COMING HOME THIS CHRISTMAS

Specific Objectives

At the end of the session, the assembly the participants are expected to:

1. Reflect on the true meaning of advent and actively prepare Spiritually for this season

2. Overcome hindrances from coming home and celebrate Christ this Christmas through the different themes of Advent

Expanded Outline

Play: I’ll be home for Jesus (pre-recorded)

I. Introduction

Christmas season is here and as one community let’s come back home to the real reason. Most of us are still staying home but the question is spiritually are we really home? As said in a song: “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me.” Usually for those who work outside of the country or lives in the provinces there is a yearning to come home and even for those who are stacked in the traffic during the Christmas rush all they wanted is to reach home. Sometimes because of certain circumstances such as lockdowns because of pandemic we can’t or worst we forget. In this waiting period let’s talk about advent and coming home.

II. You can count on me

God’s promises are always meant to be fulfilled. In this season of waiting, preparing and we can count on Him and His coming. We are starting the Advent season, a time of hope, joy, peace and love. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, "coming”, “to come," and refers to the coming of Christ. This is about…

1. Celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas - This is the fulfillment of God’s promise. He came to dwell with us and redeem us.

For God so love the world he gave us His only Son, whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

2. Coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion – The word made flesh is also shared in the form of a broken bread. He is still physically present in our midst through the Blessed Sacrament.

Bethlehem – “House of bread”

Receiving him is a foretaste of our eternal home. And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. – John 1:14

3. Second Coming at the end of time - This is time to be reminded that salvation belongs to our God and that He will return to bring us to our original home, Heaven. His second coming may happened on the end of the world or on our own death. May this advent remind us to prepare and be ready to come home to him when we die and have eternal life.

So Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. – Hebrews 9:28

This three focuses on the reason for this season, Jesus Christ.

III. I’ll be home for Christmas

We need to actively wait and prepare. Let’s go H.O.M.E. as guided by 4 themes of advent

1. H-oly Days and not holidays mindset (PEACE) – find peace of mind and heart that we are in holy days of waiting and preparing. Let us not be preoccupied with chaos of holidays. This Holy days is a reminder to come home to him in repentance. Have a Holy Days Check list ex. Go to confession

2. O-pening of hearts more than gifts (JOY) – find joy beyond material things but being open to God’s will. This openness also leads to obedience and cooperating to His leading with joy in our hearts. Take time to reflect and ask What is God telling me this advent?

3. M-ake shine the Christmas Light (HOPE) – in this time of darkness because of physical, emotional and spiritual sickness may we bring the Light who is Christ in our own lives. May we be a source of inspiration to others that points towards the Star of Christmas. May the Christmas lights in our home remind us of Christ The Light and that he gives hope.

4. E-xchanging The Gift (LOVE)– The true Love that we receive from God may reciprocate. Advent and Christmas is also about evangelization. For it is about the adventure of Sharing Christ the reason for the season. As said by our Servant General Frank Padilla Advent then becomes ADVENTURE, if U.R.E., that is, if U R Evangelizing. The New Evangelization is a time of great adventure. Look for a person whom I will set up a reunion date with Christ

IV. Conclusion

This Advent season may we remember that Jesus Christ was born into the humble manger of our hearts. Indeed we can count on God’s coming and in response may we also come home to him. This Christmas, we celebrate and rejoice in the coming of Jesus. And we remind ourselves why he came ¬to save us, because of love. Out of love he joyfully awaits to celebrate Christmas with us. May we truly say: Lord, I’ll be home this Christmas, you can count on me too.

Group Discussion

How can you make Christmas more meaningful and spiritual this year?