Homily for First Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Emmanuel Abbey-Quaye ,
Asst. Secretary General – NCS
Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. We have at least 3 reasons to rejoice today.
1. Because we have life
2. Because today is 1st December, we begin another month; the last month of 2013
3. We begin a new Liturgical Year, with the celebration of the First Sunday of Advent.
Let us thank God for all His blessings and rejoice. Let us pray to Him for his mercy.
Reflection on the Readings
From Jan. 1 to December 31 is the Calendar Year. We have 365/6 days. The Catholic Church has its own year. We call it the Liturgical Year. It starts from the Sunday closest to November 30 and ends on the Sunday before November 30 the following year.
In the course of this Liturgical Year, we have five seasons and one of them is the Season of Advent which we are celebrating from today. It will last for 4 weeks.
Advent comes from Adventus, which means coming, someone is coming and that someone who is coming is Jesus Christ who is coming to us. When we celebrate Advent, we celebrate 3 comings :-
1. First coming in Bethlehem – God came to dwell among men. God became man so that man can become God (katabasis and anabasis).
2. Second Coming is the at Christmas – when we remember the first coming with joy. He comes to remind us that God is always with us.
3. Last and final coming – He will come to judge the world, to reward and punish.
Advent lasts for 4 weeks and so we are encouraged to prepare ourselves for Christmas.
1st Reading – Isaiah 2:1-5
The prophet talks about the house of God, the Temple in Jerusalem. He says a time will come when all people will go to Gods house. There, they will receive instructions from God and live by them. God will be the judge among people and they will learn to live in peace. Those who have issues with others will not take the law into their own hands but they will bring them before God who will instruct them to live in peace.
Gospel reading – Matthew 24:37-44
Jesus compares his last coming with the events of Noahs time and says that we should all stay awake. We do not know when the world is coming to an end and so we should be prepared at all times. There is no room for carelessness and lack of vigilance.
Stay Awake is first and foremost for the coming of the Lord but there is the need to stay awake in all aspects of life.
1. Health – Vigilance, check what you eat and drink
2. Relationships – with parents, friends and loved ones so that you don’t drive them away with your lack of care and so that they also dont lead you astray.
3. Academic work – check your progress so you don’t regret. Let not friends scatter your good intentions.
Conclusion
Jesus is coming, Christmas is around the corner. Rejoice and Be happy. But stay awake. Open your heart to God so that he will come and dwell there this Christmas period. May the Season of Advent bring Gods blessings to us and the Son of God find a worthy place in our hearts when he comes to visit us once again.
God bless us all. Amen.