Message from our Pastor

“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”

Brothers and sisters, the Advent season is a project of being alert and watchful for the presence of God in our life. That’s why, all the readings of this first Sunday of Advent season, reminds us about the importance of being alert and watchful at all times.

In the first reading, prophet Isaiah reminds his fellow Jewish community to be alert and watchful in order to see and experience God’s active presence in their life. It is God who will instruct them in his ways so that they may walk in the light of the Lord! They just need to be alert and watchful.

In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Christian Community in Rome to be alert and watchful for the Christ’s Second coming because it seems nearer and nearer. The night is advanced, the day is at hand, so 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.

In today’s Gospel, using the story or Noah, Jesus instructs his followers and each one of us to be alert and watchful while doing our Christian duties with sincerity. We are expected to be ever-vigilant because our Master is sure to return. The time of his return is uncertain, but the reward or punishment is sure and certain.

Brothers and sisters, as a season of vigilance and watchfulness, Advent helps us to prepare these three things:
1. Christmas season, the fond memory of Christ’s first coming 2000 years ago.
2. Christ’s daily coming into our life: in the Eucharistic celebrations, in the Holy Bible, and in the people that we encounter in daily life.
3. Christ’s second coming into our life, which for us is the day of our death.

The best way to prepare the coming of Christ into our life is to be spiritually alert and watchful in prayer. Lighting the candles of the Advent wreath and praying together as a family may be a little and humble way to be awake and watchful. I think the Advent wreath would be the means to bring the family together in prayer and to let the light of Christ shine in our hearts. So if we don’t have an Advent wreath, then it would certainly be meaningful to get one.

Remember, Jesus wants to come into our lives with His light and blessings. But we must invite him and let the warmth of his Candle become a source of hope, peace, joy, and love to our family. Amen.

Blessings, Fr. Leoyd