This is the first Sunday of Advent in the Liturgical Year C, the beginning of another year of service to families through this Twelve Pebbles prayer and reflection on the Sunday Gospel. We are fortunate to have you in this apostolate for the family. Some of you may be receiving this, or be sharing this with some families, for the first time. Our purpose for writing these Twelve Pebbles is to assist families become Domestic Churches. The approach in our becoming Domestic Churches is by our family members learning from Jesus in the same manner the original twelve disciples followed and walked with Jesus during His ministry in the Holy Land, as related by the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In the Twelve Pebbles, we shall try to place ourselves among the disciples, or the specific evangelist writing the Gospel, and try to experience how Jesus taught His disciples to serve with love, how to teach or share, and how to heal. These are the kingly, prophetic, and priestly functions of Jesus, which He had hoped His disciples would learn. And of course, that we should also learn from and about Him.

          Praying and reflecting on the Gospel of the coming Sunday would prepare our families to fully participate in the Holy Mass and to come out better followers of Jesus.

          Parents are encouraged to experience how the disciples perceived Jesus, to become disciples and examples to their children so they may learn by their parents' witnessing of the life of Jesus. The Twelve Pebbles are primarily written for parents. The basic approach is to pray, reflect and then dialogue on these experiences and finally respond to Jesus.

          Let us illustrate this approach on the Gospel this first Sunday of Advent according to Luke 21:25-28,34-36.

Advent Gospels prepare the followers of Jesus to meet Him

          This Gospel relates the conversation between Jesus and some of His disciples. So as not to feel lost as if you came in late and did not catch the beginning of their conversation, read starting from 21:5. Note the highlights of their conversation, especially what Jesus wanted His disciples to do. Jesus spoke about crises that will come and that the disciples will even be arrested, but they should take this as an opportunity to tell the Good News. They should not worry; as Jesus would give them words and wisdom that no one of their enemies can refute or contradict. The instructions of Jesus to the disciples are:

1. To "stand firm and you will be saved."


2. "When these things begin to happen, stand firm and raise your heads, because your salvation is near."


3. "Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strengthen to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man."

          When John wrote this Gospel, Jesus Himself had shown the disciples how He had carried His Cross to Calvary, faced death and resurrected to life eternal.

Prayer and Reflection ~

• What are happening today in my life that Jesus is admonishing me: "Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strengthen to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man"?


• What is it that Jesus is telling me to do to show that I trust in Him?


• After praying and reflecting on your personal response to Jesus, please dialogue with your spouse (or friend) on what each of you shall do and try to support each other accomplish it.


• Jesus is asking you to pray to have the strength to do it, His strength.

THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org