Prepare your heart to receive the Lord: 1st Sunday of Advent
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – First Sunday Of Advent – Year A
Sermon And Christian Act In The Word
Theme: “Pilgrimage to the House of the Lord” Karios-Perfect time is at hand! Prepare your heart to receive the Lord.
Point of Reflection: Liturgically, today as the Church, we begin a new liturgical year called YEAR A. Today in the Catholic Church is like first January as the first new day of the year. This new liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. The word “Advent” comes from a Latin word which means “coming.” It is a joyful period of fervent expectance and careful preparation for the birth and coming of Jesus Christ. An expectant mother prepares for the arrival of her baby; a spouse prepares for their husband’s or wife’s return from a journey; a student prepares for an impending exam. Every important event in our lives is preceded by a period of expectation and preparation. The coming of Christ in majesty is an especially important event in the life of Christians. Consequently, the Church sets aside the period of Advent to aid us in our preparation for his arrival on Christmas day.
First Reading: Isaiah 2:1–5
Psalm: Psalm 122:1–9
Second Reading: Romans 13:11–14
Gospel: Matthew 24:37–44
Sermon (Reflection): Today’s liturgy and the entire season of Advent, opens with the words of the prophet Isaiah recorded in the opening section of his book. In its first chapter, the prophet denounces the people of Israel and their sacred city, Jerusalem, for their delusions. Thinking of themselves as an enlightened and chosen race in possession of God’s word, many Israelites were expecting a glorious future and restoration of the Davidic kingdom to its former splendour. Yet, at the same time, they led a life that was leading in the opposite direction. It was a life of corruption, oppression, and frequent violations of God’s covenant. For this reason, the country was experiencing destruction and desolation caused by frequent foreign aggression. It could also be that today in our country we experiencing corruption, oppression and frequent violations of God’s Law.
What are we doing as Christians to stop corruption and oppression of the voiceless? As we begin advent, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, let us pray for a corruption-free country and no more oppression of the voiceless and the poor.
By doing so, we will be employing the new order which the people of Israel had embarked on. The new order will follow God’s unique design of No-corruption, fashioned by God through instruction and just judgment. This design of God for the renewal of creation was a far cry from the earthly kingdom that the people of Jerusalem expected. Isaiah in his prophecy sought to channel their hopes towards a new creation, and away from the restoration of the glory of the Davidic kingdom. This is Kairos.
In the second reading of today, St Paul exhorts his audience to make a conscious choice of their life orientation. He begins by employing the Greek word kairos which means “a special time”. This special and unique time and the situation in which Christians find themselves, is the era when promises outlined in the first reading reach their fulfilment in and through Jesus Christ. Paul writes that the final restoration of humanity and creation prophesized by Isaiah has already started with Jesus, and will be brought to conclusion by him, who is now the Risen Lord. Those who have faith in Jesus live in a time of transition between the “night”, which is the time before Jesus, and the “day”, which is the time of salvation. This special time requires a clear choice between living in the light or remaining in the night.
Living in the light means walking the paths of the children of light by practising virtues which Paul presents in Rom 13:8-10 and 14:1– 5:6. Remaining in “the night” is a choice against Christ and for immorality and ignorance. By exhorting the faithful to symbolically “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”, Paul does not speak of the changing of one’s external appearance, but about a fundamental transformation of life. The right life focus for believers lies in the pursuit of union with Christ, with the aim of living in the light and walking towards eternal salvation.
The words of Jesus in the Gospel passage of today serve as a powerful confirmation of the necessity for a wise choice of life orientation. Today’s passage comes from Jesus’ last discourse, known as the “eschatological sermon” (Cf. Matt 24–25), where Jesus informs his disciples about the end of history. He reveals that history will conclude with his return as the “the Son of Man”, This return, known as parousia, will bring about the restoration of humanity and creation in accordance with Isaiah’s prophecy.
