Faith Issues

SO STAY AWAKE……

The season of advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. It is a season that not only prepares and ushers us into the Christmas celebration but reminds us of the threefold coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in History, Mystery and Majesty. The interconnectedness of these comings of the Lord is the thrust of our salvation history.

The preparation we make during advent to celebrate the birthday of Jesus is not done in isolation. This Jesus who came in flesh, mystically left himself for us in the Eucharist and so comes to us daily in the holy mass. Receiving him worthily builds and sustains our moral life and prepares us more to encounter him in eternity when he comes in majesty as the Judge.
Isaiah, no doubt, because he looked forward with joy to the coming of Jesus, has a prominent place in the Liturgies of Advent and Christmas.

The message of hope that underscores Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading of today is most fitting for us as we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world. At a time when Judah was preparing for war and Jerusalem in danger of being destroyed, Isaiah prophesied that Jerusalem will be the attraction of many. All nations will stream to it not just to go and offer the usual sacrifices but to listen to the word of God and walk in his paths. The turning of swords into ploughshares and spears into sickles in Isaiah’s vision suggests the reign of peace and justice that will mark the messianic kingdom to come.

St Paul in the second reading of today draws it into our ears that the time has come (Rom 13:11) and we have to wake up now and give up all the things we prefer to do under the cover of the dark. He urges us to live decently as people do in the day time thus avoiding drunkenness, promiscuity and jealousy. Our armour he said, should be our lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of today further exposes us to the danger in neglecting this precious time. The precarious nature of the coming of the son of man rather than make us lukewarm should keep us on our toes. The statement of Jesus, “so stay awake, because you do not know when your master is coming” is addressed to us today.

Staying awake suggests consciousness, preparedness, alertness, activeness and readiness. This was what evidently lacked in lives of the people of Noah’s day; they were so immersed in frivolities such that they were caught up in the Flood.

As we prepare for the celebration of the Coming of Christ in history, in mystery and in majesty seek to walk in the light of the Lord. Walking in his paths is a sure sign of being awake and preparedness for his coming.

In this period of advent do a checklist and ask yourself what constitute your own preparation for his coming. Is it spiritual or material? Is it earthly or heavenly? Is it vice or virtue? Remember that it is Jesus’ birthday that we are preparing for, it is not your birthday. Make him the central point of your preparation.

Fr. Donatus Uchenna Ajibo