Get Ready for Christ’s Coming: Reflection for 1st Sunday of Advent

It’s a new liturgical year. Advent, which originates from the Latin adventus, means coming. While everyone is preparing for Christmas celebrations for family, co-workers, colleagues, and even friends, they get ready for the corporal needs for the festivities. Sadly, we seem to neglect the spiritual

The First Sunday of Advent reflects on the theme of hope. We must be watchful and wait for hope. We are pilgrims of hope as we await Christ’s second coming in glory.

The flame from the candle reminds us that light will overcome darkness. Christ conquered the darkness of this world with his light.

In the most recent weeks of ordinary time, we get reminders of an apocalyptic event that will happen, yet it is not known when it will happen. Now, as we enter a new season in the church, we must strive to be ready for that day to come.

At every Mass, we proclaim the lord’s death, profess his resurrection, until he returns. The Gospel of Matthew talks about an event that Christ claimed would happen. In it, he tells us that we “must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Indeed, Christ is coming. However, it is not known when. For Catholics, it is a time of preparedness. It is a time of getting ready.

In the 130th psalm, we are reminded how a sentinel keeps watch. It reads, “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning". Even the psalmist knows that vigilance for the lord’s coming must be done with active preparedness. While we may never know the time or place, we know who we await.

Let us take the step today to prepare for Christ’s coming by getting our own house in order, and that is our soul. Go to confession, attend Mass, do works of mercy, and most importantly, pray for loved ones, enemies, and those who have died.

Come, Lord Jesus