Members of the Teresian Association in Pune gathered together for the Advent Recollection on 30th November at Sanjeevan Ashram. The day began with prayer, prepared by Veronica and conducted by Savitha. The season of Advent is a good way to come to ourselves and analyse how prepared we are for the second coming. There's a time to get ready by focusing on your own sinfulness and evil, a time for personal transformation and following Christ. There's a time to get ready by rejoicing that our God is not far away and unfamiliar with the struggles of human life, that Christ is here right now among His followers, that God has already begun to bring in the Kingdom, and that Christ will come again to make it clear who really runs the place. That's Advent. "Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the age", says Jesus. Post a tea break, Fr. Steven (SJ) led the participants into a deeper understanding of incarnational spirituality. In the creed we pray, 'born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried'. Where is the life of Christ reflected? We must admire Jesus not only for the way he died, but for the way he lived. The incarnation is so beautiful because, God empties himself for us. Our own spirituality is often so self centred, that even at the last supper, when Jesus declares that he will be betrayed, the response is, 'Is it me Lord' and not 'What have you done Lord to deserve this?' or 'We will protect you Lord.' Emmanuel means God is with us, not for us but with us, here on earth. He doesnt say come up to the heavens, but he comes down. Seeing Jesus in the human form we can love God now and not merely respect him. Is Christmas then a happy ocassion or a sad one? God came to his own and his own welcomed him not. Let us pray for a Jesus who disturbs us, challenges us and channelizes us.
The members then spent time in silence and reflection and were encouraged to take the sacrament of reconciliation after which we had a meaningful Eucharistic Celebration.
After lunch, the members participated in a sharing around Loreto's letter for Advent and then a discussion on how we can be instruments of hope and joy in the lives of our youth.
