Homily of First Sunday of Advent
Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2, Luke 21:25-28,34-36
This Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the church liturgical year, a time of hope, preparation, and reflection. This season lasts for four weeks before Christmas, it invites us to anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth and his eventual second coming in glory. The season is symbolised by the Advent wreath, with its candles representing hope, peace, joy, and love. This s a time when we are called to spiritual renewal, prayer, and acts of kindness as faithful hearts prepare to welcome, Christ, the Light of the World.
As pilgrims of hope, the coming of Jesus happens to us every moment, because he lives in us by virtue of our baptism. His first arrival as a baby was to come to live among us as a man. His second coming is to take away our sorrow and to unite all things. When we find ourselves in the turbulence of this world, let us remember that the Saviour has been born for us. He comes with the fragility of a baby and in the agility of the victorious King.
During the season of advent, we are brought to the consciousness of Jesus’ coming into our lives, pointing us to a time when he comes to make all things new. His first coming was to turn our lives around for good. We read in the book of Jeremiah 33:14-16:
“See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfil the promise I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah: ‘In those days and at that time, I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David, who shall practise honesty and integrity in the land. In those days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell in confidence. And this is the name the city will be called: The-Lord-our-integrity.”
Moreover, Christ’s presence in us is marked by the fruits we produce in our lives. Having come into the world, he established his kingdom in our hearts, the kingdom of love. This gives us free access to him when he comes in glory. In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he prayed for them, “And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.”
Jesus said to his disciples, “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” His coming would be preceded with many strange happenings and calamities capable of distracting people from focusing on heavenly goals. These range from natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, and wordy lifestyles which leave people with little or no room to think straight. We need vigilance to weather the storm.
Let us spend this season of advent to reflect on our daily journey with Christ that we may be wrapped with the thought of his second coming. As we await him, may he always meet us prepared. Amen.
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