Reflection for Sunday November 27, First Sunday of Advent: Matthew 24:37-44

Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44

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.

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Reflection: 

What was going on at the time of Noah? 

During the time of Noah Yahweh saw the wickedness of men that’s why He decided to destroy them. However, Noah was a blameless and righteous man and because of his righteousness he and a handful of his relatives and a few animals were saved by Yahweh.

From the time of Noah let as move fast forward to our present time. Is there still wickedness and evil today? The answer is a resounding yes!  Evil and wickedness are still prevalent today, it’s actually everywhere. For example, the unfortunate human sufferings being experienced by the people of Ukraine brought about by Russia’s aggression. Another example, whether we admit it or not many of us also continue to harbor evil and wickedness in our hearts.

On this first Sunday of advent the Lord is calling us to leave behind our sinful lives. This is best exemplified by the call of Saint Paul to the Romans in our second reading, he tells us. “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. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. (Romans 13:12-14 ).

This call of renewal is also echoed by the prophet Isaiah in our first reading. He called for all people to go to the mountain of the Lord and walk with the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:3 ).  

On this first Sunday of Advent we are also reminded about the uncertainty of life. That it may end anytime that’s why we must seriously hear God’s message for us to repent and walk away from our sins and embrace goodness, forgiveness and love. – Marino J. Dasmarinas