A WORRIED HEART CAN NOT PREPARE FOR GOD'S COMING.

 *Sunday, December 03, 2023* 



 *FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B* 


First Reading. Isaiah 63: 16-17; 64: 1, 3-8

Psalm. 80: 2, 3, 15-16, 18-19 (R. 4)

Second Reading. 1 Corinthians1: 3-9

Gospel. Mark 13: 33-37


TOPICS FOR REFLECTION


 *A WORRIED HEART CAN NOT PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF JESUS.* 


Worry lives in the world, we come into the world to meet worry,  we live with worry, and one day we shall die to leave worry behind.


Therefore, ask yourself...

--How many people have been buried with the worries that killed them?

---How many people have remained healthy carrying the worries of life in their minds?

---How many people have been given the award of the best fearful person in life?

---How many people have used their worries of life to build houses and train their children in school?

---How many people have become rich with worries in their hearts?

---How many people can be proud of their fears, and give good testimonies in their lives?


Please 🙏, do not allow fear to envelop your heart, the moment fear strikes your heart, you may find it difficult to either succeed in life or even be afraid of going to heaven. 


Can you see what harm fear can cause?

A fearful heart will be afraid to lift a finger both physically and spiritually, and that is the major tool satan uses to bring failure to a Person.

Fear causes both low and high blood pressure, and once the heart starts to malfunction, the person starts to fall sick both physically and spiritually.


The major function of the heart is to pump enough blood to other parts of the body and to deliver a continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and the other vital organs in the body. More so, it maintains blood pressure.


Then, it's obvious from the aforementioned that, the heart is the center of life. If the heart is healthy, it means the person is healthy, but if the heart is unhealthy, it automatically means the person is unhealthy. Invariably, the heart is the powerhouse of every individual.


Let your heart be soaked in love because a healthy heart is a heart that loves.

A heart that loves is compassionate, and a compassionate heart is likened to God's heart which is full of Love, Mercy, and Compassion.


No wonder the psalmist said in Psalm 51: 10-12

A pure heart created for me O God, put a steadfast spirit within me

Cast me not away from your presence Oh Lord

Take not your Holy Spirit from me

Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation, and renew your spirit within me.


A joyful heart is happy to serve the Lord, while a sorrowful heart may not be happy to serve God. 

Please 🙏, do not allow the worries of life to trouble your heart, or else you might miss the purpose of your living. As a Christian, let your heart be like that of Jesus. 


Do you know that...

1. The heart of Jesus is love; so is your heart full of love or hatred?

2. The heart of Jesus is merciful and compassionate, is your heart full of malice?

3. The heart of Jesus is accommodating, is your heart accommodating? etc.


If you want to be happy in this life and to gain salvation, try not to allow the troubles of this life to affect your heart. Though, not easy to stop thinking about the difficulties of life, always ask yourself, will worry grant me salvation? 


A worried heart is a sick heart, and a sick heart is vulnerable to sin; hence it may lose sight of God.


A worried heart may lose hope in God, and such a heart may not have the capacity to prepare for the coming of Christ.


Jesus said in today's Gospel: “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or cockcrow, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”


Therefore, if your heart is full of love; justice and righteousness will not be far from you, hence you find yourself ever ready for the coming of Jesus.


St. Paul said in today's second reading that our expectation of the coming of Christ is what sustains our hope in God, just as Isaiah prayed: O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.


 *Peace ✌️ be with you* 


 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.*

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