Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - In anticipation of the Christmas Day "is important to prepare ourselves morally and spiritually to receive Jesus, just as the people of Israel did over 2 thousand years ago". Msgr. John Barwa SVD, Archbishop pf Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (Orissa) calls all his faithful through his message for Advent.
"This season is the time when we prepare ourselves and our community to welcome the Lord. At the time of Jesus, the expectation of the Messiah was at its highest level. Pharisees, Zealots, Essenes: everyone were waiting for Him. When the baby Jesus was taken to the temple, Simeon and Anna recognized Him. When John the Baptist appeared on the Jordan, the entire Judea and Jerusalem have followed him, believing he was the Messiah" said the prelate.
Msgr. Barwa adds: "The Church has always believed that Jesus, who came in the time of Caesar Augustus, will come again. The Church is eagerly waiting for the second coming of Christ, and always prays 'Lord, come'."
For this reason "let's just not think that the Lord came 2 thousand years ago, or that He will return at the end of the history. We have to wait for the Lord continuously, in His world, among His people. Let us prepare to receive the Messiah in this Advent season, a 'time of grace'" emphasizes the archbishop.