towards his people. This is why we put on garments of joy and hope, of acceptance and generosity so that everyone can see that we are children of a God who doesn’t fear events because He is the Lord of the events.
To the brothers and sisters of the whole Koinonia I would like to make this simple invitation: joy and generosity. Anything that you save from the various deprivations that you choose to make, use it to give joy to the poor who live in your midst and may your table always be ready to welcome so that you can break the bread of brotherly love with those that the Lord will send you.
Love and nourish in joy.
And may you, consecrated brothers and sisters, lead the way by your example.
Have a good Advent.
Plzen – Valcha, 20th November 2011
Fr. Alvaro Grammatica
General Pastor
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