+ 28 November AD 2021+
Reflection for First Sunday of Advent, Year C 

No, I’m not getting ahead of myself. It’s actually a New Year! The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new year in the Church. Today is indeed the start of a new year in the Church’s liturgical calendar. Catholics all over the world have two chances to celebrate New Year’s Day. The first New Year is of course January 1st which follows the Gregorian Calendar reform of 1582; the second is the First Sunday of Advent which we celebrate today, ushering a new liturgical circle, Year C. 

The season of advent which begins on the Sunday nearest to 30th of November, the Feast of St. Andrew, and lasts until midnight on Christmas Eve, ushers in a special season when Christians prepare for, and celebrate the coming of Christ, or rather, I should say, the “comings” of Christ. First, the advent season is a time to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ, his first coming over 2000 years ago. Second, the advent season is a season that invites us to reflect on and prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. Advent is a time for preparation and waiting. The very urgent question that must be asked at this point is: what are we expected to do as we wait for the return of Christ? Paul, in the Second Reading and Jesus, in the Gospel, provide some directives. 

INCREASE AND ABOUND IN LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND FOR ALL:
As Christians we must abound in love of all. Our love must extend to all of God’s children, not only our family and friends, but even our enemies. Jesus himself invites us to love our enemies. Love must be the attitude as we await the Second Coming. 

STRENGTHEN YOUR HEARTS, TO BE BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS BEFORE OUR GOD: We must put on the garb of holiness at all times, in all that we do and say. In a world that constantly seeks to undermine the holy and the sacred, we must yield to the invitation today to seek after holiness.  

CONDUCT YOURSELVES TO PLEASE GOD: We must seek to please God in all things, and at all times. At a time when it is becoming more convenient and seemingly profitable to please man rather than God, Paul, in the Second Reading, invites us to conduct our lives and affairs in a manner that pleases God. 

In the Gospel Jesus issues a clarion call:

STAND ERECT AND RAISE YOUR HEADS:  Today more than ever, we have Christians who have become very fearful of literally everything. Jesus invites us to stand erect and hold our heads high. We must be emboldened by our faith in God, and not be cowed by fear and the forces of evil. 

BEWARE THAT YOUR HEARTS DO NOT BECOME DROWSY FROM CAROUSING AND DRUNKENNESS AND THE ANXIETIES OF DAILY LIFE:
Many Christians today are half-awake, half-asleep. That is why the forces of evil seem to thrive unchallenged. The Christians who ought to fight back the powers of the evil in society are busy sleeping and partying like in the days of Noah. Jesus issues a clarion call to us today, he asks us to wake up from slumber and carousing. As Christians, we must be agents of change and transformation in the society. We must take our duties as soldiers of Christ very seriously! 

As we step into this new year, and as we move gradually to the end of 2021, let us be confident, remembering that our God is the King of the Universe. Let us continue to stand firm, trusting in God’s power to save. And let us ask the Lord Jesus to grant us the courage and perseverance to remain faithful until the end.

    Fr. Lazarus Onuh