Mass Readings
Reading 1 – Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8
Psalm – Ps 79:2-3, 15-19
Reading 2 – St Paul to Corinth 1:3-9
Gospel – Mark 13:33-37
Gospel Reflection
Fr Shymon Thekkekalathungal, Assistant Priest
There is a beautiful story about ‘The Four Candles’. It goes like this; The Four Candles burn slowly. The ambiance was so soft, you could hear them speak. The first one said: I am Peace! “However, nobody can keep me lit. I will go out”. Its flame rapidly diminishes and goes out completely. The second one said: I am Faith! “Most of all I am no longer indispensable, it doesn’t make any sense that I stay lit any longer.” When it finished talking, a breeze softly blew on it putting it out. Sadly, the third candle spoke in its turn: I am Love! “I haven’t got the strength to stay lit. People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.” And waiting no longer, it goes out. Suddenly, a child enters the room and sees three candles not burning. “Why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit till the end.” Saying this, the child begins to cry. Then the fourth candle said: “Don’t be afraid, for while I am still burning, we can re-light the other candles. I am Hope.” With shining eyes, the child took the candle of Hope and lit the other candles. The story illustrates that with the flame of hope each of us can live with peace, faith and love.
This weekend, the Church enters into the Advent season, full of hope. It has been a tough year for everyone. The Church prepares to welcome Child Jesus at Christmas amidst all chaos of Covid-19, in order to remind its people that Jesus is the only hope for all humankind. So literally, the advent season exhorts each one of you that you never let lose the flame of hope in you. Trust in God who is always with you in all the difficult times of your life. Remember his timely intervention to you duringthis lockdown, how he has been taken care of you. He is the hope in you. It is very important that you keep the flame of hopealways in your hearts. As the readings this weekend exhort, be wakeful and watchful in order to secure the flame of hope in you. This is not only for you but to brighten the life of others too especially, those who are helpless and vulnerable at their turmoil of life. Hence, may this Advent season impart us the grace to light the life of many people who have lost the sense of hope in their life and extinguished the flame of their light. So that they may have the hope, faith, love and peace during this time of Christmas.