Our Advent Preparation: Not Just for Christ’s Coming but for Our Commissioning for Apostolic Pastoral Works – Saturday of First Week of Advent, Cycle I

In concluding the First Week of Advent, Cycle I (odd numbered year), we are reminded that we have been preparing not just for the arrival of the incarnated Christ in our hearts but also to be commissioned to carry out his pastoral works upon his Ascension (i.e. John 14:12) until his return.

The readings for Saturday of the First Week of Advent, Cycle I, Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 and Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8, teach us that the one whose coming we have been preparing through Advent Season hears our cries so that our weeping shall transformed into tears of joy. Not only that he hears our cries and restore our life’s fullness but also he will commission us to partake in his mission works of restoration with compassion.

The prophesy in the First Reading (Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26) is fulfilled by the incarnated Christ, as described in the Gospel Reading (Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8). The way Christ completely fulfills the prophecy of the First Reading requires our active participation to carry his pastoral mission works on beyond his departure from this world through Ascension until his return as the King and Judge at the eschaton. So, in concluding the First Week of Advent in an odd-numbered year, Cycle I, we are reminded that our Advent preparation for the incarnated Christ’s coming into our hearts is not just for his arrival but also to prepare ourselves to become his disciples and to partake in his pastoral mission works to meet increasing demands.

No more weeping (Isaiah 30:19;cf. Revelation 21:4) because gracious Christ, whose coming that we prepare, hears our cry (Isaiah 30:19; cf. Psalm 27:7-12). And we will no longer be like a bunch of lost sheep (i.e. Mathew 9:36) because we will hear our Good Shepherd’s (John 10:11, 14; cf. Psalm 23:1) voice, saying, “This is the way” (Isaiah 30:21; cf. Psalm 27:11).  In fact, “This is the way of salvation into eternal life” (i.e. John 10:27-28). Indeed, the one who shepherds (John 10:1-18) us is the way, as well as, the life, and the truth (John 14:6), leading to the verdant pasture (Psalm 23:2-3).

So, no more weeping. In this pasture of the Good Shepherd, no one is in suffering as the Good Shepherd will bind up the bruises and wounds to heal, and nobody is in hunger as his provision is abundant, and nobody will be walking in darkness at all as the light of the Good Shepherd makes the sun shines seven times brighter and the moon shine as bright as the sun (i.e. Isaiah 30:26).

And the Good Shepherd commissions his disciples on apostolic missions to meet increased and diverse pastoral needs (i.e. Matthew 9:37-10:14; cf. Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18; cf. John 14:12).

Therefore, our preparation for the incarnated Christ’s arrival means to prepare ourselves to take parts of his pastoral works as more labors are needed for busy abundant harvest season in the field.

We are to become additional hands of Christ, as well as, other parts of One Body of Christ (1 Corinthians  12:12-27) to meet greater pastoral demands of the world so that no more weeping – no more bruises and wounds – no more hunger and thirst. We are preparing ourselves to receive Christ in our hearts to serve on our apostolic mission for this purpose. And we are to be one with Christ, whose coming into our hearts that we prepare for, in his pastoral ministries.