November 30, 2025・First Sunday of Advent (A)

Isaiah 2.1-5・ Psalm 122.1+2,,3+4ab,8+9・Romans 13.11-14a・Matthew 24.37-44

During the first week of Advent, and especially as we start the season of Advent today (first Sunday of Advent), we are being made aware of the three comings of God in our lives. The first coming is attributed to the Nativity of Jesus. Jesus was born in the stable at Bethlehem. The second so-called coming is most attributed to the future of Christians and all people. Today`s readings focus on this future and our belief on the final coming of Jesus at the end of the world. The third so-called coming is somehow a calling for each one in our daily lives. We are being made aware of God`s existence among us. God`s coming in our daily lives is always being made possible through our ongoing contact/communication with God. In the context of our Church life, God enters our lives in the celebration of Sacraments.

Today is first Sunday of Advent. Oftentimes, what we have in our mind as we enter into this 4-week season of Advent, is about the Word becoming flesh, about Jesus who was born in the manger at Bethlehem. The first two weeks of Advent do not immediately showcase a theme about the birth of Jesus. Instead, we are called to reflect on the final coming of Jesus at the end of the time. Immediately jumping into very specific theme about the future of Christians and all people does not mean that the first coming of Jesus has lesser importance for our Advent reflection. There is an invitation for us to prepare for the coming of Jesus in whatever forms it may occur. It may seem to be so inconvenient for each one to think too much on how and when we will leave this world. However, it is one future fact of our lives and it is absolutely certain. The third kind of God`s coming becomes an important ingredient towards a fruitful Advent reflection. Our daily heart`s conversion is necessary to welcome Jesus in His final coming. It is worth noting that our readings next week will give deeper emphasis on this third kind of God`s coming.  In a very similar way, themes on the first coming of Jesus (Jesus` birth in the manger at Bethlehem) will definitely help us to prepare for His (Jesus`) final coming.

First Sunday of Advent indeed is telling us to take things slowly BUT/AND at the same time really be ready of what is to come at the end of our days on earth. We take this invitation with the words in our Gospel reading today: Jesus warns that His (final) coming will be sudden, like the days of Noah. People will be taken unexpectedly, so stay awake and be ready at all times.

Our Second reading today talks more about preparation, about what and how to prepare. We are invited to be more aware of our daily lifestyle. There are indeed dark areas in our lives, with what we think, say and do. We are invited to “set aside darkness and put on the light of Jesus instead.”

       Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;

let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness,

not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy.