Homily: First Sunday of Advent Year A Walk in the light of the Lord
Homily:
First Sunday of Advent Year A
Reading
1: The people of Israel are experiencing both external threats and internal
struggles. Externally, the surrounding nations are seeking to overcome them and
subjugate them. The answer of Israel is a state of war. Internally, many of the
people have forgotten their covenant with God. They are seeking to be a nation
like the surrounding nations.
God
sends the prophet Isaiah to speak the message of truth. He speaks about the
mountain of Zion, the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. About the mountain he
says: “In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established
as the highest mountain.” About the city he says: “For from Zion shall go forth
instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” And about the Temple, he
says: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain to the house of the God of Jacob.”
What
the people of Israel forgot was the Lord and his role in their lives. They were
reminded that if they walked in the light of the Lord, they would be taken care
of. Walking in the light of the Lord meant being in right relationship with God
and acting on his word.
It
was God who brought them out of bondage in Egypt with signs and wonders. It was
God who purified them in the crucible of the desert before bringing them into
the land of promise. It was God who established the kingdom of David. They forgot
that when their ancestors depended on the Lord, they were victorious over their
enemies.
As
we begin this new Advent season, we are reminded that the Lord is with us on
our journey. We are called once more to walk in the light of the Lord, who is
our true peace.
Gospel:
Jesus says that in spite of the warning given the people of Noah’s day, they
kept sinning and refused to believe in the word of God. When the devastating
flood came they perished. Jesus said that the same thing will happen when he
comes again in glory. Those walking in darkness will perish, while those
walking in the light of the Lord will be saved.
What
are we to do? Stay awake and be watchful for the Son of Man will come when he is
least expected. This coming can be our personal death or the final coming of
Jesus. To stay awake and be watchful is another way of saying to follow and
live the way of the Lord consciously and intentionally, not in fear but in
readiness. For being with the Lord in fact now will insure that we will be with
the Lord eternally through the moment of death.
As
we prepare to celebrate the commemoration of Jesus’ first coming in the flesh
through human birth, we are called to remember that Jesus is coming to us in
the present moment and he will come again in a final moment. To commemorate one—Christmas—but
not living in the light for the other two will mean that we did not act as the
children of light but as children of darkness.
Reading
2: Paul continues the theme of light. There are two parts of focus. The first
part: “Our salvation is closer than when
we first accepted the faith.” How often do we think of our salvation? Are we
prepared for death, which could come as a thief in the night?
The
second part: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, the way we prepare
for our ultimate salvation is twofold: cast off the deeds of darkness and put
on the armor of light. Cast off the deeds of habitual sin, serious mortal sin
as well as lesser sins. Sin is the world of darkness. Sharing in the life of
Christ in truth and love is the world of light and salvation.
To
put on the Lord Jesus means do not conform ourselves to this generation of
darkness but be transformed by the renewal of our minds, choosing what is the
will of God, what is good, perfect and pleasing to God. In this way we can prepare for the
celebration of Christmas and for the coming of Jesus at death or at the end of
the world.
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