Advent Peace?

We are still within the 2018 Mindanao Week of Peace (Nov 29-Dec 5). On December 2, First Sunday of Advent, we begin the new liturgical year, which will end on Sunday December 1, 2019.

From the liturgical point of view the Advent Season through the various ways of reflections and celebrations of the biblical accounts on the coming of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace, we will be reminded how to live as peacemakers in imitation of Him whom St. Paul calls “our peace” (“shalom”, Eph 2:14).

From the pastoral perspective our ongoing formation into Christ-likeness will be done in the context of the Year of the Youth which also begins on the First Sunday of Advent.

From the socio-political-economic standpoint we will make an effort in discerning through the help of the Holy Spirit the values of Shalom, which is integrity and wholeness, in society, economics and politics.

This we do bearing in mind the two major issues confronting Mindanaoans now: the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the Communist Part of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army.

If we are successful in this regard, we will call these gains our Advent Peace.