In today’s passage, Jesus responds to the disciples’ question about the timing of parousia (Cf. Matt 24:3). They asked this question with an evident intention of making preparations for Jesus’ return. Jesus’ answer was hardly satisfactory as he indicated that no one knows the exact timing of his return, it will occur unexpectedly. To emphasize this point he appealed to the example of Noah. Ordinary life will go on, just as it did in the time of Noah. Men and women will be going about their ordinary business, starting families, plowing, and grinding grain. Nothing will suggest that the world is coming to an end, just as there are no obvious signs of the thief’s approach. In view of the certainty of Christ’s coming and its unpredictability, the only acceptable attitude is constant preparedness. As Christians, are we prepared?
Jesus’ answer in the Gospel of today calls for watchfulness which shapes daily life. As Christians, let us be watchful of our actions as we do not know the hour or second which the Lord is coming. The disciples never lost sight of their destiny and journey through life with a clear and constant awareness of the goal of their pilgrimage, thus, an encounter with the returning Lord.
Ultimately, today’s liturgy gives assurance that the final horizon of human life is not the frightening prospect of judgment, punishment, and destruction, but the renewal and restoration of creation. Believers’ lives are therefore a pilgrimage to God’s holy mountain, to a life as intended and created by God at the beginning of time. Justifiably, the Psalmist rejoices as he calls all the faithful to focus their life on God’s future, in the words, “let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Christian Act in Word of God “Kairos-perfect time choosing Christ”
Today’s liturgy calls for making choices that will orient our lives in the right direction. Every day we make choices, from the simple ones, like waking up in the morning, what to eat, what clothes to wear, what attitudes to adopt. Yet often we postpone important choices, especially those related to ethical decisions. Indecision, particularly as it relates to commitments to our faith has very negative consequences.
One of the reasons for postponing the decision to live out our faith is a fear that a choice to follow Christ faithfully somehow deprives one of “enjoying” life and “missing out” on opportunities in life. The life of a devout Christian driven by commitment, passion, and discipline, is often portrayed as devoid of joy, fun, and adventure, and it leads to a boring life, full of endless rules. Yet, when one looks at the lives of popular personalities, for example in sports, their lives are successful only when they consistently live according to the principles of choice, passion, discipline, and commitment.
Think of your favourite sports star or another significant figure. He or she lives a highly disciplined, dedicated life, where all choices are made to ensure that they excel in the discipline or area of their choice. With these choices come joy and fulfilling life. These same principles apply in every kind of life, including our lives as Christians. We are being asked to make choices that reflect our Christian commitment in a disciplined, dedicated way so that we can participate with Christ in transforming our lives, and the world around us. Surely, there is no greater joy than being a change-maker in any situation that we find ourselves in. As we participate in bringing about change, we prepare for the coming of Jesus, who will bring a complete change in the world. We must not be like hyenas who could not make a decision about their prey, and who lost it through indecision! The call to follow Christ and participate in the transformation of the world awaits us and requires a “now” choice. Today is the kairos moment of choice, choose life, choose Christ!
In view of this perspective of Christ’s arrival, today’s readings issue a clear call to holiness in anticipation of the coming of Christ in majesty. In the context of this call, there are three considerations which should guide our preparations during this season.
- First: repentance. During this period, we are called to turn away from sin and be reconciled to the Lord. Paul encourages us to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:13). Herein lies the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Second: prayer. Advent is a season of fervent prayer, both personal and communal. We are encouraged to pray that we may have the strength to persevere in our faith in the midst of the trials, challenges and temptations of life.
- Finally: vigilance. The coming of the Lord ought not to catch us like a trap (Cf. Luke 21:34-35). To be vigilant is to be constantly ready. The best way to achieve such a state of constant readiness is simply to practice holiness expressed through love every day of life. No great miracles or extraordinary deeds are required of us, only faith manifested through love.
Action: As I begin the first week of Advent, I will start cleaning my heart to receive the Lord with a clean and pure heart.
Prayer: Almighty Father, as we begin this advent season, send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we clean our hearts to receive your Son Jesus Christ on Christmas day, our hearts are restless until they rest in you. To participate in Karios-Perfect time, we ask you Lord to transform us each and every day to be agents of love to every person we encounter, we ask this through Christ, Amen.
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