1Reflection for Sunday, December 3, First Sunday of Advent; Mark 13:33-37

Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

During the middle ages kingdoms and royalties were the ruling power. Whenever there is a threat of invasion the kingdom who is under threat would position soldiers’ miles away from its kingdom to spot the incoming enemy.

The moment they see the incoming enemy they would blow their horns or they would shout loudly to alert their kingdom’s soldiers about the coming invaders. Therefore, the soldiers would be able to prepare their war equipment to properly defend their kingdom.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent which means coming, this is a time of expectation for the coming birth of Jesus. Unlike the soldiers in the middle ages who prepared for the coming of their invaders.  Advent reminds us that we need to prepare for the coming of the savior who gave His life for our sake.

How are we preparing for His coming? Is it a preparation that involves material things? If this is so, then this is not the proper preparation.  Jesus wants us to dig deeper into our spiritual lives by focusing more our attention on Him and our relationship with Him.  

We need no material things to prepare we just need to be sacramentally prepared by humbly submitting ourselves to the Sacrament of Confession. We need no material things we just need to do Corporal and Spiritual acts of mercy and this is already enough preparation for His coming.

The true meaning of Christmas is slowly being battered by materialism; try talking to children and ask them about Christmas. Chances are that they may talk about gifts and other material expectations. Try asking adults who are feeble in their faith they may not be able to identify the true meaning of Christmas. We must be watchful, alert and do something to highlight the coming birth of our savior which is slowly being eroded by commercialism and consumerism.

How are you preparing yourself for the coming birth of Jesus? -  Marino J. Dasmarinas