WORDS OF LIVING WATER DAILY INSPIRATION

BE VILIGANT IN WAITING FOR THE LORD

(Is 2:1-5, Ps 122, Romans 13: 11-14, Matt 24:37-44)

The season of Advent is once again with us with its focus on the coming of Christ. The first part of this season which is from the First Sunday to the 16^th of December talks about the second coming of Christ (the Parousia), whiles the second part from the 17^th to the 24^th focuses on the mystery of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ: the fact of the commemoration of the Nativity (birth) of the Lord. The first part of this season continues to remind us, just like the readings of the latter part of the liturgical season of the fact of preparing for the Lord at all times. It is based on this call that the readings of today invites us to be vigilant in waiting for the Lord’s Second Coming. His coming will be unexpected hence the need of preparing ourselves at all times so that we can gain salvation when our lives expire on this earth. At the beginning of the new Liturgical Year, we join the people of Israel who longed for the coming of the Messiah with great expectancy. The one sent to save them from the power of their enemies.

There is also an aspect of the Advent Wreath which emerged in the Middle Ages in Germany. The wreath has four candles representing the four weeks of Advent, and the fifth for Christmas. The first candle represents Hope, the second Peace, the third Joy (popularly called “Gaudete Sunday– Joyful Sunday”) and the fourth Love. These are the theological virtues that Mother Church invites us to grow and mature in them during this grace- filled period.

The first reading from the prophet Isaiah promises blessings for both Jerusalem and Judah. The prophet earlier rebuked the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness and sinful nature against God. But later promises blessings if only they return to the Lord. The reading also points to the Messianic age marked by peace and safety. The mountain of the Lord (a symbol of the dwelling place of God), where there is lasting joy, peace and above all total deliverance. The prophet invites them to come to the Lord, who can offer them what this world cannot. The greatest among what He offers is eternal life. In fact, when they come to the Lord, they will learn His commands which will make them gain salvation. It is only God who has the power to deliver them from the powers of this world. Only God can save them and no other person. As they come to Him, they learn His ways and walk in His light as the prophet indicated (Is 2:5). Hence, we are also invited to come to the mountain of the Lord, where Jesus will offer us what this world cannot. Remember “only Jesus can save” as the song goes.

The apostle Paul in the second reading tells the Romans to wake up from their sleep, because the coming of the Lord is near. “…… for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:11-12). They are to avoid occupying themselves with worldly passions which cannot earn them salvation. The fact that this material world will pass away one day. Some of us are equally deeply sleeping and following things of this world, forgetting to work for the salvation of our souls.

Jesus calls on us to watch and pray because we do not know when He will come again to judge the living and the dead. He compares that day first to the time of Noah; people were eating, drinking, marrying and going on with their normal life activities. Until the flood came unexpectedly and destroyed them all. The second comparison has to do with the manner in which a thief enters a house to rob a household. It is always unexpected, because if any individual knows when a thief will come, then we would have been prepared at all times for them. Hence, it calls for vigilance at all times. If we all know when we will die, then we can sin as long as we want and when our time is getting closer we change from our evil ways and gain salvation. But this is not the case. Death comes to us when we least expect, hence we need to live good lives so that one day we can enjoy eternal glory with our maker.

Unfortunately, some of us are so sleeping to the extent that we have forgotten that one day we will die and leave this world. We are living lives as people who do not believe in life after death. But experience and faith has taught us that heaven and hell are real. You are a Christian because you want to go to heaven one day, but our life styles betray us in this faith. It seems to me that we are joking with our salvation. We need to work on our salvation, it is not received on a silver platter like the head of John the Baptist. Do not wait and meet your maker and ask for a second chance that will be too late for you. The only time you have is now. May the Holy Spirit our Helper grant us the grace to live lives worthy of us as people of faith waiting for our Redeemer. AMEN. BE VIGILANT.

Have a blessed Sunday AND A spirit- filled Advent season !

REV. FR. Akakpo Matthew