First Week of AdventTheme :

A time of expectation and hope

Our life is a long vigil, waiting for the Lord to be revealed inall His glory. We long with joyful hope,

for His Spirit is with us, and we know that God isalways faithful to His promise.

How much joy and hope do I have and live daily? Is this Advent season going to be different?

Let us pray that our faith may be strengthened

for the coming of the Lord.

Father in Heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of

Your love and our minds are searching for the

light of Your Word. Increase our longing for Christ

our Savior and give us the strength to grow in our

faith so that the day of His coming may find us prepared

and filled with joy.

“Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.

…he must not find you asleep…” - Mk 13:33-37

Advent is not just a time when we recall and reliveIsrael’s waiting for the Messiah, Jesus.

Advent is also a time when we recall that Jesus will return at the end of history

– at a time we least expect.How prepared am I to meet Him? What if this is tomorrow?

However, that does not mean we sit piously and stare at the sky,to recall Jesus’ first coming and anticipate His second coming.

We are each called to continue His work;to spread God’s kingdom on earth.

Advent is a time when we ask ourselves how well we are doing this.Advent is a time when we recall in a special way,

that when Jesus returns, He will judge us individually.He will ask us, “How well did you carry out the task I gave you?

““Go, therefore, Go, therefore, and make disciples from all and make disciples from all

nations…nations…I am with you always I am with you always

until the end of this world.” until the end of this world.” (Mt 28:19)(Mt 28:19)

Daily Advent Prayer: 1st Week

Lord, give us your strength for sometimes things get tough,

and we want to quit.

Lord, give us your lovefor sometimes people reject us,

and we are tempted to hate.

Lord, give us your eyesfor sometimes life gets cloudy and dark,

and we lose our way.

Lord, give us Yourself.Our hearts were made for you,

and they will not rest until they rest in You

Our Second Week of Advent Our Second Week of Advent slide presentation will be slide presentation will be

in our website atin our website at

http://www.jesuit.org.sgWe also provide Gospel pointers in our website to helpWe also provide Gospel pointers in our website to help

you you find God in your daily life.find God in your daily life.

If you are If you are still notstill not on our on our mailing list,mailing list, email us, with your name, e-mail address, email us, with your name, e-mail address,

gender, country (for our classification) at :gender, country (for our classification) at : seigneur@starhub.net.sg

You will then receive a You will then receive a daily Gospel e-messagedaily Gospel e-message to inspire, guide and challenge you to deepen your love for God; to inspire, guide and challenge you to deepen your love for God;

written by Fr Philip Heng, SJ written by Fr Philip Heng, SJ