WSC Reflection Guide 12/8-12/14/2024

PREPARING SPIRITUALLY BY THE REPENTANCE OF SIN

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide

December 8, 2024 (Cycle C, Yr. I) – 2nd Sunday of Advent

Community Word: Advent is the season of preparation and vigilance for the coming of Christ.

Theme: We prepare for the coming of our Savior when we sincerely repent and seek forgiveness of sins.

Promise: “The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Lk 3:5b-6) 

Reflection:

In the olden days, a herald is sent ahead by the king to the city he will be visiting to announce to the people to prepare and to ensure that everyone is clean and ready to receive the king in obedience. He would also make sure that the city is devoid of garbage, roads are fixed and the city is safe from criminal elements. 

Similarly, this was the role of St. John the Baptist who was sent to the people of Israel ahead of Jesus, our King. He was the voice prophesied by Isaiah crying out: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God,” (Lk 3:4). 

John preached and proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” (Lk 3:3b). His message was directed to the people to repair their lives and prepare for Christ’s coming. Like the herald, he told the people to clean up the mess they have made of their lives, straighten their crooked way of life and be ready for the arrival of the Messiah. Unlike the earthly king who was more interested in physical preparedness, John called for spiritual preparation of the soul.  

Repentance is the biblical way to have freedom, deliverance and release from the pattern of sin in our lives. It is “metanoia,” a Greek word which means “a change of mind.” Repentance is a complete turning away from sin and turning back to God. If you have been walking down the road in one direction in sin and rebellion, you must make a 180 degree turn and start walking toward the opposite direction to God and be obedient to His precepts. True repentance is turning away from your pattern of sin in the past. This is the key to a genuine and lasting victory over sin. The time and energy spent wallowing in sin must now be spent chasing after God. God always wait for penitents, just like the story of the returning prodigal son. God is the father who sees the repentant sinner and runs out to meet him with outstretched arms to welcome him home. 

St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians, “be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness,” (Phil 1:10-11b). A way to be spiritually fruitful and discover how God wants us to live in the world is getting into the word of God. Scriptures instruct us how to think, act and live in the path of holiness. To become strong in the Spirit, one needs to become strong by studying and meditating on God’s word. Ephesians 6 tells us that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. We have to fill our life with things that matter in God’s kingdom.  

We are now in the 2nd Sunday of Advent and the Church exhorts us with no uncertain terms to prepare for the coming of Christ, not just to celebrate His first coming, but to live our daily life in preparation for His second coming. If we believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we know that He is coming again at a time we do not know. Thus, we are to be watchful and vigilant, putting our life in order and cleansed of our sinful ways. Are you ready for your King?  

As we prepare for the Lord’s arrival, we continue to reflect on this promise: “The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God,” (Lk 3:5b-6). The one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace of repentance through the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that we may be free from the slavery of sin as we grow in faith and in humility, the essential ingredients of our spiritual preparation for Your coming. Make us aware of the many things that keep us from You and to sincerely turn away from them. Keep us holy during the season of Advent so that we may celebrate Your birthday with joy, not only this Christmas but every day of our lives. Amen. 

Reflection Guide Questions:

1.     How do you prepare spiritually during the Advent Season? When was the last time you made a meaningful confession? 

2.     Where you have a difficult time repenting for certain offenses and asking forgiveness, how do you intend to overcome these struggles?

This Week's Daily Mass Reading Guide:

Dec 8, 2024 (Sun) – Bar 51-9/ Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6/ Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/ Lk 3:1-6

Dec 9, 2024 (Mon) – Gn 3:9-15, 20/ Ps 98:1-4/ Eph 1:3-6, 11, 12/ Lk 1:26-38

Dec 10, 2024 (Tue) – Is 40:1-11/ Ps 96:1-3, 10-13/ Mt 18:12-14

Dec 11, 2024 (Wed) – Is 40:25-31/ Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10/ Mt 11:28-30

Dec 12, 2024 (Thu) – Zec 2:14-17/ Jdt 13:18, 19/ Lk 1:26-38

Dec 13, 2024 (Fri) – Is 48:17-19/ Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6/ Mt 11:16-19

Dec 14, 2024 (Sat) – Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/ Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19/ Mt 17:9, 10-13

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

 Council of Servant Leaders

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Alfred S. Kudemus

CSL Secretariat

BLD Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16