FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YR B
Is 63:16-17,19; 64:2-7; Ps 80
1Cor. 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37
ADVENT: SHAKE OFF COMPLACENCY
Advent begins a new liturgical year in the church. It is very telling that the church, right at the beginning of the church’s’ year calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord. The reason for this is simple: this world is not our home. We are meant for something more beautiful, serene and eternally fulfilling; and that is heaven.
At the beginning of the new year, we look back to the saving actions of Jesus by which each of us in the church “has become a child of God” (Jn 1:12). We look forward also for his second coming as the judge and his full revelation as the Lord of the universe.
The gospel for this Sunday calls on us to prepare for such a day. In this short passage, Mk 13:33-37, Jesus admonishes us to be watchful for that day. It is important to be watchful because we do not know when the day will come. He may come in the evening, or at midnight, at cockcrow or morning.
Whereas the Greek word used, gregoreite, means “watch or do not sleep.” It is used often to mean, “be attentive” or “to be alert”. In this short passage the Lord stresses the importance of being “watchful”, not less than three times. We are to be alert because we do not know when the time will come. The gatekeeper who has the responsibility of keeping watch may also fail and the last is that, Jesus will surely come. He will come suddenly and unannounced.
The call to be attentive and watchful for the coming of the saviour is an admonition not to become complacent in living our faith. Complacency is defined as “a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.” The complacent person is the one who feels he is so good that he doesn’t need to try any harder. Complacency is a very dangerous attitude for the Christian.
When was the last time you really read the Bible devotedly, hoping to pick something from it? How many times have you read the Bible or listened to scripture and told yourself you know it already? As a Catholic, how many times did you go for confession last liturgical year? Are you beginning to convince yourself that it is not necessary and that God understands? How many times have you made excuses for abandoning personal prayer and not going to church? These days the excuse for not attending Mass is “corona”! but we go to work and do all other things. When you feel that in your Christian life you have done enough or that you are ok, Jesus is talking to you today; “may he not come suddenly and find you sleeping (or complacent) …WATCH! (Mk 13:36,37).
We must seek Christ always and resolve to do his will always. We must not allow ourselves to be taken over by pride and sloth.
I share with you two scriptural texts for meditation on complacency:
- For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them,
And the complacency of fools shall destroy them. (Prov 1:32)
- “And it will come about at that time
That I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
And I will punish the men
Who are stagnant in spirit,
Who say in their hearts,
‘The LORD will not do good or evil!’ (Zeph 1:12)
Advent is a time to rejuvenate. It is a time for us to remind ourselves that the Lord will surely come and that he has given each one of us a task for which we will be accountable. To keep the “Advent Watch” is to do just the simple things it means to be a Christian: Return to Church, Personal Prayer and Devotions, Read the Bible knowing that God speaks always to us on these familiar pages, Go for Confession regularly and strive to Grow in Virtue.
The reality is that it has been over 2000 years since the Lord promised to come and this could be the reason for complacency but remember that, you could die. Tomorrow is not promised. That is why Jesus said, “you do not know when the Lord is coming, whether evening, or at midnight, at cockcrow or morning” (Mk 13:35)
May we use this Advent season to prepare for the coming of the Lord in every aspect of our lives. He is not coming to catch us off guard and punish us. No! He is coming to fulfil his promise of taking us to heaven. Jesus says, “because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial, that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the Earth” (Rev. 3:10).
May the help of the Holy Spirit keep us awake for the coming of the Lord. God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
