Jesus, the King and Lord, is near.  To put on this King and Lord means to go in with him into the joy of God’s kingdom.

Today, we hear Paul spur on the Christians in Rome to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Christians in Ephesus get a similar bolstering; they are to put on the new and give up the old.  And to so turn away from the old to the new is what these last days call for.  Days of light and not of darkness.

From time to time, yes, we read Vincent’s words to Antoine Durand.  Vincent urges Antoine to empty himself of self to put on Jesus Christ (SV.EN XI:311).  And Vincent lets us know that to put on Jesus Christ is the same as this:  to live in Jesus Christ by the death of Jesus Christ; to die like Jesus Christ by the life of Jesus Christ; to hide in Jesus Christ and be full of Jesus Christ; to die like Jesus Christ implies living like Jesus Christ (SV.EN I:276).

Such bond, such communion, cannot but mean to work for peace and justice and the common good.  It also leads us to watch, to stay awake and to wait in an active way for Jesus Christ’s definitive coming in his glory.

Lord Jesus, grant to us to eat at the table of your word.  For not to know your word is not to know you, and so, not to put on who and what you are.  Your word will show us the concrete way to be like you.  Grant also that we eat at the table your body and blood.  We shall thus be strong to be true to what your word tells us. 

30 November 2025
1st Sunday of Advent (A)
Is 2, 1-5; Rom 13, 11-14; Mt 24, 37-44