Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from 1st Sunday of Advent year C, December 2, 2018

There’s something compelling about a promise. When you promise something to someone, you’re giving part of yourself. When someone you trust promises that they will come through for you, you don’t feel alone. The Bible is filled with God’s promises to us. What does God promise? Not wealth or success or a life free from suffering. He promises us a person. “The days are coming says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made…  I will raise up for David a just shoot; he will do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe…” Jer 33:14-15. God is promising us his personal presence that we can see and touch. In Lk 21:25-36, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise in a person, Jesus Christ. Jesus is God among us. God has come through for us. God is with us. Do we really believe this? Sometimes our hearts can get drowsy. Jesus warns us about this. When our hearts grow drowsy we lose sight of the promise. We can get caught up in cares of this life, and forget God’s promise. We can lose sight of the fact that being a Christian means a living relationship with a person, Jesus Christ, who fills our hearts with joy. That’s why the Church gives us Advent. Advent is a gentle wake-up call, a 4 week period to prepare our heart for Christmas. It’s a time to believe in God’s promise to give us true purpose and joy in Jesus Christ. God will never give up on us. He is the same patient and compassionate God yesterday and today. Shalom!