FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT(B)
READINGS: IS 63:16b-17;64:1,3-8, 1 Cor: 1,3-9, Mk 13:33-37
The season of advent is a period of both repentance and celebration. It is a season of vigilant waiting, that prepares us to welcome the mystery of the word incarnate, who will give the light to the womb of the Virgin Mary, but essentially this time prepares us not only to welcome this great event but to incarnate it in our lives. We could say that the true light enters the world through the immaculate womb of the Virgin Mary, but essentially this time prepares us not only to welcome this great event but to incarnate it in our lives.
The Three Key Words that are focused on this First Sunday of Advent are -
1. Stay Awake 2. Be alert 3. Be Watchful
Stay Awake
Once a husband and his wife had a big quarrel, and were not talking to each other. It was a stalemate, and whoever talked first would lose. The next day, the husband had to take an early flight so he made a written note to the wife which said: “wake me up 5 a.m. tomorrow.” The morning after, he woke up at 7 a.m. and was furious because he missed his flight. When he looked at the pillow beside him, there was this big written note from his wife which said: “wake up! It’s 5 a.m., you will miss your flight! As long as we are alive, we need to wake up ourselves, and its personal because, each one has the responsibility to meet the Master. To be alert and to be watchful first we need to stay awake.
Our duty is to watch and pray to which we need to stay awake. We do not know when he will come; and he has very wisely kept us at uncertainty, that we might all be always ready. We know not when he will come, just at what precise time; the Master of the house perhaps will come in the evening, at nine in the night; may be at midnight, or a cock-crowing, or at three in the morning, or perhaps not until six in the morning. This is applicable to his coming to us in particular, at our death, as well as to the general judgment.
Our present life is a night, a dark night, compared with the other life; we know not in which watch of the night our Master will come, whether in the days of youth, or middle age, or old age; but, as soon as we are born, we begin to die, And therefore, as soon as we are capable of expecting anything, we must expect death.
Be Alert
His coming will indeed be coming suddenly; it will be a great surprise and terror to those that are careless, and asleep, it will come upon them as a thief in the night. It is therefore the indispensable duty of all Christ’s disciples, to be alert, to be awake, and keep awake.
Be Watchful
I say unto all the twelve, or rather to you twelve, I say unto all my disciples and followers; what I say to you of this generation, I say to all that shall believe in me, through your word, in every age, Watch, watch, expect my second coming, prepare for it, that you may be found in peace, without spot, and blameless. We need to be sure and to be ready to open to him at his return; and in the mean time to take care to whom we open our gates, not to thieves and robbers, but only to his Master’s friends and servants.
Fr. Gnana Prakash SMM