Mgr Anil JT Couto released a video message for Catholics in his diocese. He calls on them to wait for the coming of Christ, to forgive "not only seven times, but seventy times seven", and recognise the Lord "in the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalised, the hungry, the naked, the prisoners".
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Advent is a time of joy, waiting for the coming of the Risen Christ and witness of the Kingdom of God, says Mgr Anil JT Couto, archbishop of Delhi, speaking to the Catholics of his diocese.
In a video message for the first Sunday of Advent, he says that Advent “is a joyful season, joyful not only because we are in preparation for the feast of Christmas, but above all because the season of Advent reminds us of the Second Coming of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
According to the archbishop, "this is the essence of our Christian faith and of our hope, that we are awaiting the return of our Risen Lord, as the judge in heaven and earth".
Until then, Jesus invites us “to live what I taught you to do. Therefore, our Christian life is to live the Gospel according to our Lord Jesus Christ, to be his witnesses on this earth."
With respect to the Indian situation, the archbishop points out that “The Lord calls all of us to serve each other, [. . .] to forgive not only seven times, but seventy times seven.”
“The Lord invites us to recognise him in the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalised, the hungry, the naked, the prisoners, those who are strangers, those who are on the streets, the destitute."
Finally, he makes an appeal: "May this season of Advent help us more and more to focus our hearts on our Lord Jesus Christ, on his Gospel, become joyful people, people filled with great hope, people who are always active in the mission, to bring about God’s Kingdom here because we know that he will come again."