First Sunday of Advent Gospel A

Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 

· This coming of the Son of Man can refer to the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the world or it could mean the coming of Jesus when we die. In each case there is a finality.

In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. 

· Despite Noah’s words and actions, the people of his day did not put any stock into what they heard and saw.  Because they did not heed the warnings and repent, they lost their lives in more ways than one. Will it be different for us?

So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

· The reason it is probably the coming of Jesus at the time of death and not at the end of the world is that one is taken and one is left. Even then, the one that is left does not heed the warning signs.

· How many people we know have died? We know that death is inevitable. But does the death of any bring us closer to God? Does it lead us to repentance and a change of life? Or do we continue to eat, drink and be merry as if death is far from us. It is not that we are to stop living, but our life should show awareness that God may be giving us a sign to make him the center of our lives? What do you think?

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.  Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

· How prepared are we at this moment? Are we living as if this would be our last night?  Again, not in fear or anxiety but in readiness because we want to be with God at all times.

· What do you think God wants you to do in response to his word which you just read and reflected on?

o Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the coming of Jesus. He came and we are preparing to celebrate the remembrance of his birth. But he is coming again at the moment of our death. We are preparing to welcome him so that we can be welcomed by him. We are preparing for his second coming in glory so that we can be with him eternally.

o Jesus is also coming in the present moment. How open are we to welcome and receive him? He comes directly in his word and in the Eucharist. He comes indirectly in the peron of another. “What you did to the least, you did to me.”