FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Isaiah 63:16-17;64:1.3-8;   Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 1Corinthians1:3-9;  Mark 13:33-37

BE WATCHFUL!

Today marks the beginning of the Advent Season, which opens the new Liturgical Year (B). In ordinary parlance, “advent” means the coming or arrival of an important event, person or invention. For us Catholics, “Advent” is usually understood to mean the preparatory season for the commemoration of the Birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated at Christmas. But equally important is the joyful expectation of our Lord’s second coming that characterizes this season. It is a period of joyful hope, a period of waiting and watchfulness.

Thus, Jesus, in the gospel reading, invites his disciples to stay awake for his coming (Mark 13:33-37). He illustrates this call to watchfulness with the brief parable of the doorkeeper, who is expected to be on the watch and be ready to open the door to his master whenever he comes. In this way, staying awake means keeping vigil, being on one’s guard, being conscious of one's surrounding and ready for action. It also means being alert and vigilant, so that one is not taken by surprise. Indeed, everybody stays awake for a reason.

For us Christians, we stay awake for the sake of Christ, for his second coming. We stay awake because our Lord is coming to save us. In the second reading, St Paul reminds us that we have been given the grace of God to keep us steadfast as we are waiting for our Lord Jesus to be revealed (1Cor. 1:3-9). The spiritual gifts are therefore to help us keep watch at all time.

Thus, in this season, we must acknowledge our sinfulness, our frailty, our limitations, and pray that we may be saved when the Lord comes. Like the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, we must pray to God, the Ancient of days and our Father to come down from heaven and have pity on his sinful people (Is. 63:16-17;64:1.3-8).

Like the psalmist, let us call on the God of hosts, the Shepherd of Israel, to let his face shine on us so that we may be saved.

Amen

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST, THE UNIVERSAL KING YEAR A

Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17

Psalm 23: 1-3, 5-6

1Corinthians 15:20-26.28

Matthew 25: 31-46

Today, we celebrate the Kingship of Jesus Christ. Through his death and Resurrection, he overcame sin and death. He has become King over all and everything is subjected to him. He is the centre of our human history and is leading us into the kingdom of God the Father (1 Cor. 15:20-26.28).

But it is important to know that Jesus Christ is not a King like the kings of this world. In fact, today’s readings offer us three images of Christ the King: he is Shepherd, Judge and Needy. In the first reading, God proclaims that he is the True Shepherd of Israel. He promises to personally care for his people, as the shepherd cares for the sheep, and will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats (Ezek. 34:11-12.15-17).

In the parable of the judgment of the nations, Jesus takes up this image and presents himself as the Judge of the nations, the one who separates sheep from goats. The “sheep” represent the righteous, the blessed, those for whom the kingdom of heaven has been prepared. The “goats” represent the cursed, those for whom the eternal punishment is reserved.

It is interesting to note that at the judgment, both the righteous and the unrighteous are surprised. The righteous are amazed to discover that their ordinary and simple acts of kindness and generosity towards others were in fact a service to the King of the universe himself. On the other hand, the unrighteous were astonished that their negligence, insensitivity and carelessness towards the needy was a failure to serve Jesus (Matt. 25:31-46).

This tells us that at the end of our lives, we will be judged by the standard of concrete and tangible acts of love and mercy, especially the needy, the marginalized and the suffering. This parable is therefore a challenge to us. To celebrate Christ the King is an opportunity to renew our loyalty to the Lord, a loyalty that is to be shown in the way that we love every human being we meet in our life. By so doing, the Lord will say on the judgment day: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” May he bless and keep all of us. Amen

33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Proverbs 31:10…31

Psalm 128:1-2,3,4-5

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Matthew. 25:14-30

WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

As we are getting closer to the end of the liturgical year, today’s readings draw our attention to the Day of the Lord, a day of rendering account to him, the day of reckoning. The first reading tells us that the “perfect” and praiseworthy wife is hard to find. But when found, she is a treasure. She is the example of a humble and faithful servant who goes about her daily chores with love and dedication. She opens her doors for the poor and needy (Prov. 31:10…31).

For St Paul, the Lord will surely come; but when, how, and where, we do not know. What is important is to stay wide awake and sober because we are sons of the day (1Thes. 5:1-6).

What should we do then to keep ourselves awake? The parable of the talents in the gospel reading tells us to be at work, using and making fruitful the talents we have received. The three servants in the parable received talents each according to his abilities. At the end, the first two were praised and called to share in their master’s joy because they used their talents and made profit. The third servant hid his talent out of fear of his master, whom he judges to be too demanding and usurper (Matt. 25:14-30).

Indeed, none of us is bereft of God's grace. God has endowed each of us with great potentials and talents that need to be explored, exploited and made fruitful. Thus, the talents we have are not to be put in the hand-bag or in the pocket. They are to be used for our own growth and the benefit of others, especially the poor and the needy.

Sometimes, out of fear, envy and resentment, we decide to do nothing, but complain and accuse others. We must therefore remember: to work or not to work is our personal decision. In any case, we are responsible for our success or failure, for our gains or losses. We cannot pretend to play safe by hiding our faith and talents in a world that needs Christian witnesses more than ever. Let us pray that the Lord may help us use the graces we have received and make ourselves ready for his coming.

 Amen

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Wisdom 6:12-16

Psalm 63

1Thessalonians 4:13-18

Matthew 25:1-13

TAKING THE FLASK OF OIL 

Christian tradition often identifies Jesus Christ with the Wisdom of God, personified in the Old Testament. Meanwhile today’s the first reading tells us that Wisdom is readily found by those who look for her and watch for her early. When found, Wisdom becomes the light that enlightens one’s way and dispels anxiety and trouble (Wisd. 6:12-16).

Indeed, these attributes of Wisdom are more manifest in Christ Jesus. As such, our hope lies in Christ Jesus who died and rose from the dead. For we too will be raised from the dead to meet him whenever he comes. This hope is that which comforts us in our journey of life; and we must not grieve like the unbelievers who have no hope (1Thes. 4:13-18).

In the gospel reading, Jesus ends the parable of the ten virgins who went to meet the bridegroom with a call to stay awake. Among the ten virgins, five were wise because they took flasks of oil along with their lamps. While the five others were foolish because they took no oil along with their lamps, either out of negligence or forgetfulness. But whatever the case may be, the parable teaches us three important lessons:

1. We must always have an “extra oil” or a “power bank” with us. We must make adequate provisions for unexpected situations. For us Christians, our “extra-oil” is prayer, the sacraments and good works. These will keep the candle we received the day of our baptism burning brightly until we meet Christ on the last day.

2. Last minutes preparations can be risky. The unprepared and foolish virgins could not be admitted into the wedding feast because the door was locked. So to avoid unpleasant surprises, always be ready, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

3. Not everything can be borrowed: the five wise virgins could not share their oil with the other ones rightly because it is not everything that can be borrowed or shared. For instance, we cannot borrow someone’s good works to go to heaven. Everyone will be admitted or not in the Kingdom of God depending on his/her own works.

Therefore, let us always stay awake in prayer and good deeds so that the Lord may recognize us when he comes. Amen.