Dec. 1, 2024: 1st Sunday Advent C
Advent, as someone wrote, represents God's breaking of silence. For 400 years, from the prophecies of Malachi until the coming of John the Baptist, God, in His divine silence, revealed no new prophetic word to His people. The silence was broken only through the prophetic voice of John the Baptist, as he proclaimed the Advent of God's son. But why was God silent? Was it a test of fidelity for His people? Was it punishment for humanity's disobedience to the law? Given that one thousand years is like a day in the Lord's sight, was it just a brief pause? Or was God waiting for us to respond? These questions, I realized, were not just historical or theological, but deeply personal. They echoed my own journey of faith, my struggles, and my moments of divine silence. They made me understand the significance of Advent not just as a historical event, but as a living reality in my life. Reflecting on my high school years, I see a period of profound spiritual transformation. At t...
