1st Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2013
First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Temple of the Lord
shall tower above the mountains
and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations will stream to it,
peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.’
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Psalm: Psalm 121:1-2,4-5,6-9
Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14
You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.
‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Reflection
By Theresa Ballo
Prayer
If a V.I.P. will come to your house, what would you do?
If a loved one will be leaving, what will you say?
If tomorrow you will die, what would you do today?
As a child, I wished
that I had the special ability to see what will happen in the future. I would
have worn knee pads to avoid getting scratches when my bicycle hit the plant
box. I would have advance studies to perfect a surprise quiz. Lastly, I would
have worn a dress and fix my fair instead of jogging pants and messy hair when
my crush passed by our street.
If I just had the
ability to know what will happen next, I would have been more prepared.In the recent earthquake
in Bohol and super typhoon in Tacloban, where heritage churches collapsed and
thousands of men died and lost their properties respectively. Church leaders
were commenced to check old churches in the country. It aroused people’s
consciousness about climate change and local government’s accountability to its
people. More importantly these two natural disasters awakened everyone’s desire
to help and be of service to its fellow. Still, debates are ongoing on whether
preparedness can do something to lessen the radical destruction and number of
deaths that befell the Visayas regions.
Talking about
preparedness and knowing what lies ahead the present time, this Sunday’s Gospel
informs us to keep our eyes wide open for the Lord’s coming. It talks about
being ready for the second coming of Christ when all nations will be assembled
before Him. We, as Catholics mark this day as the start of the new liturgical year and the beginning of
the joyous Advent season. The Gospel is an invitation for us to spiritually
prepare ourselves for both the last judgment and Christ's birth this
Christmas. In spite of what happened in
our country, we are challenged to be hope-filled Christians awaiting Jesus’
coming into our lives and into the world.
It is clear to me now
that I cannot have my wish granted. No one knows when the last judgment would
be. I cannot cram kindness and repentance on the last minute. As pilgrims
journeying towards fullness of life, everyday offers us opportunity to do
genuine kindness and expand our horizons on to a new spiritual practice that
leads us closer to Jesus or revisit an old one we once neglected when we’re going
to the flow of a fast-paced society. Instead
of allotting money for grand gifts and parties, why not feed people in the
refugee centers? Spend time hearing our neighbors’ stories. Cleanse our spirit
through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Find a quiet place and be attuned to
our inner self. Christ's coming is certain. No doubt about it. Yet, the exact day
and time still remains to be unsaid. To be always in a state of preparedness is
necessary. The season of Advent deepens our waiting in hope for the realization
of God’s saving promise on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Prayer
Lord, we come before You
to ask for the state of grace to be prepared for Your coming. We know that all
things work for good and for those who love You. Guide us and be with us
through the hard times. There, we shall see you in all Your glory. Amen.
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