Prepare our Hearts

First Sunday of Advent 27 November 2016

First reading
Isaiah 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Because of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good. R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Second reading
Romans 13: 11-14

Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

 

Gospel	Matthew 24: 37-44

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

  Reflection
By Carlo Alexis Malaluan  

So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect the Son of Man will come (Mt 2:44). 

We have entered another liturgical season and we prepare for the coming of the Saviour. This season reminds us of hope that is in store for us and encourages us to expect with eager longing the second coming of our Lord. I could still remember how I used to feel when I was waiting for the release of the new issue of the comics in the bookstore. It seems that each day passing by is an enduring and long year of waiting. I am eager for its release. I pray that we feel the same in the Messiah’s coming.

            

Advent allows us to believe that there is something beyond what we have now – that there is something we always have to look forward for. It is the proof that God has prepared greater things for us and the love He has destined for us. We only have to be awake. People who ignore this reality may stumble in the dark. But the Prophet Isaiah calls to walk in the light of the Lord. We are invited into light, not darkness. We are called to the Light of Christ and to believe in God’s promise is to accept the light He offers.

            

Today’s Gospel reminds us of preparation. We prepare a lot for Christmas. We never forget to decorate our own houses with Christmas symbols. We never forget to buy our loved ones gifts and presents. We never forget to instill in ourselves the spirit of the season through external preparations. But how are our hearts? How do we prepare? In one of the retreat houses I used to visit, they have a unique Nativity Set wherein the Baby Jesus lies not in a manger rather in a heart shaped bed and below the inscription tell: Make your hearts king-sized beds.

            

External preparations are good but to God, what matters the most is the internal disposition of our hearts. This Christmas season, we ask God a lot of ‘gifts’ but God only asks us of one thing. That is our hearts. So, how do we prepare our hearts to Christ? Remove hatred. Angry and unforgiving hearts are not worthy to be Christ’s crib. Remove all the bitterness and prejudice. Add more love and charity. Love and charity make our hearts soft and comfortable for the Child Jesus. Multiply your faith. In order for Christ to enter into our hearts, it requires faith. Faith is to trust God and let Lord be the God of our own hearts. If these preparations have been undertaken, I assure you that you will make a good and comfortable king-sized bed for our Lord.

            

This Advent, let us start our preparation. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to prepare for Your coming. Allow us to make our hearts worthy for You to reside in.  Give us the eagerness and hope as we wait for Your coming. That when the day comes that You will enter into our hearts, we may bring others closer to You. Amen.