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Thursday, 28 November 2013

If Tomorrow Never Comes


1st Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2013


Behold, the heavenly king will come with power and great glory to save the nations. Alleluia.


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

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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