Reflection/Homily: First (1st) Sunday of Advent Year B (Nov. 30 2014)
Theme: Be Alert as you wait for the Coming of Christ
Today is
the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent is a very important aspect of
the Church’s liturgical life. Advent simply means arrival or coming. In the
Church, it is observed as a period of expectancy and in it, we reflect on the coming
of Christ in three historical strands. First, that he came about 2000 years
ago, born of a virgin. Secondly, that Christ constantly comes into our lives
and is ever present among us in this age through diverse means. Thirdly, that
he will come again, then not as a baby or as a mediator but as a king to judge
the living and the dead. While this season concretely prepares us for the re-enactment
of the birth of Christ at Christmas, it also points to the eschatological
return of Christ and urges us to prepare for that great day. Henceforth, our
Sunday readings will come from Year B, the weekday readings from Year I and
the predominant colour will be purple.
The Gospel
reading (Mark 13:33-37) reminds us of the need to be alert as we anticipate the
coming of Christ. In the reading, there are two important figures, the servants
placed in charge of several duties and the gatekeeper asked to remain watchful.
Jesus was more interested in the gatekeeper and urges us to be as watchful as a
gatekeeper should be. A servant may sleep when he has satisfactorily completed
his task but a gatekeeper is always alert not just waiting for his Master but
also protecting the gate from unwanted strangers. During this period of Advent,
the Church reminds us that Christ has placed us as gatekeepers in the various
places we find ourselves and he expects that we remain alert while we wait for
his coming. Jesus was not speaking of being alert in a physical sense but in a
spiritual sense. Being alert implies being prepared to deal with something
dangerous. One of the dangerous things that may confront us this season is losing sight of
the spiritual essence of this period as we concentrate on our physical
preparations for Christmas.
St. Paul in
the second reading (1 Cor. 1:3-9) reminds us of the Grace God has already given
us. Let us utilize this grace as we remain alert in anticipation of Christ’s
coming. This grace will enable us recognize the coming of Christ in the poor
who come to us this period for assistance, in the community who gather to
worship with us, in those we encounter in the exercise of our functions, in the
sick, in the dejected, in prisoners and in various manners Christ may deem fit
to come to us. Therefore, let us listen attentively to our spiritual leaders
who will guide us this period. If we think we have fallen short of our
expectations or have failed to recognize Christ who constantly comes to us, let
us beseech him like the Israelites in the first reading (Is. 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7).
Let us ask him to assist us with his grace and save us. This season of Advent,
Christ wants us to wake up from our spiritual slumbers and await his arrival.
His arrival for you may be now! Happy Sunday. God loves you.
No comments:
Post a Comment
DISCLAIMER: Comments, remarks and observations are allowed to enable my readers freely express their opinions concerning issues raised in this post. However, while I recommend the observance of the rule of courtesy for every comment, comments on this post do not in any way express my personal opinion. They are strictly the opinions of those who made the comments.