A WORD FOR TODAY 1 DECEMBER 2019

A WORD FOR TODAY

THE SEASON OF ADVENT: A TIME TO GET READY FOR THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN

Today is the first Sunday of Advent and it mark's the first day of the New Liturgical year in the life of the Church. The readings of the Sundays will now be taken from Year A and the week days will come from Cycle II. It is a season of preparation for the commemoration of the nativity of the Lord and it is also a moment when this remembrance moves our heart and mind to await Christ's second coming at the end of time.

In the first reading of today the prophet Isaiah is giving us a word of hope that the mountain of the house of the lord shall become the highest of all the mountains and all the nations shall come to it. The reason for this pilgrimage to God's house is to learn from the Lord and be taught by Him. Make it a duty to always go to God's house and you will forever be taught and guided by Him.

Jesus will be born not just in the manger, but in our heart. If we welcome Him and He dwells in us, we shall become channels of peace and enlightenment to others who will desire to know Him through us. People will come to us to see Jesus, simply because we are deeply connected to Him. Let the Lord dwell in you and you will be His ambassador in this life.

This season of advent is a time to work for peace and to walk in the light of the Lord. We must do out best to preach peace and to live it out always. We must strive to take away from our hearts anything that represents darkness so that we shall be ready to welcome the King of Kings when we commemorate His birth at Christmas.

Saint Paul in the second reading from his letter to the Romans, reminds us to put on the garment of righteousness as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. We must wake up from sleep and stay awake so that we will not be led astray into drunkenness, debauchery, quarrelling, jealousy e.t.c. If we intend to celebrate the birth of Christ worthily we must live in accordance with the Lord's commandment and avoid sin.

The gospel reading calls us to watch and to stay awake and be ready at all times, because we do not know when the Son of Man shall come. To live a life without watchfulness is simply an open invitation to failure and catastrophe. If we must follow Christ, we must be watchful and we must love the light and stay away from works of darkness and evil. This the best way to prepare for Christmas and it is also the best way to prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is not all about eating and drinking, but more importantly about Jesus who came to save us from sin and death, therefore, we must strive to live like Him, be like Him and do His will always so as to live with Him in heaven on the last day.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have a blessed New liturgical Year, New month and Sunday of joy to go with it. May the Lord give us the grace to finish well. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Isaiah 2:1-5/Psalm 122:1-2,4-9/Romans 13:11-14/Matthew 24:37-44

Watch-Word: You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Be vigilant always and do not allow the evil one to distract you from focusing on what matters. Walk in the light of the Lord.

(First Sunday of Advent, Year A. Happy New Liturgical year)