DAILY- HOMILY

27 November 2016

1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Cycle A.   Violet.   

Is 2:1 – 5 / Rom 13:11 – 14 / Mt 24: 37 - 44.     

From the 1st Reading: Is 2:  3b, 5    

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. . O nation of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

From the 2nd Reading: Rom 13: 11 – 13a

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 the 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.

Gospel Reading: Mt 24: 37 - 44 

Jesus said, "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 the 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 the Lord will come.  Just think about this:  if the owner of the house knew that the thief would come by night around a certain hour, he would stay awake to prevent his house to be broken into.  So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour your least expect.

"Imagine a capable servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate indeed is that servant whom his master will find at work when he comes.  Truly, I say to you, his lord will entrust that one with everything he has."

Reflection

The Advent Season is four weeks before Christmas.  The first three weeks focus on the second coming of Christ while the fourth week focuses on the first coming of the Son of God as man, celebrated on Christmas Day.

The first three weeks of Advent remind the faithful that the Lord will surely come at the end of time: it will be a triumphant event for him and his faithful followers.  No one knows when this will happen:  "regarding that Day and that Hour, no one knows when it will come, not even the Angels, not even the Son, but only the Father" (Mk 13: 32)

And so there will be an element of surprise when this happens.

In the Gospel reading today, the Lord is likened to a thief stealthily and secretly breaking into the house at the middle of the night, unannounced.  The strong warning for us is always to be prepared. Perhaps something like current reminders to be ready for the big earthquake which could bring tremendous devastation:  like earthquakes, the second coming of the Lord cannot be predicted or known ahead of time.

These days we make use of many warning devices such as CCTVs to watch over unwanted intrusions.  We might do the same for ourselves, in the consciousness of our minds and in the sensing of our hearts, to be ever watchful, ever ready, not to avert but to anticipate the return of the Lord.

How?  The key is what Jesus says, "Imagine a capable servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate indeed is that servant whom his master will find at work when he comes."  (Mt 24: 45 – 46)

We are on the right track, waiting and watching, when we do good works in living out our faith 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Jeremy Lim Gotamco

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Prodencio Chua Lim (Feb 2, 1931 – Nov 27, 2013)

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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