HOMILY/SERMON OF 1ST SUNDAY IN ADVENT — YEAR C
HOMILY/SERMON OF 1ST SUNDAY IN ADVENT — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: WATCH, PRAY AND STAY AWAKE
BY: Fr. Tochukwu Okonkwo, OFM Cap.
Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thess 3:12- 4:2; Lk 21: 25-28.34-36
Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means ad = “to” and venire = “to come” or “to arrive.” In the 4th and 5th centuries, Advent was a time of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at Epiphany. By the 6th century, the Romans began associating it with the second coming of Christ—Parousia. However, it was in the Middle Ages that Advent became explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.
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St Bernard identified three comings of Christ the first at his birth in Bethlehem, the second at the end of time when he comes to judge the world and the third which is an intermediate coming occurring between the first and the second.
Buttressing this intermediate coming he uses Jn 14:23 “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.” Because this coming lies between the other two, it is like the road on which we travel from the first to the last coming.
To travel blissfully, we must keep God’s word and let it enter our very beings, let it take possession of our whole desires and let it permeate our way of life. Feed on goodness and your soul will delight.
St Cyril of Jerusalem creates a clear and striking distinction between his first and last comings.
1. His first coming was marked by patience, while his second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom.
2. At the first coming, he is wrapped in swaddling clothes while at his second in light.
3. In the first he endured the cross while in the second, he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels.
The three readings of today are apocalyptic and eschatological in nature. The first reading (Jer. 33:14-16) shows God’s fulfilment of his promise/prophecy during Israel’s exile about a remnant from where a righteous stump will bud forth. The second reading (1 Thes. 3:12-4:2) is the encouragement of Paul for the Thessalonians to be holy and to please God – watchfully waiting in prayer. In order gospel (Luke 21:25-28,34-36) Jesus warns his disciples to be vigilant and ready at all times not to be caught off-guard.
SO AS NOT BE CAUGHT OFF-GUARD, WHAT IS REQUIRED?
We must watch, pray and wait. As someone once said, this would entail doing what is right, loving what is just and walking humbly with God. If we wait on him while doing these, he will definitely find us watchfully waiting when he returns.
HOW TO MAKE THIS ADVENT DIFFERENT AND LIFE TRANSFORMATION
Let the essence of today’s message be that this Advent season will be totally different from all others. In order for this to happen, we must take home these points.
1. Advent is a season of hopeful preparation – we are not to go on shopping sprees and forget to prepare our souls to welcome Baby Jesus. If we are to welcome him, we must endeavour to renounce our sins, go to confession and do penance for them. Just as you take your family for Christmas shopping, also make sure you do not neglect Christmas confession and Mass.
2. The Psalmist of today (Ps 25) says that the Lord will teach us his paths. He teaches us through nature, inspirations of our heart and in his word, but we are unfortunate creatures who never listen to him as we should.
3. St Cyril of Jerusalem says that his first coming was to fulfil the plan of love; to teach humans with gentle persuasion yet we do not pay heed. Consequently, he will come again to judge the world. Why should he judge those he bled for, you ask? He will judge us because we are morally responsible beings he made his stewards here below. We must all give accounts of our stewardship.
4. We must, therefore, watch and pray and be on alert so as not to be caught off-guard as solder on slumber when thieves come at night. St Augustine enjoins us to hate our sins and love him who would exact punishment for them. “For he will come whether we wish or not.” He who is without sin and attachment to the world waits without anxiety. “For,” asks St Augustine, “what sort of love of Christ is it to fear his coming? We claim to love him yet dread his coming because we do not truly love him. However, he would come whether we like it or not. It does not matter when he comes, provided we are ready to meet him.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
God brings restoration, joy, peace and salvation to us, what have you to offer him in return? Your best gift is your life. How will you prepare yourself to be a worthy gift for him?
Let us, therefore, offer our lives to him with the Psalmist of today saying “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
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