On the First Sunday of Advent during Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway, Bishop Michael celebrated the Rite of Acceptance into the order of catechumens and the Rite of Welcome for those baptised adults preparing to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church or who are to celebrate Confirmation and Eucharist
When it comes to religion, time spent waiting has always been seen as a special time. Many spiritual thinkers place waiting at the very heart of our relationship with God. Our limited human minds are simply too small to fully comprehend the reality of God. However, that does not stop us from trying to cut God down to our own size and trying to force his hand to give us what we want, how we want it and when we want it – which is usually now.
In Judaism and Christianity there is a longstanding tradition of respectfully and patiently waiting in hope for God to come close to us and act in our lives. There is also the tradition of using that time of waiting and the uncertainty it may bring to prepare ourselves for God’s intervention. Today, our gathering is greatly enriched by the presence of those among who are waiting to become Catholics this Easter. You are waiting … waiting in a very very special way for this very special intervention of God in your lives. You are waiting and you are preparing. We the church community, we are waiting with you too!
Each Advent, we are called to be patient as we wait for over four full weeks to recall and celebrate the coming of God into our world in the birth of Jesus that first Christmas night. Each Advent, we are also called to ponder the fact that at the same time we are waiting for the second coming of Jesus that will bring to completion the work of transformation that he began back then. That day of the “coming of the Son of Man” referred to in the Gospel today will mark the end of this world as we know it (Mt 24). It will bring about a profound eternal closeness between God and humankind.