Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk 

First Sunday of Advent, Year B – December 3, 2017

Readings: Is 63:16-17,64:1,3-8; Responsorial Psalm Ps 79:2-3,15-16,18-19; 

1 Cor. 1:3-9; Gospel Mat. 13:33-37.

Theme: Getting Ready for the Lord!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, I welcome you the season of advent. Yesterday I saw the picture of a beautiful crown which had the Christmas tree on one side and thorns on the other. It had the caption: “This is the reason (his death); this is the season (his birth).  Well, this brings us to the most popular wisdom quote from the book of Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season, and a time under heaven” (Ecc 3:1). This saying reminds us about the necessity of change in times and seasons. The Season of Advent is here again – a time when the liturgical colour changes to purple/violet; a time when a new liturgical new calendar begins; a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the nativity of the Lord at Christmas. 

The Meaning of Advent

Advent comes from the Latin adventus which means “coming.” It means the same thing with the Greek word parousia which also stands for (coming). As such, advent is a season of looking forward and waiting for someone very important. Put in perspective, advent is the period of preparation for the annual celebration of the birth of Christ as well as his second coming in glory. This season aims at furnishing our understanding about the Christ-events which advent prepares us for, towards the celebration of Christmas.    

Explication of the Sacred Text/Take Home-Lessons

In the first reading (Is 63:16-17,64:1,3-8),  the prophet Isaiah makes the point that we are clay, the work of God’s hands and he, our Father, is the potter. Granted that we were created from the Adamic clay, the reading suggests that we must be docile to the summons of God if our advent is to honour God. What this means is that as we prepare for Christmas, Christians are challenged to allow God who is the potter, to mould them into what he wants them to be in this season of advent. As it were, the potter would not force the clay into what he wants to make out of it because God respects our freedom. 

The message is the same in the second reading (1 Cor. 1:3-9) wherein St. Paul urges the Corinthians who were expecting the parousia to align themselves with Jesus Christ. Earlier, he had challenged them to live the life of the spirit while awaiting the revelation of the Lord. He particularly tasked them to be “steady” and “without blame” until the last day. What this means is that at advent, Christians are mandated to copy the Corinthians in witnessing to the Lord in a strong manner by accessing the gifts of the spirit.

This prepares us for the message of the gospel (Mat. 13:33-37) which calls us to be on our guard and stay awake because no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus speaks in a parabolic language to equate the kingdom with a man who travels abroad leaving his servants in charge, each with his task. He are told, he asked the doorkeeper to stay awake. The man who gave the task and travelled is the Son of Man; we are the servants entrusted with various responsibilities and the doorkeepers are the pastors of souls. He, therefore, charges priests, religious and laity not to be found sleeping at the coming of the Son of Man. This is the message of advent – namely that we go about working while waiting for the Master who must not find us wanting. Our take-home lessons can be summarized thus: 

1. Adventus and Parousia which means “coming” aims at furnishing our understanding about the Christ-events, his coming at Christmas and his second coming in glory towards living virtuous lives.

2. Our readings suggest that we must be docile to the summons of God if our advent is to honour God.

3. Christians are challenged to allow God who is the potter to mould them into what he wants them to be at advent and beyond.

4. Granted that we were created from the Adamic clay, the reading suggests that we must be docile to the summons of God if our advent is to be meaningful.

5. The potter does not force the clay into what he wants to make out of it because God respects our freedom.   

6. At advent, Christians are mandated to copy the Corinthians in witnessing to the Lord in a strong manner by using the gifts of the spirit.

7. Advent challenges us to align ourselves with Jesus Christ whom we shall celebrate at Christmas.

8. We are charged to be “steady” and “without blame” as we await the Lord.

9. Our liturgy challenges priests, religious and laity to stay awake at the coming of the Son of Man and beyond.

Expectations of Christians at Advent

At advent, Christian faithful are expected to:

1. Prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord’s coming into the world as the incarnate God of love.

2. Make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace.

3. Make themselves ready for his coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world (New Catholic Encyclopaedia).

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Advent is a season of looking forward and waiting for someone very important.

2. The times and seasons constitute a period of welcoming Jesus in our hearts for the greater events that would unfold.

3. As individuals and a people, we must learn to “cast off the works of darkness” (Rom 13:12) and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

4. It is up to us to cease the opportunity and make Jesus truly incarnated in our hearts, homes, church and larger society.

Conclusion

In-between the remote events of our spiritual preparation leading to Christmas lies the glorious wait for Jesus’ second coming. The times and seasons constitute a period of welcoming Jesus in our hearts for the greater events that would unfold. As individuals and a people, we must learn to “cast off the works of darkness” (Rom 13:12) and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. Our readings urge us to prepare for the coming of Christ by taking in the spiritual recipe needed for the upcoming celebrations. It is up to us to cease the opportunity and make Jesus truly incarnated in our hearts, homes, church and the larger society - Have a terrific celebration!