HOMILY FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B.
HOMILY THEME: OUR NEED FOR GOD
BY: Fr Joseph Nyarko Asare
HOMILY:
Is 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7
Ps 80: 2-3, 15-19
1Cor 1:3-9
Mk 13:33-37
We bless God for the start of another Liturgical Year. Like our natural birthdays, it is expected that we have grown in spiritual years and maturity. We start another year with the beautiful season of Advent. We await the coming of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
By way of reminder, we journey in Advent from today to the 24th day of December. We remember the various comings of Jesus Christ. We begin Advent, focusing on the second coming of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. As professed in the creed, Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Since we do not know when Jesus will come again, the greatest counsel is what Jesus gives us today. The master tells us, “Be alert and watch…” Becoming alert involves daily walk with Jesus. This God empowers us with (in the words of Paul in the second reading) knowledge and all other spiritual gifts. Only such an empowerment will enable us to prepare properly and remain alert for the coming of Jesus Christ as God and saviour.
We do not only think about the judgement and eternity. Advent is equally about the first coming of Jesus Christ. From the 16th of December to the 24th, we will have a “liturgical novena” where with the Church, we will walk for nine prayerful days in anticipation of the celebrations of the birth of Jesus. We will reflect more on it as the days come closer.
This day, I invite us to look at the attitude of the propjet Isaiah. The prophet discovers that God’s presence is not discernible in the community. As a result, he prays for God’s presence. He realises that the community needs God for without God, they are useless clay. Man is dust and God’s breath. When God is absent, we see only dust and chaos.
Advent is the time to discern and invite God. God desires to dwell among his people. He is with us always and never deserts us. Our freedom is the only “limitation” of God’s presence. When we develop an attitude of Divine consciousness, we will enjoy his presence and favour forever.
PRAYER POINTS
~For the grace to prepare well for the coming of Christ
~That we will be Jesus focus and make our lives Christ centred
~That God’s will would be accomplished in our lives
(Rev Fr Joseph Nyarko Asare of the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi)
