• HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • History
    • Dominican Spirituality
    • Life and Mission
    • Associates
      • Ireland
      • South Africa
      • Associates Stories
        • Mary Mc Crae
        • Niamh Smith
        • Janice Mc Garry
    • Dominican Saints
      • Saint Dominic
      • Thomas Aquinas
      • Saint Catherine
      • Fra Angelico
      • St. Agnes of Montepulciano
      • St. John Macias
      • A poem for Jubilee Year
    • Books
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Ecology
      • An Tairseach- Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre
      • 2020 – Programme of events
    • Justice
    • Education
      • Dominican Ethos in Schools
      • Secondary Schools ROI
      • Secondary Schools NI
      • Primary Schools
      • Special Schools
      • Third Level
      • Lumen Dominican Centre Sion Hill
        • Lumen Dominican Centre
    • Sacred Preaching Space
    • Ecumenism
    • Pastoral Care
    • Other Ministries
  • WHERE WE ARE
    • Ireland
    • North America – Louisiana
    • Latin America
    • South Africa
    • Portugal
      • Archives
  • VOCATIONS
    • Becoming a Dominican Sister
    • Vocation Stories
      • Sr Margaret MacCurtain OP
      • Sr Bridget O’Driscoll OP
      • Sr Elizabeth Clifford OP
      • Sr Francis Cosgrove OP
      • Sr. Aedris Coates OP
      • Sr. Margaret Kelly OP
      • Sr. Joan O’Donovan OP
      • Sr Sabine Schratz OP
      • Sr. Liz Smyth OP
      • Sr. Eileen O’Connell
      • Sr. Edel Murphy OP
      • Sr. Kathleen Fitzsimons OP
      • Sr. Paul Cloete OP
      • Sr Athanasius Melican OP
      • Sr. Rose McLarnon OP
      • Sr. Eileen McCarthy OP
    • Vocations
  • NEWS
    • Photo Gallery
  • SAFEGUARDING
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Contact Details
  • CONTACT
    • GDPR
    • Data Retention and Erasure Policy
    • Privacy Notice
    • Web Privacy Statement
    • User Agreement
    • Cookie Policy
facebook
twitter

Recent

22
NOV
2013

The First Sunday of Advent

by : Elizabeth Ferguson OP
comment : 0

This season of Advent is ushered in with warnings, admonitions and a comforting image of hope. In Romans, Paul exhorts the community to be watchful and alert, to lay aside the old ways, and put on the Lord Jesus, because the day of salvation is close. It is in fact present for those who are followers of Jesus. Therefore, Paul is reminding the community that a certain code of conduct must demonstrate that fact.

 

The Gospel passage from Matthew 24:36-44 is part of a longer arrangement of sayings that respond to the disciples’ question about the ‘coming of the Son of Man’. Jesus is issuing warnings about wakefulness. The advent of God is totally unpredictable by our human way of planning and preparing. In another way it is totally predictable, because it is on any day or at any hour.  From some of the preceding comments, its coming would seem to follow great pain and pestilence.

 

Among the collection of sayings berating the people of Judah and Jerusalem at the beginning of the book of Isaiah, there is raised up above it all, the reassuring image of the mountain of God. The image offers hope, comfort and a longed-for reign of peace. A first glance at the readings might suggest that it alone stands out as the only one that offers that same hope, comfort and a longed-for reign of peace to us.

 

Looking more closely at the image, I wish to identify three stages.

The first is the response to the invitation to climb the mountain of God. Mountain climbing and hill walking do not come easy to most of us. There is effort, pain and sacrifice involved in getting to the peak, or the desired spot. There is no suggestion of a cable car to take us to the summit of the mountain of God.

When we reach the top we are at stage two. We climb the mountain, not for sightseeing, but to learn God’s ways and walk in God’s paths. While the views may be breathtaking, what we notice is a change of perspective. The valley below appears very different now in the new light gained from the journey and from being alert to learn God’s ways.

