1st Sunday of Advent
Readings
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44
Reflection
The context for today’s gospel is not the same context we experience at this time in our part of the world. Matthew’s community were living in very challenging times, both in dealing with occupation by the Romans and conflict with hard-line Jewish communities. Certainly we still dream of nations ceasing to be at war and families being free from dangerous dissent, but living in Australia or New Zealand in 2025 is vastly different from those who are living in Ukraine or Gaza.
Where do those people find hope? How do they experience hope?
Jesus uses the example of a home-owner who, if he knew there was going to be a home invasion (and that is closer to reality in Melbourne) would not leave his family’s safety in someone else’s hands. He would stay home on full alert.
This ‘full alert’ is the key message for us today (and during Advent) that we must adapt to our Christian experience. How can we be more ready to respond to what God is asking of us? How can we be prepared to act in the right way, should an unexpected event occur. What if we were witnesses to the Hong Kong high rise fires?
How would we respond?
Are we living in such a ho-hum manner that the urgency to respond to real needs might pass us by?
Let’s be alert and ready because “as long as you did this for the least of my sisters and brothers, you did it to me”.
Brian Traynor CP has been involved in faith formation for many years especially in the form of parish missions and through the Passionist Family Group Movement. Brian is a member of the Passionist community at Holy Cross, Templestowe.