Advent message from the Provincial Grand Chaplain

Dear Brethren, it is approaching Advent again – that important time in the Church calendar when we look forward to arrival of the long-awaited Christ child.

The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus or coming, and lasts through December until Christmas when the fulfilment of the long wait occurs and the Church is made joyful with the birth of that baby which was to be special to all mankind.

We are very familiar with the traditional Christmas stories which are so well loved by children and adults. Throughout the Church year from Easter onwards services and sermons are filled with miniature playlets and stories based upon the Bible. For me the spiritual year is filled with many highlights which help to put the rest of the world’s problems into a better perspective and to give some positivity into what can be a stressful  existence for many people.

Each day we are summoned from sleep, and hopefully we can’t wait for the morning to come and be thankful for a new day. At other times we may lack the same level of enthusiasm, yet how we greet the day is very important. Canon Edwin of my Church gave me his priestly vestments when he had reached the point where he knew because of ill health that he would not be able to perform his spiritual duties in the same way as he had been used to. He performed the Mass at home every morning as long as he could. If we greet the day with joy and thankfulness as Father Edwin did we will bring energy and enthusiasm to everything we do. No one has a perfect life; we all have difficulties – it is what we make of the difficulties that matters. We have two options either to be a sleeper or a watcher. It is much harder to be the latter but much more rewarding. Advent issues a spiritual wake up call to us and it has an awakening power that enables us to drive through the days whilst we await Christmas and the birth of Christ.

We do not need to fear Advent’s spiritual wake-up call. Let those hear who have ears. It is a reminder that we are approaching the first Sunday of a new liturgical year. Where has time gone? Time is passing. Life is short. We must get on with our work and not waste the day. Let us do as much good as we can for other human beings. Let us do it now rather than defer it or even worse neglect to do it. In the course of a year in the Church we relive the whole of Christ’s life. We revisit His life from birth to death and beyond. At this time of year we are watching and waiting for things that are hidden from us but which we hope and believe will be made known to us.

There is a story I read recently which is about our need to relate to our fellow creatures and it involves a wise old teacher who asked the pupils how it was possible to tell when the night had passed and daylight was returning? One replied that it would be so when you could see an animal far away and be able to tell whether it was a sheep or a goat. Another thought that it would be a time when you could tell if the tree in the distance was a peach tree or a fig tree. A third commented that you would be able to see a person in the distance and tell whether they were a friend or foe.  The teacher was not over impressed so the pupils asked the learned scholar what should be the correct answer-the reply was –“it is when you look at the face of a human being and see there the face of a brother because if you cannot do this then no matter what time it is, for you it is still night.”

Brethren, let us live in the hope that we see others in this light with the sure knowledge that if we perform good acts for our fellow creatures through prayer, charity, and good works without the need for reward then we will surely attain a blessing on earth by seeing them flourish and shine.

Let us pray that the great Architect of the Universe will help us to understand and appreciate the Christmas period as a comfort to yourselves and others.

Let us pray for those for whom this time of year is a time of loneliness and sadness that they may experience the warmth of the Great Architect’s presence.

For all leaders that they may ensure that the poor and vulnerable have not been forgotten.

For those who might have to travel this Christmas that they may do so safely.

For our own special needs this Christmas. Amen

SMIB

Brian Roberts, Provincial Grand Chaplain

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