1st Sunday of Advent Year A
November 28, 2010
Charles R. Swindoll is an American clergyman who
is the author of the quote that says “Life is 10% that happens to you, and 90% how
you react to it.” I agree with him on this qoute 100%.
I hope he agrees with me
that unless you are aware of the 10% that happens to you, you can never react
to it.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus
tells us to be VIGILANT. It is a message attuned to the season of Advent, which reminds us to prepare in
anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ.
Vigilance requires us to be aware
of certain realities, whether they are physical realities or spiritual realities
that are bound to happen or are happening. It affects our decisions and actions.
People who are vigilant can make the right decisions in their affairs in business, in shopping or even in the choices we have to make everyday because they are based on an informed choice.
People who are vigilant can make the right decisions in their affairs in business, in shopping or even in the choices we have to make everyday because they are based on an informed choice.
But there is another reality where
we Christians should put our vigilance. It is on the spiritual reality that
there exists a battle of good against evil within us, even while we live placidly
our daily lives.
This Vigilance requires us to be
aware of the spiritual dangers that can happen even during the days when we are dining out, drinking with friends and merry making. For these events can be either occasions for
sin, as they are also occasions to do good.
We should be aware that everyday is a test because lack of awareness prevents us to make the right choices at the time they have to be made. Our fate is determined by the choices that have been made regardless if they were made consciously or recklessly. A vigilant choice will allow us to ordain our destiny.
We should be aware that everyday is a test because lack of awareness prevents us to make the right choices at the time they have to be made. Our fate is determined by the choices that have been made regardless if they were made consciously or recklessly. A vigilant choice will allow us to ordain our destiny.
Vigilance is also an awakening. It
is an awakening to the reality that God is always looking over us and that he has sufficiently equipped us with the talent, the people, and the grace that we need to follow
his will. Our decisions and actions will be greatly influenced by this
realization. This AWARENESS and AWAKENING enables us to welcome Jesus Christ may it be during our time or during his second coming, whenever that will be.
Life is 10% that happens to you and 90% what you intend to
do with it. Hence we should be vigilant which is not just a matter of waiting and preparing passively but rather of being proactive that requires doing with what we have in order to make things happen.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
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