Friday, November 29, 2013

A pre Advent reflection

 

 
Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters in Christ,

The picture you are viewing is a view of Porvoo in Finland, a beautiful old town , about an hour from Helsinki. It looks beautiful , does it not at this time of the year .. the season of Advent. In the Northern countries darkness comes very early in the afternoon, and the lights of Christmas already put in place , change that darkness into light. It gives people a very happy feeling. I was born in Holland and to some extent we went through the same thing in the dark days prior to Christmas. Here in Bendigo, Central Victoria , Australia you don't get the same feeling.

However no matter in which continent we live in , we live in a world of darkness. I am not talking about darkness in contrast to light , but the darkness of sin and evil and despair. At the moment we are collecting money for the mental health foundation. It was mentioned on the radio only a few days ago how badly mental health sufferers are being treated by society. Television seven ( Melbourne ) spouts out the horrific crimes committed by members of our society. We lie in politics, we stab each other in the back in politics. We cannot find a solution for asylum seekers and so it goes on.

Also in the Church of God we are more divided then ever, and the prospect of Church Unity is getting further away beyond our reach.

And yet .. in this Advent time , there is the opportunity for a new beginning , to turn away from sin and wickedness and follow on the footsteps of the early life of the Baby Jesus, Whose birth we will be celebrating at Christmas. A life of doing good to others, a life of total sacrifice for the world. Let us as Catholic Christians stand up and be counted. It is time for a journey from darkness into light. Will you join us ?

The last day of judgement , it is coming , we do not know when, but are you prepared for it ?

A blessed Advent,

Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia