Advent, a new beginning.
December 1 2019: First Sunday of Advent - A
An Arab proverb says, “Dawn does not come twice to awaken a
man.” Another proverb adds, “Who stays vigilant, will win.”
Every time that we enter the season of the Advent, our meditation
is turn toward a new beginning. Advent, actually, is always a new opportunity
the Church offers us to get closer to God, to come back to him. With this Sunday’s
celebration, we start a new liturgical year, the Year A.
Every newness is a challenge and also a chance. Who says
newness says evaluation of the past and commitment toward the future. We are like
called to begin anew our being with the Lord.
About the Advent Season, the documents of the Church agree
to say that, it is before all, a time of expectation. Thus, the Catechism of
the Catholic Church can state, “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of
Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for
by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful
renew their ardent desire for his second coming” CCC. 524. We are actually
reviving the first coming of the Lord while awaiting his second coming in
glory. The Advent in that sense is a continual actualization of the expectation
of the Parousia.
While entering in this season of grace preparing us to the Nativity
of the Lord, the liturgy focuses our attention today on one of the main
attitudes of any expectancy: Vigilance. We are invited to be vigilant as
expression of our awareness of the coming of the Lord.
In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of the
rising of a new world. The coming of the Lord will be sign of this new world. We
are brought here, at the heart of Israel’s hope. The people of God were
awaiting the Messianic Time, a time of restoration, freedom and peace. Being under
the oppression of foreign kings, the people longed for peace and freedom. Isaiah
gives them an assurance. The Lord will gather all nations into the eternal
peace of the kingdom of God. We have here a vision of the newness. Isaiah
assured the people that the future will be bright. Because, “In days to come, the
mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest mountain and
raised above the hills.” Jerusalem will recover her ancient glory. She will
become anew the City of Peace (Uru Shalem).
The second reading, however, is an exhortation for us who
are also awaiting that restoration and peace. It is a call to read the signs of
the time and feel the nearness of the restoration. Paul addressing to the
Romans, says it clearly, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first
believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.” Feeling the proximity of
the coming of the Lord, we should take the attitude of people in awaiting: Be
awake. So, Paul insists, “You know the time; it is the hour now for you to
awake from sleep.”
Looking closely at the events of today’s world, looking at
the happenings in our societies and countries, we must feel the immediacy of
the coming of the Lord. Many things are happening which must not keep us
asleep. From natural catastrophes to social, political, religious and economic
crises, all leads us to open ourselves unto discernment, to read the signs of
the time and be alert. This vigilance that Paul calls for with all his strength
is that everyone should evaluate his life, “throw off the works of darkness and
put on the armor of light.” Vigilance is before all a call for conversion. Who says
conversion or change says challenge. Each of us is, therefore, exhorted to challenge
his own life and make possible the change. Subsequently, Paul exhorts, “let us
conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in
promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”
The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel urges to the same vigilance. The
day of the Son of Man will come; but at the improvise, when we less expect it. Therefore,
our attitude should be that of watchmen, always ready for the unexpected.
I like reflecting on this image of the watchman. He is paid
to keep watch while others are sleeping. When he fails being watchful, or not alert,
we all know the consequences, the visit of the unwanted visitors, the thieves.
Years back, when I was in mission in Kenya, we did have
watchmen in our communities. So, in the seminary where I was, we had a
watchman. That man, however, was a good sleeper. More than once, I surprised
him sleeping. So, one day, I decided to make him feel how risky it was for him
to sleep at that very hour of his work. I came out at night, at around 1 AM,
and as usual, the man was deeply immersed in the arms of Morpheus. Without any
words or signs, I took his flashlight and watchman stick and went my way. In
the early morning, it was the big confusion. It was time for him to go home,
but the man could not. He sought ways and means to inquire what had happened at
night, and where his tools were. That's what it costs of not being vigilant.
Entering in this season of Advent, we are
exhorted to be like watchmen, awaiting the coming of the Lord. It is time for
great resolutions in order to run forth to meet the one who is to come. Let us
be aware of all the signs in today’s world which are speaking of the coming of
the Lord, and therefore see through them an opportunity to change.
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