"ADVENTures" -Reflection Series of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflection # 14)

ADVENTures 14

ADVENT TRAINS OUR ABILITY TO REMEMBER. We remember God’s fidelity to us. Through the Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord proclaims His faithfulness to His people: “The days are coming when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.” From where we stand now in the long history of salvation, we already know the wondrous things that God did to set His people free not only from the Egyptians but from all their enemies as well. God was always there, intervening in the history of Israel, from Egypt to Babylon, and even unto the age of the Roman colonial rule and beyond, helping them through all their trials and leading them out of their miseries.

"ADVENTures" -Reflection Series of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflection # 13)

ADVENTures 13

Advent is not only about preparation and vigilance. It is first of all about hope. For why should we wait when we do not hope that Him whom we wait would come? We prepare and keep watch precisely because we hope. We wait for the Lord because we hope in the Lord. And we are certain of our hope not because we already see the object of our hope but because the Lord, who gave us His word, is always worthy of our trust. ADVENT SHOULD BE AN ACTUAL CELEBRATION OF OUR UNWAVERING HOPE IN THE LORD AS INDIVIDUAL AND AS CHURCH.

"ADVENTures" -Reflection Series of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflection # 12)

ADVENTures 12

In the Old Testament, the glory of God was said to have departed from His People when His voice could no longer be heard. God was silent precisely because His glory was gone. For example, we read in 1 Sam 4:21-22 that when Eli died, his daughter-in-law, Phinehas by name, gave birth to a son whom she named “Ichabod”. In Hebrew, the word “Ichabod” literally means

"ADVENTures" -Reflection Series of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflection # 11)

ADVENTures 11

If we always keep in mind where this Advent journey will pass through unto completion, we would refer to so-called "holidays" as holy days and spend them differently from how the world suggests we do.

"ADVENTures" -Reflection Series of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflections # 10)

ADVENTures 10

The image of the Good Shepherd and the lost sheep fits well in the Advent season. It blends well with the call of the season to wait. Advent is waiting for Jesus not so much to be born as to find us. He was born already, we know. Let us not overly romanticize the Christmas crèche.

"ADVENTures" - Reflection Series of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflection # 2 and # 3)

ADVENTures 2

Advent begins in the desert. So does Lent, right? No wonder because both blessed seasons should heighten our thirst for God.

IS OUR LIFE A TRUE LONGING FOR JESUS?




ADVENTures 3

Advent is never a waste of time. It teaches us to wait and prepare for the RIGHT TIME! Advent puts time in its proper perspective and us where we should be - not there but here. Keep Advent! Refuse going with the rising tide that rushes into Christmas at the expense of the Advent Season. Remind the world the value of waiting for the RIGHT TIME. Teach the young the wisdom of waiting and preparing well. He who hurries flirts with danger. He who rushes things courts an epic fail.

WASTE YOUR TIME WITH AND FOR GOD. He deserves it from you more than anyone else...always!

- from my homily on the 1st Sunday of Advent (CRUMBS: "Wasting Time", 1 December 2013)

"ADVENTures" - Daily Reflections of Rev. Fr. Bobby R. Titco for the Season of Advent (Reflection # 1)

Let's begin today our Advent journey. Come, join me in praying and reflecting on what we shall call "ADVENTures" each day throughout this season filled with joyful expectation!
So, today...

ADVENTures 1
Advent is lovingly, silently, prayerfully, reflectively, vigilantly, and creatively waiting for you master - not only for his coming but also for his every word, every gesture, every bidding.