It is good to remember that God is present to us even in the small, everyday events of our lives, Pope Francis said on the first Sunday of Advent.<\/p>\n
In his Angelus address Nov. 27, the pope said, \u201cLet us bear this in mind: God is hidden in our life, he is always there \u2014 he is concealed in the commonest and most ordinary situations in our life.\u201d<\/p>\n
God, he continued, \u201cdoes not come in extraordinary events, but in everyday things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is there, in our daily work, in a chance encounter, in the face of someone in need, even when we face days that seem grey and monotonous, it is right there that we find the Lord, who calls to us, speaks to us and inspires our actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Francis spoke about the season of Advent, the period of preparation for the Lord\u2019s coming on Christmas, from a window overlooking St. Peter\u2019s Square. And he presented a question for reflection: \u201cHow can we recognize and welcome the Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n
It is important, he said, that we are \u201cawake, alert, vigilant.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope also quoted from a sermon of St. Augustine, who said, \u201cI fear the Lord who passes by.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is, I fear that he will pass by and I will not recognize him,\u201d Francis explained.<\/p>\n
He pointed out the warning Jesus gave his disciples in the day\u2019s Gospel reading from St. Matthew: Jesus said people in the time of Noah \u201cate and drank \u2018and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The people, Pope Francis said, \u201cwere absorbed in their own things and did not realize that the flood was about to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this time of Advent, let us be shaken out of our torpor and let us awaken from our slumber,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s try to ask ourselves: am I aware of what I am living, am I alert, am I awake? Do I try to recognize God is present in daily situations, or am I distracted and a little overwhelmed by things?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we are unaware of his coming today, we will also be unprepared when he arrives at the end of times. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us remain vigilant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denne artikel blev oprindeligt udgivet af EWTN News English.<\/p>\n