"We are a community of disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit to be living witnesses for transformation in Christ to bring about a world of justice, human development and true peace."

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide
November 30, 2025 (Cycle C, Year I) – 1st Sunday of Advent

Community Word: Jesus, our Emmanuel, brings salvation to the world and hope in every heart.
Theme: Salvation is manifested in our lives when we walk in the ways of the Lord.
Promise: “For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Rom 13:11b)

Reflection:
The season of Advent ushers us once again into a sacred time of longing, preparation, and renewed commitment to the Lord who comes to save. Our Community Word proclaims that Jesus, our Emmanuel, brings salvation to the world and hope in every heart. Advent reminds us of this ever-present truth: God is with us, not only as a recall of Bethlehem, nor only as the promised return in glory, but as a daily companion who leads us toward the fullness of salvation.

Our theme for this Sunday declares: Salvation is manifested in our lives when we walk in the ways of the Lord. This call is urgent and personal. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that His coming will be sudden, just as unexpected as the days of Noah. Many were unprepared then, absorbed in the routines of life, until it was too late. Today, He invites us to “stay awake,” to live each moment in readiness, not out of fear but out of love, fidelity, and steadfast hope.

The prophet Isaiah gives us a beautiful vision of what it means to walk in the ways of the Lord: people from every nation streams toward God’s holy mountain, seeking to learn His paths and to live in peace. This image captures the essence of true discipleship, not merely knowing God’s commands, but allowing His Word to shape our relationships, our decisions, and the life of our community. When we choose compassion over indifference, forgiveness over resentment, humility over pride, and peace over conflict, we manifest the presence of Emmanuel in the world.

St. Paul strengthens this call with a clear exhortation: “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.” Spiritual sleep happens when we allow complacency, distractions, or sin to dull our sensitivity to God’s voice. It happens when our hearts drift into division, negativity, or discouragement. But Paul urges us to “throw off the works of darkness” and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” To put on Christ is to embrace His heart – His compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, as our Order reminds us. These virtues make our lives a credible witness to the salvation Christ brings.

Advent is therefore a season of active preparation. It calls us to walk intentionally in the light to renew our prayer life, to reconcile relationships, to serve selflessly, and to share hope with those who struggle. It challenges us to identify the areas where we have delayed our response to God and to surrender them now. For every act of charity, every moment of repentance, every choice to love becomes a step toward God’s kingdom and a sign of His saving work in us.

As we begin Advent, let us open our hearts to Jesus, our Emmanuel, and walk together in His ways so that others may also be drawn to His light. With confidence we hold on to St. Paul’s assurance: “For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Rom 13:11b)

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, our Emmanuel, awaken our hearts to Your presence and Your call. Help us to walk in Your ways with compassion, humility, and faithfulness. Free us from distractions and all that keeps us from responding to Your grace. As we enter this Advent season, may our lives shine with Your light, and may our actions lead others closer to You. Strengthen us to prepare with hope, vigilance, and love, knowing that Your salvation is always near. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. In what areas of my life is the Lord inviting me to “wake from sleep” this Advent?
2. How can I concretely “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” in my relationships and daily responsibilities?
3. What acts of compassion, reconciliation, or service is God calling me to offer as a sign of His light to others?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
November 30, 2025 (Sun) – Is 2:1-5/ Ps 22:1-9/ Rom 13:11-14/ Mt 24:17-44
December 1, 2025 (Mon) – Is 4:2-6/ Ps 122:1-9/ Mt 8:5-11
December 2, 2025 (Tue) – Is 11:1-10/ Ps 72:1, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17/ Lk 10:21-24
December 3, 2025 (Wed) – Is 25:6-10/ Ps 23:1-6/ Mt 15:29-37
December 4, 2025 (Thu) – Is 26:1-6/ Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27/ Mt 7:21, 24-27
December 5, 2025 (Fri) – Is 29:17-24/ Ps 27:1, 4, 13, 14/ Mt 9:27-31
December 6, 2025 (Sat) – Is 30:19-21, 23-26/ Ps 147:1-6/ Mt 9:35, 10:1, 5A, 6-8

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”

Weekly: Theme, Promise, Order, Direction and Prophesies (bldworld.org)