Stage three calls for action, the transforming of weapons of war into tools for nurturing.  Imagine the melting down of guns and drones, the dismantling of bombs and landmines, the safe disposal of chemical and nuclear weapons! Who are the ‘they’ that will transform these weapons? Having climbed this mountain to learn the wisdom of God, we who made the journey are those ‘they’. We are expected now to transform our own weapons of destruction that we carry with us, into tools of nurturing; transform the negative energies that pull down, into positive energy that build up; bring the light of hope into the darkness; bring reassurance where there is doubt. Recently, I heard a radio report of civilians in one Congo village coming out of their homes rejoicing, because a rebel group had laid down its arms. Imagine it is within our power to cause such rejoicing everyday!

 

At the top of the mountain our perspective is changed. We lay aside the old ways and are more alert and ready for the advent of God.

 

Elizabeth Ferguson, OPswords-into-plowshares1

About the Author

Social Share

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

captcha *

Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP

December 14, 2020

In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020

November 29, 2020

RE OPENING OF OUR DOMINICAN EDUCATION CENTRE, DUBLIN

August 09, 2020
  • Posts
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • LUMEN DOMINICAN CENTRE Spring 2021 Programme
  • Link to the An Tairseach, Wicklow, Country Wide programme RTE 1
  • Advent Calendar’ – a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP
  • In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020
  • WALK OF LIGHT 2020
  • Ecumenical Resource on Climate Justice – Irish Council of Churches
  • Biblical Perspectives On Justice – Cork Scripture Group,  Autumn 2020 Bible Study Module
  • Youtube link of the recording of the  virtual launch of  “In Communion with the Sacred Universe The Story of An Tairseach.” by Sr. Marian O’Sullivan OP
  • MISSION SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER 2020 – We invite you to reflect on Pope Francis’s message for Mission Sunday 2020, placing mission within the context of Covid-19. (See below taken from www.Vatican.va )
  • Virtual launch of the publication “In Communion with the Sacred Universe, The Story of An Tairseach” by Sr. Marian O’Sullivan OP.
  • An Tairseach (29)
  • Dominican Associates (3)
  • Dominican News (250)
  • Education (62)
  • Events (74)
  • Good News (66)
  • Highlights (24)
  • Home Page Slider (18)
  • Ireland (80)
  • Justice (67)
  • Latin America (29)
  • Louisiana (17)
  • News (393)
  • Our Regions (8)
  • Poems (5)
  • Portugal (14)
  • Prayers (13)
  • Proclaiming (5)
  • Professions (4)
  • Reflections (11)
  • Rest Of The World (5)
  • Sacred Space (4)
  • South Africa (22)
  • Stories (20)
  • Uncategorized (276)
  • Vatican II- Remembering (7)
  • Vocations (14)
  • Women Preachers (11)
Dominican Women South Africa Reflection Vatican II Mission and Ministry God An Tairseach Baptism Art Chaplain Hello Logo Pauline Hospital Portugal Louisiana Ireland Mindfulness in Education Froebel College of Education The Woman at the Well Lay participation in Parish Life Compassion illness RIP Rest In Peace Mary Magdalen Spring

Twitter

  • RT @BA_McShane: Join me in conversation with Alan Hayes of @ArlenHouse on Saturday to pay tribute to the late, great Dr Margaret MacCurtain… 37 days ago
  • RT @rogerchilds2u: @sinead_mccoole @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnslibrary @ArlenHouse Thank you for such an elegant, touching and… 97 days ago
  • RT @sinead_mccoole: Dr Margaret MacCurtain's life spanned 9 decades, 1000s of lives were enriched @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnsl… 97 days ago

Search Our Site

Recent Posts

  • LUMEN DOMINICAN CENTRE Spring 2021 Programme
  • Link to the An Tairseach, Wicklow, Country Wide programme RTE 1
  • Advent Calendar’ – a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP
  • In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020
  • WALK OF LIGHT 2020

Dominican Links

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Dominican Contemplative Nuns at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
  • Order of Preachers
  • Dominican Friars
  • AMRI
  • Lay Dominicans Ireland

Our Ministries

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Contemplative Outreach
  • Irish Archives Resource
  • Dominican Sisters International

Contact Us

  1. Name *
    * Please enter your name
  2. Email *
    * Please enter a valid email address
  3. Message *
    * Please enter message
Copyright © 2020 Dominican Sisters Cabra. All Rights Reserved. Please click GDPR Information.
Web DesignbyOrbit Technologies
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok