IS 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7
1 COR 1:3-9
MK 13:33-37

Be Vigilant

The readings for the First Sunday in Advent are a call to be alert, prepared and vigilant while waiting for the coming of the Lord. Advent culminates with the feast of Christmas, but it is more than that. Advent is a time for us to be conscious of the fact that Christ will return at some time in the future and that there is a presence of Christ with us now that we need to be aware of and respond to accordingly. 

The readings are a call to be alert in waiting for the coming of the Lord. The first reading begs the Lord to return to us and save us. Isaiah proclaims, “Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!” The second reading calls us to remain steadfast as followers of Christ. Paul reminds us of this when he says, “[Christ} will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” It is important to respond to this truth each and every day. The gospel warns us to be watchful. Not everyone will be ready in the final hour so Jesus tells his disciples, “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.”

If you died tomorrow would you be ready to see God face to face? The readings remind us that we should be prepared and vigilant to meet God every day of our lives because we know neither the day nor the hour when we will be called to eternal life. None of us is perfect, but we are expected to live our lives each day as if it were our last. By reason of baptism we are called to be whole and holy every single day. We sometimes fail in this responsibility but God is always faithful, always merciful, always waiting for our return to that loving relationship.

The Gospel of Mark reminds us to keep alert and keep watching for God because it is so easy today to accept the values of the world instead of God’s way. There are all kinds of false gods around us – materialism, nationalism, racism, etc. God’s way calls us to be generous with our possessions, to include everyone as a child of God and to believe we are all God’s good creation. Advent is a good time to remind us of this and to be vigilant about how we live our lives.

May this Advent deepen our faith and help us understand and live what the readings, the Word of God, reveals to us. Be alert!

How will you focus on God’s way to live your life, especially during this Advent season?

What will help you realize that your earthly time is limited and to respond accordingly?