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| The Lord is our Redeemer every day, in every place. |
Reflection on Today’s Readings, 1st Sunday of Advent, Year B, December 3rd, 2023
Texts: Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1.3-8; Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37
We begin a new liturgical year, today. It is another journey through the history of our salvation, through the mysteries of our redemption. The mysteries of our salvation we continue to unfold in this journey. As we journey on, we are to watch and pray because we do not know when the Lord will come. Everyday of this journey is a day of salvation; it provides opportunity for us to save ourselves. Hence, in today’s first reading, prophet Isaiah says, “You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” The Lord is our Redeemer every day, in every place.
Advent begins every liturgical year; it is a period of expectation, waiting and preparation. In today’s first reading, Prophet Isaiah quickly introduces to us the person we await during this time of Advent. He says, “You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. ... Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.” Our Redeemer is His name from of old. This means we are awaiting our redemption.
There is no one that calls upon your name
Why do we need redemption? It is because there is lack of fear of God, we have a harden heart. He says, “O Lord, why do you make us err from your ways and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?” What about spiritual sloth? It is another reason for redemption. In the words of prophet Isaiah: “There is no one that calls upon your name, that bestirs himself to take hold of you”.
We also need redemption because of our iniquities and uncleanness. Prophet Isaiah puts it thus: “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
Prophet Isaiah also speaks of those who will have the favour to meet the Lord. He says, “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet him that joyfully works righteousness, those that remember you in your ways.” They are those who live righteously, wait for the Lord and love His ways.
We wait for the Lord when our lives bear testimony to Him
Waiting for the Lord means keeping His ways, doing His will and not going astray. We wait for the Lord when we continue to follow the path He asks us to follow. The Corinthians of today’s second reading are examples of those who wait for the Lord. In the words of St. Paul, “the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We wait for the Lord when our lives bear testimony to Him.
Jesus Christ tells us, today, to wait for the Lord in prayer and watchfulness. He puts it thus: "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.”
We are not to go astray from His path
Being watchful means being awake, on guard, on duty. This means we should always be found doing what he asks us to do. Hence, He says, “It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.” We are to ensure that we do His will always; we are not to go astray from His path.
Prayer is important because it is through prayer that we ask for grace to do His will. This is clear in the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: “I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge”. It is by the grace of God that we await Him, doing His will and showing righteous deeds.
Prayer
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom. Amen (Collect)
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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