Homily (Reflection) for the First Sunday of
Advent, (B) (03rd December, 2017) on the Gospel
Is
63:16-17.64:1.3-8;
Ps 79:2-3.15-16.18-19
(R. v.4);1Cor 1:3-9;
Mk 13:33-37.
Today is both
the New Year day and the first Sunday of the Year according to the Church’s
calendar known as the Liturgical year or calendar. Liturgical year is divided
into seasons. These seasons include Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary
time of the year. They (the seasons) are set aside to celebrate various events
in Jesus’ life.
The Liturgical year begins with the Evening prayer I of the
First Sunday of Advent which is the evening prayer of the Saturday preceding
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 one involving many
traditions and cultures. 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.
Generally, 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 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 of
Advent 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. Advent is
sometimes called the little Lent because in most Eastern Orthodox and other
Eastern Christian Churches, it is also a time of fasting known as the Nativity
or Advent Fast which lasts for forty days.
Topic:
Life of Advent.
There is a story in Gerard Fuller’s
book, Stories for all seasons, about a discussion between a monk and an Abbot:
“A monk asked, ‘Abbot, what has
God’s wisdom taught you? Did you become divine?’
‘Not at all.’
‘Did you become a saint?’
‘No, as you can clearly see.’
‘What then, O Abbot?’
‘I became awake!’
As we begin the season of Advent which is also the beginning
of the liturgical year as already noted, the gospel charges us thus:
Be on your guard, stay awake, because
you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he
has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work
to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake (Mk 13:33-34).
Saint Paul admonishes us in these words: “... once you were
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8). From the beginning of the
world, there is a separation between light and darkness, cf. Gen 1:4, 18. And as Christians, we are
children of Light. We are charged not to “... sleep, as others do, but let us
keep awake and be sober” (1Thess 5:6).
And the gospel also warns us of the consequences of not being awake: “So stay
awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening,
midnight, cockcrow or dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep (Mk
13:35-36).
We need God who turns darkness into light, cf. 2Sam 22:29; Ps 18:28; Is 42:16 in our
lives for us to be able to be awake. Hence the psalmist said: “... Unless the
LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD
watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Ps 127:1). Only those who are awake and can see seek the light, cf.
Acts 26:18.
The period of Advent is a time of stocktaking. It is a time
for each and every one of us to check how far he/she lives as a child of light
we are called to be, a time to make amends. The book of Revelations urges us to
be “Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death ...” (Rev 3:2). The season of Advent is a
time for all who have strayed in any way to come back to God. Saint Paul admonishes
us: “the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works
of darkness and put on the armour of light” (Rom 13:12). In his first letter to the Thessalonians he also wrote:
“But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a
thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the
night or of darkness” (1Thess 5:5).
In his first letter Saint Peter calls us: “... a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful
deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pt 2:9). However, “If we say we have
fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according
to the truth” (1Jn 1:6). We must
walk as the children of light, cf. Eph
5:8. And should “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but
instead expose them” (Eph 5:11). For
God “... has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to
the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col
1:13).
Finally, my dear beloved, the season of Advent is a time of
preparation not just for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a
time to 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. We are to
prepare for Christ who lives in our lives through His graces, cf. 1Cor 6:19, Rev 3:20. We are also called
to prepare for the coming of our Lord in a spirit of waiting, conversion, hope
and prayer. How well do we prepare for these or are we sleeping as we should
not (cf. 1Thess 5:6)? Christians are
called to live the life of advent which is the life of being awake for Christ
also tells us all: “Stay awake!” (Mk
13:37).
Bible Reading: Ps 104:1-35; Lk 12:35-40; Matt
24:42-44; 2Cor 4:1-7; 1Thes 4:13-5:11.
Thought for today: Do you
live the life of Advent?
Let
us pray: God, as we begin
this New Year which is new opportunity to live as your children, may we always
be awake doing what you want of us. And may we never be found asleep – Amen.
You are
free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
For more
homilies (reflections):
Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313
To
Contact and/or to support this ministry:
Tel: +234 813 305 0302
+234 905 655 4466
May God bless you all+
Post a Comment
Post a Comment