ADVENT REFLECTION Week One: Be prepared

May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Jesus said to his disciples: 'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.' Luke 21: 25-28

This apocalyptic vision seems stark and terrifying. Jesus gives us a vivid reminder of the fragility of our world. We know that we have not taken proper care of our planet. Overuse of natural resources has upset the balance of nature and hastened climate change. To our cost, and the cost of future generations, we have ignored God's reminder that we are merely stewards with a responsibility to exercise proper care for the wonderful world he has created.

Yet if we look beyond the dire warnings of the first few verses we come to a passage full of hope and joy. Jesus' triumphant entrance echoes back to last week's celebration of the feast of Christ the King, marking the end of the Church's year.

But Jesus is not a king of this world, full of riches and majesty. He is a new kind of king, quite the opposite of what the world expects: a servant king; a helpless babe who will be born in our hearts at the end of this Advent season if we are willing to make a place for him.

As we ponder a radically different view of kingship we are invited to change our perceptions about what is truly important and to look at our world in a new way.

The Church has a responsibility towards creation ... she must defend not only earth, water and air as gifts of creation that belong to everyone. She must above all protect mankind from self-destruction. (Caritas in Veritate (Charity in truth), 51)

• Am I ready to celebrate Advent well?
• Can I set aside some time for daily prayer and reflection?
• Can I try to avoid getting caught up in thematerialism of the Christmas season and focus instead on its true meaning?
• Do I care properly for creation and use its resources wisely?
• Can I reassess my priorities to help me live more simply, more sustainably and in solidarity with the poor?

THE IN-BETWEEN TIMES

Advent is about the in-between times and Advent is where God will meet us. We have on one hand, a world in disarray and it doesn't seem like there is much hope. On the other hand, we have a vision of something better.

That's the struggle of Advent. A new born baby in a stable announcing: 'Peace on earth' or a man on a cross crying: 'Forgive them, Father'. It is a bridge. The Jesus who does not solve all the problems or remove all the pain and suffering, but who says that fear can be met with faith and that history and hope do rhyme.

ACTION IDEAS

• This Christmas give the gift of a fruit tree or a packet of seeds.
• Draw up an energy-saving plan for your home/workplace/school/Church.
• Walk to work, school or Church whenever you can or cycle. Car share for longer journeys whenever possible.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room and try to use electrical appliances sparingly.
• Check out more information from Green Christian www.greenchristian.org.uk Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org.uk or Friends of the Earth www.foe.co.uk
• The Columbans have produced a number of resources on Green issues www.columbans.co.uk
• Watch www.columbans.co.uk/resources/dvd-video/stations-of-the-rainforests - a 30 minute DVD presentation focusing on the destruction of the rainforest and climate change

* and an 18 minute DVD on the need to tackle climate change and reduce the risk of conflict and war www.columbans.co.uk/news/new-dvd-conflict-and-climate-change/