Homily (Reflection) for
the First Sunday of Advent, (A) (01st December, 2019) on the Gospel
Is 2:1-5;
Ps 122:1-2.4-5.6-7.8-9.
(R. v.1);Rom 13:11-14a;
Matt 24:37-44.
Today is the first day and the
first Sunday of the liturgical Year. The Church’s calendar is known as the
Liturgical year or calendar and is divided into seasons. They are Advent,
Christmas, Lent, Easter, and the Ordinary time of the year. These are set aside
to celebrate various events in Jesus’ life.
To help us reap the best out of
the season of Advent, let us consider its meaning as we celebrate the First
Sunday of Advent today. The Liturgical year begins with the Evening prayer I of
the First Sunday of Advent which is the evening prayer of the Saturday that
precedes the First Sunday of Advent and ends on Saturday of the 34th
week of the Ordinary Time. The development of the Liturgical year was a complex
process involving many traditions and cultures and was developed over the years.
The Liturgical year is all about the story of our salvation. It guides us as we
journey from this valley of tears to the eternal Kingdom.
The word Advent is from the
Latin word adventus meaning arrival,
approach, or coming. The First Sunday of Advent falls between November 27 and
December 3 whereas the Fourth Sunday of Advent falls between 18th
and 24th December. The season of Advent consists of four (4) Sundays
but not necessarily four full weeks. During the season of Advent, the
liturgical colour is violet or purple with the exception of Third Sunday of
Advent called Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday when rose or pink vestment can be used.
Gloria is not said during Mass. The season is divided into two – from the
Evening Prayer I of the First Sunday of Advent to 16th December and
from 17th December to 24th December.
Unlike what some
has in mind, the season of Advent is a time of preparation not just for the
celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. We prepare ourselves most importantly
for the coming of Jesus as the Judge of
the living and the dead either at one’s death or at the end of the world.
We also prepare during Advent to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist on
Christmas. We are to prepare for Christ who lives in our lives through His
graces, cf. 1Cor 6:19, Rev 3:20. We
are called to prepare for the coming of our Lord in a spirit of waiting,
conversion, hope and prayer. Advent is sometimes called the little Lent because
in most Eastern Orthodox and other Eastern Christian Churches, it is also a
time of fasting which is called Nativity Fast or Advent Fast which lasts for
forty days.
Topic: Preparedness for the Lord.
Just as we have seen while
explaining the season of Advent, the Liturgical year is all about our lives as
Christians. It should not be seen as one of the things the Church does
annually.
The gospel calls our minds to the
importance of being ready at all times. Jesus can come at anytime. He tells us:
“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming”.
The concluding verse also followed the same route: “Therefore you also must be
ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour”. He had also told us
earlier: “But about that day and hour no one knows … but only the Father” (Matt 24:36).
This call to be ready at all times
made me to remember what happened so many years back. That fateful day, I went
to the Christmas vigil with clothes that could be managed for a rag. My
attention was called to that but I re-assured myself that nobody would be able
to see clearly in the church because it was dark. When I was still at home and while
on the road, I thought I was wiser than Solomon because it was all dark but on
reaching the Church, the drum without my consent changed its beating. Thanks to
the generating set. It was as if everybody was looking at the “rag” that I was putting
on. I cannot remember whether I was able to get up for anything throughout the
Mass because I was ashamed of myself.
How do you prepare for
Christmas? This period means different things for different people. For some, it
is a time for their wedding, to buy new clothing, and so on. Some have even
turned the period of Christmas from being a time of rest to a time of stress. In
the past people come back during Christmas to have rest, but today it has
become something else. For many it is a period for settling disputes which is
not necessarily bad provided peace is sought for and not making pretences because
we are preparing for the Prince and Lord of peace, cf. Is 9:6, Heb 13:20, 2Thess 3:16. Will it be absurd to say that some
may be preparing the troubles they will unleash this Christmas season among
other evils?
But despite what you have prepared or still
preparing for this Christmas, it is possible for you to denounce your plans to
do evil. The season of Advent is a season for us to plan the good to do during
Christmas. For instance, in some cultures an empty crib or manger is expected
to be softened by the members of the family with straw earned by sacrifice,
prayer, and work of mercy. God wants to bless someone this Christmas through
you.
As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, do you
remember that vigil mass I attended unprepared and how wrong I was? Do you know
that at a point I even thought that everything including the walls of the
church and the pew I was sitting on were discussing about how stupid I was? How
will it be when one stands before God? It was not that I did not have something
better but I thought that nobody could see me just as some do evil thinking
that nobody is seeing them. Thank God I have the opportunity of making amends. But
remember that at the coming of the Son of man, the source of light, nothing
will be hidden and there will be no room for amendment. We can still make
amends today. Time will come when the beating of the drums will change as it
once changed in my own case in the church. That day, it will not be necessary
to tell one about the other because everything will be glaring. This is the
proper time, prepare for the Lord, cf. Mk
1:15.
In conclusion, the season of Advent is not just a season
that precedes Christmas but very importantly a season that prepares for it. That
is to say, there is no Christmas without an Advent. It is therefore very
important for us to prepare ourselves well as we ought to during this season
because we cannot celebrate Christmas without first celebrating Advent.
Bible Reading: 1Cor 16:13-14; 2Cor 6: 14-7:1;
Rom 12: 9-13:10; Col 4:2-6; 1Pt 5:1-11.
Thought for today: Will you prepare for the coming of Jesus?
Let us pray: Almighty God, give
us the grace to prepare for the memorial of the first coming of your Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ and for his second coming. Bless us all as we struggle to
walk in your light through Christ our Lord – Amen.
You
are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
For
more homilies (reflections):
Visit our website: www.thepulpitonline.com
Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298
6313
Send us Email: thepulpitonline@gmail.com
To Contact and/or to support this ministry:
Tel: +234 813 305
0302
Email: thepulpitonline@gmail.com
May God bless you
all+
Post a Comment
Post a Comment