Saturday, November 28, 2020

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent Year B - November 29, 2020

 DATE : 29/11/2020

 EVENT : 1st Sunday of Advent (Year B)

 COLOUR: VIOLET/PURPLE

 READINGS : Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1.3-8; Responsorial Psalm 80:2ac and 3b.15-16a.18-19; 1Cor. 1:3-9; Gospel Accl. Ps.85:7; Gospel. Mark 13:33-37.

 THEME: WHAT IS ADVENT

 INTRODUCTION:

                   Greetings beloved people of God and fellow pilgrims. I welcome you to the 1st Sunday of Advent. This Sunday beloved friends, I wish to reflect with us on the theme, " What is Advent". Beloved, for those of us with strong Catholic background, we would recall that there are several seasons, times or celebrations within each liturgical year of the Church. These seasons in their sequential order include: Advent, Christmas, First and short Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter/Pentecost and the Second and Long Ordinary Time. Each of these seasons have their corresponding colour and its significance. Like the above list shows, Advent is the first season of each liturgical calendar of the Church, and purple or violet is used to represent it, a colour signifying contrition and penitence. The word "Advent" is derived from the Latin word adventus , meaning "coming," which is a translation of the Greek word "parousia", meaning appearing or unveiling. For centuries, Advent has been a time of spiritual preparation as well as cheerful anticipation of the nativity of the saviour of the world. Advent is the period preceding the Christmas season and it begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, and covers four Sundays before 25th December. Because the day it begins changes from year to year, the length of each Advent season varies.

     More so, an ancient Catechism of the Church  describes Advent spirituality beautifully, when it states that "as the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present the expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming which is definitely sure to happen soon (emphasis mine). Beloved, just as lent, in which we become contrite, advent season is meant to help us prepare penitentially so as to be worthy and ready to receive Jesus when he comes anew at Christmas. But even more, we are supposed to be much more prepared to meet Christ at his second coming, a coming in which he shall judge us according to the merits of our deeds or misdeeds. Hear me child of God, like the prophet Isaiah prophesied in today's first reading, 'no ear has heard and no eye has seen what God has packaged for those who trust him, who obey him, who wait expectantly for him, who keep their hearts clean from all defilement, and those who have washed and prepared themselves by the blood of the lamb for the banquet feast.

    Beloved, while we are still waiting for the eventual and sure coming of Jesus, we are not meant to be mere passive waiters, sitting idly and marking time. No, God desires us to be busy, for he has work for us to do. Namely that we should get busy loving, honoring, serving him and loving, honoring, and serving our families, neighbors, and communities as well. The Lord  also urges us to be vigilant and active in prayer that his kingdom may come quickly and that his will be constantly done on earth as it is usually done in heaven. We are not only to watch for Christ, but to watch with Christ. The Lord wants us to have our hearts and minds fixed on his promises. For just like Christ admonished us in the Gospel of today, we must constantly  be on our guard and stay awake, because we do not know when the time will come. I pray that God may give us the grace to use this year's Advent to adequately rid our lives of all sinful rubbish and baggages and so merit the blessings of his coming at Christmas. God bless you.

OH that today you would listen to his voice harden not your heart (Ps.95:7-8).

 LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, free me from complacency, from the grip of sin and worldliness, and from attachments to things which pass away. May I always be eager to receive your word and be ready to meet you when you come again....Amen

 HAPPY FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT TO YOU BELOVED FRIENDS.                   

 @Fada  Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara MSP.

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent Year B - November 29, 2020

 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B

Isaiah 63:16-17,64:1,3-8

Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19

1Cor 1: 3-9

Mark 13:33-37

LET US RECONCILE OURSELVES BACK TO GOD

Today we begin the advent season, a new liturgical year in the church. The advert season is a period of preparation for the immediate and second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an immediate preparation for the Christmas season which we shall celebrate very soon, it is also a period of reminder for us to repent from our sins and be always ready to receive Jesus at all times.

In the first reading of today, we see how the Israelites returned from exile to see their city in ruins. Conscious of the fact that it was their sins that caused it, they did penance and asked God for forgiveness.

We too are called to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus in our hearts. The fruits of the Christmas season will be how much we have prepared for his coming. We should pray, go for confession and ask God to forgive us so that when he comes, he will find us ready to receive him into our hearts.

In the gospel reading, Jesus tells us to be ready always. I pray that this advent season will refresh us in Christ, bring us closer to him and help us to do the will of God always. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent Year B- November 29, 2020

Homily of First Sunday of Advent Year B, 2020

Isaiah 63:16-17, 19, 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Gospel 13:33-37

The meaning of Advent Wreath: Circle symbolizes eternity of God. Green wreath symbolizes life everlasting. Candle light symbolizes Jesus, the light of the world. Four candles symbolize the four weeks of Advent season. First purple candle of the first week symbolizes hope. Second purple candle of the second week symbolizes peace. Pink candle of the third week symbolizes joy. Third purple candle of the fourth week symbolizes love. Purple color foreshadows the royalty of Jesus.

The theme of the first week of Advent is hope. Jesus is the hope of the world (Matthew 12:21). This is the hope, St. Paul says, that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season and a new liturgical year. We are, now, in Cycle B. Advent season is observed in the Catholic Church as a time the Church recalls the expectant hopeful waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Literally, the word advent means the ‘approaching of,’ the ‘coming of,’ the ‘advancing of.’

Ordinarily, almost everybody, Christians and non-Christians alike, in one way or another, prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Business establishments do whatever they can to commercialize Christmas. As we know, there is, usually, so much external preparation. For us Catholics, spiritual preparation is more important. For instance, when we expect a visitor, we get our house in order, we get food and drink ready, and we clean up and dress well. If the house is in order, and food and drink well prepared and arranged, but the host appears shabby, the visitor will feel embarrassed and may not stay for the meal. In the same manner, spiritual preparation is necessary, so that we have an inn ready for Jesus in our life this Christmas. Spiritual preparation makes every Christmas become the first Christmas. The Mass readings and various parish spiritual exercises will help us in the spiritual preparation.

The first reading is Prophet Isaiah’s acknowledgement of and lamentation over the sins of the people of Israel, and a plead for God’s mercy. Isaiah laments, “Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful; all of us have become like unclean people, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves and our guilt carries us away like the wind.” In the same way, we are to acknowledge our sins and do something about them. True repentance of our sins and Sacrament of Reconciliation will help us in the spiritual preparation. If we do these, St. Paul assures us in the second reading, we will “not be lacking in any spiritual gift as [we] wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Gospel reminds us that the preparation of the coming of Jesus Christ is not a spiritual journey only because of the Christmas celebration. Jesus does not wait to visit us only at Christmas. We are to be watchful for him and alert for him any moment, “whether in the evening, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.” Again, this point reminds us the importance of preparing and being ready for the end of time.

Some spiritual steps to a good Advent season:

* Participate in parish Advent season spiritual exercises such as retreat, prayer, Penitential Service, and so on.

*Make Advent season spiritual resolutions to be closer to God.

*Go to Confession.

*Attend additional Masses along with Sunday Mass.

*Make peace with those one has a difficult relationship with.

*Do works of charity.

*Be devoted to the Word of God and to private prayer.

We wish one another a fruitful and Spirit-filled Advent season.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP