Happy New Year!
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Every year this is my reminder as we enter Advent. The first reading speaks of the readiness for the coming of Jesus Christ. We hear that God will establish His kingdom and we must be ready to walk in the light of God. Yes, we must have this readiness and not get caught up with Christmas preparation in the worldly way.
Christmas preparation: What is my preparation? Buying a new tree, year-end parties and merry making? The temptation is there. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us not to be unprepared, as people were in the days of Noah. This is a time to prepare for our Lord to come into our hearts. This first week, I pray for hope and believe that darkness will not prevail, but the light of the world will overcome it.
Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew,
“You do not know the hour the Son of Man comes”.
This inbreaking of God into our fallen world requires that we “stay awake” and “be prepared” for at an hour we do not expect. It is very easy to go about our lives and forget that Jesus will be returning at an hour that we cannot predict.
Advent is a time, more than any, to renew my commitment to listen, to be attentive and to respond.
While it is tempting to join in the ways of the world, we should use this opportunity to center our thoughts on the joy and hope that the Saviour is offering.
How will you prepare for this Christmas?
By Adrian Rakesh