Read Isaiah 2:1-5, Ps. 122:1-2,4-5,6-9, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:37-44
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2:3)
As Jesus took flesh in Mary’s womb, the season of Advent provides an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves so that Christ can again take flesh in our own lives. The colour purple is a penitential colour. It reminds us of the season of Lent. It also reminds us of All Souls Day. Purple is the colour of the stole the priest wears at the confessional. In many dioceses across Nigeria, purple is the colour of vestments used at funerals.
For the next four weeks, the dominant colour for Mass would be purple – a colour that reminds us of our frailty, the need to repent or better put, the need to purge our hearts of whatever would be hostile to the coming of Christ. What is Advent? Our readings today provide us with some vital answers:
1. It is Time to Cast Away the Works of Darkness.
In our first reading today, we hear the Prophet Isaiah admonishing us: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” St. Paul takes off from there in our second reading saying: “You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep… the night is far gone, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.”
St. Paul tells us, no more drunkenness, no more licentiousness (anything goes), no more quarrelling, no more jealousy, no more provision for the flesh etc. If indeed, Christmas is about the celebration of Christ’s birth among us, we would be going astray if, in the name of Christmas, we begin to celebrate sin, evil, darkness, theft, indecency and so on.
As Isaiah says, this is a time to allow the mountain of the Lord to be established as the highest of the mountains. In other words, this is a time for us to pay more attention to the things of God, a time to put God first, a time to talk about God, that those living in darkness (those who think that there is no God), may by our celebration begin to recognize worship God.
2. It is Time To Forgive, Reconcile and Make Peace.
The Prophet Isaiah says: “they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war anymore.” If we make the mountain of God higher than all other mountains, if we seek God above every other pursuit, the natural consequence we get is Peace.
As St. Augustine would say, our hearts are restless until they rest in God. Anyone who has God in his heart not only enjoys the kind of peace that that world cannot give, (Cf. John 14:27) he becomes an agent of peace spreading the love and mercy of God everywhere.
At Christmas, we celebrate the love of God towards a people who were so unworthy of that love. It was while we were still sinners that God sent His Son Jesus to die for us (Cf. Romans 5:8). As Christ did for us, we too are called upon to do the same for others; to go out of our way to help those most unworthy of our love. As we seek forgiveness of our sins during this penitential season of Advent, we cannot but become agents of forgiveness ourselves.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who sin against us.” Jesus warned: “but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15).
It is not enough that we hang decorations, lights and pictures of Jesus this season, let us hang the virtues of Christ, chief among which are forgiveness and mercy. Putting up fancy lights is very expensive, not many can afford these beautiful lights but there is another light that cost nothing and is available for all; it is the light of good deeds.
3. It is Time to Watch and Pray.
In our Gospel passage, Jesus says: “Watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Being watchful is a figure of speech that means: to be alert in the spirit; alert to temptations, and alert against spiritual laziness.
The Psalmist prays: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not turn my heart to any evil.” (Psalm 141:3-4). The book of Proverbs 4:23 adds: “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for out of it proceeds the wellsprings of life.” Being watchful is guarding your heart so that no evil thought can enter and dwell there.
As St. Peter tells us “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith.” (1st Peter 5:8-9). The key to being alert is prayerfulness. Advent is a time to increase and deepen our prayer lives.
The more time we allocate to God daily, the more spiritually alert we become. A heart that does not create time for God is like an abandoned building which becomes a home for grasses and other creatures. To watch is to pray. How else will Christ be born again in our hearts if we do not pray?
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, make my heart a ready temple for you this Christmas. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (1st Sunday of Advent. Bible Study: Isaiah 2:1-5, Ps. 122:1-2,4-5,6-9, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:37-44)
© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu