December 02, 2013 - The missionary prayer intention of the Pope for the month of
December is that Christians, enlightened by the Word incarnate, may prepare humanity
for the Saviour’s coming. With Advent already started the missionary prayer intention
of Pope Francis obviously focuses on the coming of Christ. And we Christians are
preparing not only for His birthday but also for his second coming. We may also experience
Advent every time we prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
When we ask in prayer that we may be more like Mary, we prepare ourselves to receive
the Word of God and give him flesh in our lives. In a talk at the 2008 Eucharistic
Congress in Quebec, Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, said: “We might ask the
Grace of receiving Communion as Mary received the Word and allow it to take on flesh
anew in us.” If we allow the Word of God to take on flesh in us, then, little by
little, we as individuals will be transformed. In fact, in us and through God’s
grace humanity as a whole will be transformed, and we are hastening the day when
Christ will return and establish his kingdom once and for all. Pope Francis went
on to say: “The Eucharist is the vital center of the universe, capable of satisfying
the hunger for life and happiness: ‘He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides
in me, and I in him’ (John 6:57). In this happy banquet we participate in eternal
life and, thus, ‘our daily existence becomes a prolonged Mass.