HOMILY FOR 1ST- SUNDAY OF ADVENT SEASON, YEAR B

 HOMILY FOR 1ST- SUNDAY OF ADVENT SEASON, YEAR B

THEME: ‘If he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’

BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA

READINGS OF THE DAY
Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8
Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

LITURGICAL COLOUR
PURPLE

INTRODUCTION
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Todays Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent Season and the new liturgical year B. Advent season is the period we are all called to prepare ourselves in heart, body, mind and soul, in our whole being to welcome the Lord in the glorious time of Christmas.

FROM OUR FIRST READING
The first reading from the prophet Isaiah talks about the love our Father has for us and our desperate need for Him, so that our hearts do not get hardened to the point that we stray away from Him. In this passage Isaiah is asking God to “rend the heavens and come down,” because we are waiting for you.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: ADVENT HOMILY: 1ST SUNDAY , Yr B. 3rd Dec 2023.

FROM OUR SECOND READING
We have the assurance of St. Paul in the second reading that as we keep to our task, the Lord provides us with the help we need to do that task well. Paul tells us: ‘You will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ’. The Lord gifts us for the task he gives to us, while inviting us to wait in joyful hope for his coming which is assured. That is the spirit of Advent. We pray that in the coming four weeks, we would show ourselves to be Advent people.

FROM OUR GOSPEL READING
In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Lord Jesus Himself, Who reminded His disciples and followers, that they all should not be ignorant of the sign of the times, as the coming of the time of reckoning and judgment will come at a time least expected by everyone, and no one knows exactly except the Lord Himself, when this moment will come. Thus, He reminded all of His disciples and followers that all of them ought to be ever vigilant, ready and prepared all the time, by living their lives with commitment and dedication to God, in being righteous, virtuous and just at all times.

CONCLUSION
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we embark on this Advent journey for the next few weeks, let us all make sure that our preparations for the celebration of Christmas are all truly Christ-centric. Besides decking our houses, halls and places with all sorts of decorations and festive atmosphere, what is even more important is that we should truly prepare our hearts and minds, our souls and our whole beings as well. This Advent is a perfect time and occasion for us to reorientate ourselves and our lives once again towards the Lord, turning ourselves once again to the path towards God. This is why, we should spend more time in reflecting upon our lives, and reconnecting ourselves spiritually with God, by spending more time in quiet and contemplative time in prayer, rather than being busy and preoccupied with all the festivities, forgetting what Christmas is truly all about.
The Lord be with You.

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