DAILY- HOMILY

December 1, 2013

1st Sunday of Advent - A

Memorial, St. Edmund Campion and Robert Southwell, priests and their companions, martyrs

Is 2:1-5 / Ps 122: 1-2. 3-4. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9 / Rom 13:11-14 / Mt 24:37-44

Isaiah 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In the last days, the mountain of Yahweh's house shall be set over the highest mountains and shall tower over the hills. All the nations shall stream to it, saying, "Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths. For the Teaching comes from Zion, and from Jerusalem the word of Yahweh. He will rule over the nations and settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not raise sword against nation; they will train for war no more. O nation of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!"

Romans 13:11-14

You know what hour it is. This is the time to awake, for our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed; the night is almost over and day is at hand. Let us discard, therefore, everything that belongs to darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. As we live in the full light of day, let us behave with decency; no banquets with drunkenness, no promiscuity or licentiousness, no fighting or jealousy. Put on, rather, the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be led by the will of the flesh nor follow its desires.

Matthew 24:37-44

At the coming of the Son of Man, it will be just as it was in the time of Noah. In those days before the Flood, people were eating and drinking, and marrying, until that day when Noah went into the ark. Yet they did not know what would happen, until the flood came and swept them away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man: of two men in the field, one will be taken and the other left; of two women grinding wheat together at the mill, one will be taken and the other left. Stay awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Obviously, if the owner of the house knew at what time the thief was coming, he would certainly stay up and not allow his house to be broken into. So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect.

Reflection

Today the Church begins a new liturgical year. The season of Advent is, as the very name suggests, a period of waiting in expectation for an important arrival. The four weeks of the Advent season bring us to Christmas when we commemorate the coming of the divine Son of God to be with us as one of us. Certainly that arrival of the Child born on the first Christmas is an arrival to celebrate, and it is no wonder that Cycle After year we prepare to renew our appreciation of the great Christmas arrival. In a sense we wait again in joyful expectation of all that Christmas means for us.

But that is not the only arrival that gives meaning to the season of Advent. Our faith tells us that there will be another arrival when the Christ of Christmas will come again in glory – the Second Coming of the Lord. This first Sunday of Advent, therefore, reminds us of how we are to wait for the arrival of the Lord when he will come to bring us all together with him in his glory. The words of today's gospel reading ring in the ears of our minds and hearts: "Stay awake, therefore! You cannot know the day your Lord is coming. . . . The Son of Man is coming at the time you may least expect."

These words are not meant to frighten us but to urge us to be prepared. They are words that help us to look forward to the day that will usher in a completely new era when this world with all its sorrows and struggles will give way to a new world of complete peace and justice. Thus it can be truly said that Advent is a season for strengthening our hope. What we hope for is a hope that was part of the dream and vision of the Prophet Isaiah of centuries ago as recorded in today's first scripture reading at Mass – the so-called messianic age when swords will be turned into plowshares, when there will be no more wars, when nations will not rise up one against the other.

Our Advent preparation for the arrival of the Lord to inaugurate this new age is not a mere "wait-and-see" preparation that is totally passive. It is rather a preparation that engages us in working now to create a world ready for the Lord's coming. It is a preparation of here and now working for justice and peace, for harmony and solidarity among all peoples. It is a very active preparation in what the liturgy calls "joyful hope" for the coming of the Lord.

St. Paul puts it well in the Second Reading of today's Mass: "It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep. . . The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

Yes, Advent is a time for preparation, preparation of ourselves and our work to prepare our world for the coming of the Lord. The Christ who was born on Christmas is the Christ who will come again!

Prayer Requests

We pray …

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

- Lorenzo Meoli

- Joy Droke

- Renan Lacida, Ramon Domingo, Karren Anne Domingo

- Ditas dela Paz, Toots Monfort, Virginia Hernandez, and Fleur Torres

… for the personal intentions of

- Beny Chua

- Pauline

In Thanksgiving: Castillo family

In Memoriam: Soterania Santiago

… for the eternal repose of the souls of

- Elsa Supsup

- Bong Lacida, Rowena Lacida-Yap, Kaye Factoran, Jennifer Santos, XJ Javier, Jess Garces, Grace Mabunay-Bonggalo, Ernesto Apacible, Luding Grindulo, Gelic Red, Raul Lacida, Nellie Lacida

Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.

… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

Birthday: Benjamin G. Castillo

Prayer Intention: Gabi & Rogelio & Milagros

In Memoriam (+): Vicente & Natividad Sy

In Memoriam (+): Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez

… for families who are in need of healing

… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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