First Sunday of Advent - Year B

The readings for First Sunday of Advent may be found at:  

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120323.cfm

On this first weekend of Advent, we are reminded to be watchful!  

Be alert!

Five times in this short gospel passage from the evangelist Saint Mark, 

Jesus tells us to be watchful, to stay awake.  

Because He is coming.

Jesus first comes to earth - His first coming, in the Incarnation, 

When he was born, becoming true God and true man.

That is what we begin preparing for this first weekend of Advent, 

that in a few weeks we will rejoice at our Savior’s birth at Christmas. 

Jesus will also come a second time at the end of the world. 

Closing out all chances for us to repent of our sins and to be saved. 

Definitely not as cheery as how we are feeling with Christmas coming.

That’s probably because while all of us want to go to heaven when Jesus does come,

Few of us are entirely sure we’d get in,  if He were to show up right here, right now.

Maybe we’re not in a state of grace and in full command of the work He gave us to do.

Now, Jesus wants what’s best for us,

So He gives us plenty of time between His first coming and His second to make things right, 

to make sure we are prepared.

And since none of us have any idea when Jesus will return,

we need to watch and be alert.

But if we think about it, 

Jesus is already here and likely comes to us many times each day. 

He comes to us in every opportunity to choose him, 

to love Him, 

to do his will by doing good to others, especially those in most need,

in the opportunity to honestly face him, 

to confess when we have missed opportunities to welcome him, 

when we choose to do what we want to do, rather than what He asks of us.

Jesus tells us to see Him with the eyes of faith, 

not feeling. 

Because it doesn’t matter what we feel. 

It matters what is true, what we believe and what we love. 

Because He will return.

And we have our mandate.

To watch for Him.

In those we serve, in our work, in our struggles, in our prayer, and, 

ultimately, someday, in our death. 

And since we do not know when the Lord will come, we must be prepared.  

And what are some ways we can prepare during these weeks of Advent?

We can consider ways to simplify and focus on the spiritual aspects of the season, 

rather than getting caught up in busyness and secular things that don’t matter.

We can take time for self-examination and confession, 

Participating in the Sacrament of Penance to bring us renewal and spiritual readiness.

We can spend time praying with the Scriptures, allowing the Word of God to guide and inspire us during this season of preparation.

We can engage in Advent traditions, like the Advent wreath, that give us reminders of the real reason we celebrate,

So as to help us to stay focused on Christ.

We can display a nativity in a prominent location of our home, 

to provide a visual reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, 

helping to keep our focus squarely on Christ.

We can prepare for Christmas with daily Advent Scripture readings available online, using the Hallow app or the Magnificat Advent Companion

to help us better understand and reflect on the significance of Jesus' birth, 

providing us a way to stay spiritually aware and focused.

We can take a few minutes to reflect and pray before Jesus in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament here at St. Gabriel’s each Wednesday between the hours of 3pm and 7pm.

Or even more simply, we can just speak the words “Come, Lord Jesus”, silently at various points during our day.

Come, Lord Jesus.  

To keep Him present in our minds and part of the things we do.

By incorporating some of these practices into our lives during Advent, 

We can cultivate a spirit of watchfulness and readiness, 

allowing the true meaning of the season to come alive in our hearts and minds.

To keep us awake and ready.

Because the time will come when the Lord will arrive.

May He not come suddenly and find us sleeping.