Demon Slayer Synopsis (from Amazon): In Taisho-era Japan, kindhearted Tanjiro Kamado makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has been transformed into a demon herself! Tanjiro sets out on a dangerous journey to find a way to return his sister to normal and destroy the demon who ruined his life.
Advent 2021 Week 1
This is the first post in a four-week series on the themes of Advent. Advent means coming or arrival, and we are preparing for two things: 1) The arrival of Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and 2) The arrival of the second coming of Jesus.
Hope:
I have already discussed Hope in three of my past posts, which you can find here.
Note: I have only read the first book in the Demon Slayer series (now has 23 books).
Discussion: I enjoyed the theme of this book series – A brother is on a mission to find the one person who can save his sister from being a demon. His mission as a brother was very clear to him.
Is your mission as a Christian clear to you?
During this season of Advent, as we await the second coming of Jesus, I think it is vital to contemplate our role as Christians. What should we be doing as we await the second coming of Jesus?
We can look to after Christ’s Resurrection to answer this question (CCC981). What were Jesus’ final words to his disciples:
Mt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teach them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.’
Mk 16:15-16 And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’
Lk 24:45-47 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.’
At the end of John’s Gospel, Jesus tells Peter (after Peter professes love) to ‘Feed my lambs’, ‘Tend my sheep’, ‘Feed my sheep’ (Jn 21:15-17).
Just as Tanjiro is on a mission to save his sister from being a demon. His entire life has one sole purpose now, to save his sister. She could be considered the one lost sheep (Mt 18:12-14 and Lk 15:3-7). We, as Christians, should also be on a mission to save the lost sheep. We are on a mission of conversion for ourselves and for EVERYONE. We can hope in God’s promises for salvation for all believers. We need to be ACTIVE in God’s plan of salvation for everyone.
God has always asked for participation in His plan for salvation.
God asked Moses to participate with Him in rescuing the Israelites “from the hands of the Egyptians” (Ex 3).
God sent an angel to Mary to ask her to bear the Son of the Most High, who has saved all who desire through His life, death, and resurrection (Lk 1).
As we await the second coming of Jesus, how is God asking you to participate in the salvation of souls? Are you are a mission like Tanjiro to save your brothers and sisters?
CCC 1435 Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one’s brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one’s cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.
What Can My Kids Read? 