On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Fr. Nareg Terterian reflects on Jesus’ teaching from Luke 17, reminding us that Advent is not only a cultural season but a spiritual preparation; a conscious effort to make room for the birth of Christ in our hearts.
Speaking directly to His disciples, Jesus calls us to take personal responsibility for how we live as people of faith: to resist the moral decay of the world, to lovingly correct one another when we stray, and to practice radical forgiveness, not as weakness, but as participation in God’s own divine life.
As the disciples themselves realized, this kind of forgiveness requires faith; not a greater quantity of faith, but a deeper orientation toward God, who makes the impossible possible.
Fr. Nareg also explores the crucial distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation, emphasizing humility, boundaries, and spiritual maturity.
Drawing from the Letter to the Hebrews, he reminds us that Jesus is not merely a teacher, but the Son of God, the radiance of God’s glory, who purifies us from sin and invites us into a transformed way of living. The sermon concludes with Jesus’ challenging parable on humility, calling us to serve God not out of entitlement, but out of love, recognizing that serving in God’s kingdom is not a transaction, but a privilege.
As disciples of Christ, we are invited this Advent to stay vigilant, forgive generously, live humbly, and enter into worship with renewed hearts as we prepare for the Nativity of our Lord.
Scripture Readings:Luke 17:1–10Hebrews 1:1–4
Join us as we continue our Advent journey toward renewal, faith, and humility.
