First Sunday of Advent

30 November 2025

First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44

Reflection:

Advent opens us to the Liturgical Year of the Church. Advent reminds us of our internal preparation for the coming of Christ in glory, and at the same time, we commemorate His first coming during His Incarnation. These two points are the direction of our Advent celebration. But the invitation for us to be watchful and ready.

The Prophet Isaiah, in the First Reading, points to the people of his time as the recipients of God’s plan of universal dominion. It is a dominion of light and peace. God will come to His people and will establish for them the reign of peace that will not only result in their own prosperity, but it will also be a means of calling all other nations to share in the fruits of God’s presence and kingship over them. This prophecy is fulfilled in the coming of Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, who brought salvation and redemption to all. His reign as King is that of Peace and Light, scattering the darkness of sin and division. Christ’s coming in the flesh ushered us to a new relationship with God the Father, a relationship that flows from love and obedience.

St. Paul, in our Second Reading, reminds us of our responsibility as Christians. We ought to put on Christ and not be misled or fall into the enticement of the world. Pope Benedict XVI once said, “The world offers you comfort, but you are not made for comfort; you are made for greatness.” The people of today and the people during the time of St. Paul are not different, our expressions and ways may be because of the advancement of science and technology, but in essence we are still the same. Our tendencies to find comfort, an easy life, and our desire to do what we want are the still the same 2000 years ago. So, it makes sense that the Church for these 2000 years still reminds us of our tendencies towards sin and a sinful lifestyle, and She continues to reach out to us and reminds us of the remedy to all these, putting on Christ. We who are baptized in Christ ought to live according to His teachings and do our best to be faithful to them.

From all these, Jesus reminds us in our Gospel to be watchful and ready. The three sources of temptations or sin are always active in our lives, namely, the world, the flesh, and the devil. If we wish to enter into a deeper relationship with God, others, and ourselves, we have to do battle with all three through the power of Christ. For us to have a meaningful Christmas, let us not allow the world, the flesh, and the devil to dictate our celebration; rather, let us “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. For Christmas is all about Christ and the salvation He offers us.