Advent Season: The Best Time to Begin Anew

First Sunday of Advent Year C
Gospel
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The Advent Season – Time to begin anew
Today is the first day of the first season of the Church Year. Advent Season has four Sundays of four weeks, that ushers into our reorientation of the Lord’s Coming. In so far as He is the Alpha and Omega (beginning and end), our goal will always be centered on our destiny that we have yet to discover. The arrival of the Lord is His Advent that is to take place at the end of time. This is called Parousia, His being who is above all present amongst us, indeed, the second and final time. This Advent as the first coming depicts an event that is somewhat obscure, humble, and lowly. While the second will be magnificent, spectacular, and captivating. Thus, the Season of Advent encompasses both phases. The First coming dwells on the birth of Jesus Christ, while the Second coming highlights His return as Ruler and Judge of all. Both require intentional preparations. The two demands coherence while Jesus is also perpetually present amongst us in the Eucharist in the physical form, we are all bound to the eternal and loving presence of God.
As we continue to wait for His second and final coming, we must remain spiritually awake and ready, for we do not know when He comes. By going through a long and significant process we call true conversion. This Advent Season is after all a moment of spiritual revival and renewal waiting for Jesus’ birth (Christmas), which is both a gift and responsibility or accountability. The best way to prepare is an interior examination of our spiritual life this Advent and the best gift we give to Jesus is to unite ourselves to Him in prayer, acts of kindness or charity, and holiness of life. Aware that someday in His most perfect time, we will face Him in that decisive and ultimate meeting who sits on Final Judgment as our King. Nonetheless, Advent leads us to one direction: the openness of our hearts and lives to the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, His indwelling that saves us from sin and death, and to glorify the Father.
The Gospel reminds us: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness, and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.” It pays to check where our hearts continue to beat. Does it beat on something that excites us? A well-deserved vacation, promotion, brand new house, a new baby, getting married, or having survived the covid? Does it also beat on showing compassion, being healed, and forgiven, or on reconciliation and being able to shed tears of joy when seeing a loved one being appreciated and loved or simply living in peace with God and others? The Gospel mentions signs of nature that bring chaos, confusion, and fear, and “people will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
However, those who live in friendship with the Lord (First Reading) are ever vigilant and have nothing to fear even heaven will be shaken. They will not panic instead they will live in awe and reverence for they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Gospel). The promise is redemption and not destruction, unity and not division, peace and not confusion, life and not death. This is what awaits His faithful followers. What is important is that as stressed in the Second Reading, people who wait are blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Remember the parable of the faithful servant. (Mt. 24:48-51). The servant will be rewarded a hundredfold when the master arrives satisfied with what the servant has done for being a responsible trustee of his wealth.
Be Careful
Being careful is to be always prudent, knowing how to do the right things (not only the things right) responsibly, at the right time and the right place; to be watchful all the time and praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man. Saint Francis was once cultivating a row of beans in his garden when a pilgrim approached and asked, "What would you be doing now if you knew this was the last day of your earthly life?" Saint Francis smiled and replied: "I would keep on hoeing." The reason why many are obsessed with fear and anxiety about the possible destruction of the world or their idea of end times could be attributed to their spiritual laziness, lack of seriousness on God’s judgment, downplaying what many preachers would remind them that repentance and reform of one’s life is the best preparation one has to undertake. The answer is that a lack of readiness will lead to disaster.
Jesus mentions three compromisers of readiness.
-carousing or dissipation (Greek word, kraipale which refers to nausea or confusion resulting from drunkenness. Indulging in extravagant intemperate or dissolute pleasure. Too much self-abuse (drugs, pornography, sex, gambling, etc.) Wasting one’s life and God-given resources. Dissipation squanders time, money, relationships, and lives.
-Drunkenness – associated with alcohol, but also applies to the intoxicating effects of other drugs. It also stretches a point to say that some people are intoxicated by power, politics, ambition, inordinate attachment to worldly things, and idolatry, our excessive indulgence to work could also be a form of idolatry. Drunkenness blurs our judgment and reduces our mental and physical powers. How can a guard watch if he is drunk?
-The cares of this life. As the third compromiser, worry results in a lack of faith. It consumes energy without accomplishing anything. We feel tired and drained after a day of worry as after a day of work-but work gives us a sense of fulfillment and achievement while worry gives us only high blood pressure. It also paralyzes, making it difficult to respond appropriately when we see danger approaching. (Sermon writer).
Once in a while, I get to see some of our servicemen and women in the base who spend time alone in our adoration chapel. I believe after their work, they need to commune with God because prayer indeed can soothe their tiredness after a long day of work.
When our hearts become drowsy, the Gospel warns us not to lose sight of the promise, that Jesus will always be among us. Actually, His presence is very much felt and available when we feel that He alone could comfort and heal us. Caught up in paying bills, endless meetings, unfinished office works, traffic jams, nagging health issues, disturbing news, or bad weather? Don’t forget God’s promise. We can lose sight of the fact that being a Catholic means a living, loving, and trusting relationship with a person, Jesus Christ, who fills our hearts with joy and peace.
Here is a challenge for this first week of Advent. First, pray every day for at least 15 minutes a day. You can avail of these resources: word among us (free copies), Laudate, or Magnificat. Second, what about the Mass especially on Sundays. Please do not miss it because Jesus misses you so much. When we receive Him, His real presence, we become ready and fit to face life’s challenges and various encounters. The more we receive Him the more we know Him. And the third, have a good confession. Confession is a celebration of God’s merciful love. We believe these three are the best preparation for this Advent Season.