BE WATCHFUL AS YOU WAIT

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A

Fr Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14a, Matthew 24:37-44

 

Today begins the Season of Advent. Advent season marks the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church. It is a period of preparation, longing and waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh at Christmas (his coming in history) and for his second coming in glory at the end of time (his coming in majesty). Like the people of Israel, during Advent, we long for the coming of the Messiah with expectancy and by listening to the message of the prophets foretelling the birth of the Savior, we are renewed in our desire to see him at his glorious coming at the end of time as our personal Lord and universal Judge.

As we wait for the coming of the Lord in history and majesty, we have to keep in mind that these two comings are connected by another coming- the coming of the Lord in mystery. Between the first and second comings of the Lord is his third coming, gently, peacefully, but truly and surely, in our life every day. The Lord comes to us daily through his Word, Sacraments, the people we encounter and the events of our daily life whether negative or positive. The Lord also comes to us in our annoying colleague at our workplace, in our noisy neighbor at our place of residence, and in our demanding boss at work. Jesus also comes to us in the love of our family, an act of kindness towards a stranger, the thoughtfulness of gift-giving to the needy, and the joy of coming together.

Naturally, waiting involves watching. That is why one of the attitudes of this period of waiting (Advent) is watchfulness. As we wait for the second coming of the Lord, the gospel reading of this first Sunday of Advent reminds us of the need to be watchful: “Stay awake and be prepared because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:41). To be watchful means to be active, alert and on guard so that the coming of the Lord may not take us by surprise. When you are waiting for someone that you do not know the exact time they will arrive, then, you have to be ready now and always. So, by asking us to be watchful, Jesus is telling us not to wait till tomorrow or the next day but to be the people we want to be here and now, to start living the life we want to live today and not in some distant future. He urges us not to delay in being good to one another, actively caring for the poor, praying a little more, and living more positively. Another way in which we keep watch for the Lord’s coming is by keeping the admonition which St Paul offers us in the second reading. He says that we should not allow the attractions and cares of this world drain our energy and distract us as we wait and watch (Romans 13:12-14).

Lastly, as we anticipate the Savior’s return to reign on the earth, we must prepare ourselves individually, as families, and as a people. Let us also pay attention to how Jesus comes to us in the busyness and in the stillness of our everyday lives. Let us therefore open our eyes and see the many ways in which the Lord wants to touch our life here and now.