Fr Marco Lazzaron
his Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, a time of grace that the Church offers us not only to prepare for the celebration of Christmas (2nd part of Advent) but also to awaken our hearts in expectation of the Lord’s final coming in glory (1st part of Advent). It also marks the start of a new liturgical year, Year A; this new beginning is another opportunity that God gives us to start again and get back on the path in the footsteps of Jesus.
The first Sunday is characterized by a Gospel passage that emphasizes the parousia, the glorious coming of the Son of Man at the end of time. Let us reflect on the final part of the text, which contains three exhortations of fundamental importance for our lives.
1. Stay awake. This means having our eyes open, being alert, not dissipated in useless things. The Gospel helps us understand what this means: in Noah’s time, everyone was preoccupied with food, drink, marrying, and being given in marriage. And they did not notice the flood! One can become so caught up in necessary (and even good!) yet fleeting things that we lose sight of God. Hence, the Lord’s invitation: “stay awake,” be alert, stand at the threshold, have eyes and hearts for what truly matters! Moreover, the Greek word used in the text is not merely about being awake, but an active waiting. It is the attitude of one who waits for the return of the beloved and, in the meantime, arranges and prepares so that everything is ready for their return!
2. Try to understand, know. Regarding the characters in the story of Noah, it is said that “they did not notice anything”. The Greek text is more striking: “they did not know”. This is an invitation to the wisdom of the heart, to have a wise heart, one that does not let things pass carelessly, but seeks to read them deeply, illuminated by the word of God and warmed by His grace. We see many things, live many encounters, hear many words, and experience God’s intervention in our lives. The question is: how do we read them? What do we interpret from the events that happen to us?
3. Be ready. To be ready means to treat every moment as if it were the decisive one. Whoever obeys the Word and lives in grace will find themselves prepared by God Himself. Let us ask ourselves concretely: am I ready? Would I be ready today to meet the Lord? Am I ready, then, to live my mission well? Am I in the grace of God? Saint John Paul II began his testament by taking seriously this call to vigilance: “These words remind me of the last call, which will come at the moment when the Lord desires. I wish to follow Him and desire that everything in my earthly life prepare me for this moment. I do not know when it will come, but like everything, I also place this moment in the hands of the Mother of my Master: Totus Tuus”.
In conclusion, these three attitudes help us understand what the vigilance is that Jesus calls us to. Vigilance is the overall attitude of the person, being attentive to the presence of the Lord, an inner tension to discern His presence, and an open radical disposition of the whole being to His coming. Thus, the announcement of the glorious coming of the Lord sheds light that judges and orients even the way we live time, particularly the everyday. May the Lord help us awaken our hearts and live this strong season intensely, to be ready for His return, ready to recognize and welcome Him in His visits, ready to celebrate Christmas with a serene and renewed heart.
PRAYER
Lord, awaken my heart, that, burning with faith, hope, and charity, I may accomplish, today and always, Your holy will. Amen.