1st Sunday of Advent Year C 2006

Actually, today is the first of several New Years we have every year. New Year? Yes because today we start the first day of the liturgical year C. Every liturgical year begins on first Sunday of Advent. Last year was liturgical year B. Next year we will begin the cycle again with Year A. Among the mnemonic devices taught us was to remember that this year the Gospel readings shall usually be taken from St. Luke. Last year's was from Mark. Of course, Year A has Matthew's Gospel read throughout most of the year's Sundays.

While the celebrative mood of most New Years is loud and festive, the New Year Advent leads us seems rather sober and reflective. The symbolic lighting of the 1st candle in the Advent wreath, especially on the eve, i.e., last night which was Saturday, is supposed to make us feel like we are in the darkness waiting for the light. As the Sundays before Christmas come, more candles are lit, and the light becomes brighter. It thus makes us feel that we are not meant to live in the dark but are called to live in the light.

The sobriety is also made more special because the readings usually begin with frightful things which we usually react to with fear and trepidation. The readings today, particularly the Gospel, seems to connect so easily with that of the last day of last liturgical year: it is almost the same except for a verse or two removed. We are shown a world in chaos and disorder, and amid these terrible situations, Scriptures tell us to be ready, with heads held high, "for your ransom is at hand." Fear is not to control our consciousness when such terrible things start to happen; faith calls us to be ready and watchful.

The image becomes easy to remember when typhoons are around. Television footages of the latest typhoon Reming (internationally known as DURIAN) show such a dreadful moment: strong winds and heavy rain make visibility virtually zero, trapping everyone wherever one is. When it will stop may be the concern of most, but keeping oneself and one's loved ones' safety too preoccupies the mind and heart. Fear is around us, but courage is further strengthened with love in our hearts. I saw this occasion many times in my life, and thank God for Scriptures: fear becomes something that can be overcome and gone through. The Word of God thus becomes the one factor that tips the other side for our balance. Next time fear comes to trap us, the thought that God is with us, coming to us to save us may yet become our refuge. Indeed the Lord is my true shepherd,...He is by my side with His rod and staff that give me courage.

Hence, as we wait during this advent, we do what we usually do when something good for us comes, whether it be a new appliance or someone important: we prepare a place for that thing or someone so when it comes we enjoy its/His/the other's presence. The President (GMA) was reported to attend the Mass in the seminary just a while ago, and soldiers dotted the grounds. It has become for me a fitting example for our waiting: we keep our minds, eyes, ears and hearts, our whole being awake and ready. The image of the soldiers with their arms ready to protect the President becomes fitting for us so that we also practice vigilance and keep at bay anything that shall harm the One Who will come to us in our lives. We know how sin can blind us and lull us to numbness, making us unable to recognize the One Who comes. If we are not vigilant, we might lose our lives, our jobs, our meaning.

So Advent thus becomes a fitting way to celebrate New Year in a different way: sans all the trappings that drown us, but with all the hope: the One Who comes is someone Who loves us and wants to give us more life, in fact eternal life. Awake then and be ready. Without fear, but with lots of patient waiting. Maran atha! Come Lord Jesus!