1st Sunday in Advent, Cycle A, November 27, 2022

Father Rick’s Gospel Reflection for 1st Sunday in Advent, Cycle A, November 27, 2022
Matthew 24:37-44 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112722.cfm
Please take a moment to read and pray over the gospel.

Let your light shine!

Have you ever walked away from your car and wondered if you locked it? Did you get the clicker to check? It is that time of the season when we don’t want to be an easy target for a thief. We can’t be sleeping on the job. There are all kinds of mischief in our neighborhoods, schools, and places of business. Cameras are a hot item today.

Now we must be alert on our computers and not click on something we don’t know. These past couple of weeks, someone made up a phony email address claiming to be me. They wanted you to send them $800 worth of gift cards and scratch the tape off to reveal the numbers. This person said not to call them. Duh. Several priests have been targeted.

Most homes and businesses are lit up at night to ward off anyone who wishes to cause us harm. Darkness is a thief’s delight, and Jesus often called the devil a thief who works in the darkness.

St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote about things we bury in the darkness: Past experiences we are afraid to discuss, past sins we can’t face or confess. We have memories that haunt us occasionally. Do you have any dark secrets?

Advent is a time to let some light in on the subject. We light an Advent wreath in the church every Sunday during Advent, and it would be suitable for all of us to light one at home and pray with the Lord. Let Him enter those dark areas that frighten us or that we are ashamed to acknowledge.

Turn out the light in the room—marvel at how the tiny light from the candle overpowers all the darkness. Notice how the light attracts your eyes immediately. Jesus is the light in us, and our dark secrets have no power over Him or us.

It is time to awake from our sleep with St. Paul and throw off the works of darkness, to put on the armor of light and put the light of Christ ahead of us, whoever we are with, wherever we go.

Gospel Challenge:

Go, my friends, be with the Light of Christ so you can be the Light of Christ for others. P.S. Your light will overpower their darkness too.

IGNITE THE FIRE.

God bless you, my friends.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.
www.bscchurch.com

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.

Pastor

Blessed Sacrament Church

11565 66th Ave. N.

Seminole, FL 33772

727-391-4661

pastor

www.bscchurch.com

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