R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

9/11 was a day of unprecedented shock and suffering in the history of the United States. Our nation was unprepared. To those who’s responsibility was vigilance over the nation, the 9/11 attacks were a shock, yes, of course. But it should not have come as a surprise. We all learned later that there was a long-standing list of warning signs that were ignored. Things have changed since then. Now we have Homeland Security and the War on Terror. And we are all reminded to be vigilant, to be watchful, to be prepared. We all watch because we must not be caught off-guard again.

God’s Word today, on the spiritual level of our lives, is exactly the same. We are called to be alert, and to be prepared for the coming of Christ. Isaiah the prophet tells the people of Israel, who have returned from exile in Babylon, to be a people who deliberately recognize the presence of God in their life; let us be the clay and God our Father be the potter. Saint Paul, in today’s Second Reading, exhorts the early Catholic community to get ready for the coming of Christ, freeing themselves from all forms of paganism such as jealousy, rivalry, and to make spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ in their lives. And the Gospel urges us, also, to be vigilant for the coming of the Lord on the day of the Last Judgement, when He comes again in glory. The members of the Church cannot be ill-prepared, lest evil destroys us.

The life-message is this, therefore: we need to be alert and watchful, to take responsibility while preparing for Christmas. Offer our daily work to God. Resist evil habits and inclinations. Seek reconciliation, especially through the Sacrament of Confession, asking for God’s pardon and forgiveness.

The early Catholic community, when the Church was only beginning to flourish, when greeting one another, didn’t just say, “Hi,” or, “Hello…” Instead, they used the Aramaic saying, “Maran-Atha!” that is, “Christ is coming!” Look at the Advent wreath … It’s just like a clock … just four weeks to prepare ourselves for the coming of His birth, the coming of the Savior of the World, for the coming of OUR Savior, and for His coming at the End of Time.

And when will this End of Time be? We don’t know … But don’t be a sleeper! Saint Francis told his family of friars,

“If Christ comes today in the Second Coming, if you are doing what you are supposed to do, keep doing it! By doing what you are supposed to be doing, you are alert and living out the Will of God.”

And Saint Theresa of Calcutta, too, reminds us: “Whatever you do for your family, for your husband or wife or children, you do for Jesus. Christ will be your gift at Christmas.”

And by the way … if you do in your life what is proper before God – such as daily prayer, following Jesus’ words and commands, and sharing in the Sacraments of Christ in His Church – there is no reason for your life to be without song, rejoicing in His deep, abiding peace, for it’s not just a simple, “Hi,” or, “Hello,” in this Season of Advent. No, this Advent Season, be aware. Be alert! Christ is coming! Maran-Atha!

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,
while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,
such as they had not heard of from of old.
No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him.
Would that you might meet us doing right,
that we were mindful of you in our ways!
Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean people,
all our good deeds are like polluted rags;
we have all withered like leaves,
and our guilt carries us away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to cling to you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.