What should I do in this Season of Advent?
As John the Baptist’s message is narrated in the Gospel,
- Christ is coming to establish the kingdom of God;
- You must prepare by repenting from your sins and doing what is right; and
- The Lord’s judgment will be of ultimate good or bad significance to you.
In addition, John taught that a person’s status, however high, would be of no avail in this judgment.
The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Christ, the Son of David (the son of Jesse), would have these gifts of the Holy Spirit:
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. (Is 11:1-3)
A reading of any one of the Gospels confirms that Jesus Christ possessed and practiced these gifts perfectly.
We, ordinary followers of Christ, through Baptism and Confirmation, also share these gifts.
Through grace, God the Holy Spirit makes us “participate in the divine nature.” We then acquire a supernatural new life; we become children of God and heirs with Christ. Grace is like light whose splendor erases the stains of the soul, and we are divinized. Thus, it is comparable to a wedding garment, or a seed, in the Gospel.
The gifts are permanent dispositions that make us receptive to divine inspirations. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a special awakening of the human soul, and they mature the supernatural life of grace in each person.
The gifts improve the virtues of those who receive them and help the faithful readily obey divine inspirations. A Christian “empowered” by the virtues can perform good deeds. The emphasis is on the decision of the person.
A Christian who is obedient to God’s gifts and allows the Holy Spirit to act through him performs excellent deeds. The emphasis is on the Holy Spirit.
- The gift of wisdom is a loving knowledge of God and everything that comes from and leads to him.
- Understanding is the power that perfects our perception of the mysteries of the faith, enabling us to penetrate more deeply into the divine truths revealed by God.
- The gift of counsel helps us make wise decisions promptly, correctly, and according to the will of God.
- Fortitude makes us steadfast in the faith, constant in struggle, and faithful in perseverance.
- Knowledge enables us to be wise in using the things of this world.
- The gift of piety teaches us the meaning of divine filiation, the joyful supernatural awareness of being children of God and brothers and sisters of all mankind.
- Fear of the Lord inclines us to respect the all-powerful and loving God.
God showers us with gifts of grace so we can bear the kinds of good fruit that John the Baptist demands.
What are these good fruits we should bear, right now, in this season of Advent?
- Repenting of sin by making a good examination of conscience and a good sacramental Confession.
- Carrying out our normal duties well, especially in whatever our work is.
- Accepting, embracing, and offering to God our own poverty and afflictions.
- Relieving the poverty and afflictions of others. This is showing mercy.
Dec 7 Sun