Homily
– 1st Sunday of Advent Year C – Presentation Parish
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Today we enter the
sacred season of Advent, a time of waiting and preparing our hearts for the
coming of Christ.
The Gospel from
Luke today can feel unsettling, with its imagery of signs in the heavens,
distress on earth, and people fainting from fear.
But at the heart
of these words is a message of profound hope:
“Stand up and
raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
To help us grasp
this, let me share the story of John, a man I had the privilege of knowing some
years ago.
John was a husband
and father who loved his family dearly.
But one day,
everything changed.
A tragic car
accident claimed the life of his youngest daughter, Emily, a bright and joyful
10-year-old.
The family was
shattered.
In his grief, John
became consumed by despair.
He questioned God
and withdrew from his family and friends.
Life felt like a
storm without end, much like the chaos Jesus describes in today’s Gospel.
One cold December
evening, John found himself sitting alone on a park bench.
It was Advent, but
the joy and light of the season felt far away.
He closed his
eyes, overwhelmed by pain, and prayed the only words he could muster:
“God, help me.
Show me a sign that You’re here.”
When he opened his
eyes, he noticed a family nearby.
They were laughing
and playing, the children decorating a small pine tree with simple ornaments.
Among their
decorations was a star made of twigs and string.
John watched as
the father knelt to place the star at the very top.
For reasons John
couldn’t explain, that moment touched something deep within him.
The star reminded
him of the Star of Bethlehem, the light that guided the wise men to Jesus.
He thought of
Emily and how she had once asked him why they placed a star atop their
Christmas tree every year.
“Because it
reminds us that God is always with us,” he had told her.
In that moment,
John realized he had forgotten his own words.
He remembered that
God’s promise of redemption doesn’t erase suffering but transforms it.
It gives us hope,
even in the darkest nights.
John began to
heal.
He reconnected
with his family and slowly opened his heart to the love of Christ again.
That Advent became
a turning point in his life, a season where he learned to “stand up and raise
his head,” trusting that redemption was drawing near.
In today’s Gospel,
Jesus reminds us to “be on guard” and “be alert at all times.”
This isn’t about
living in fear but about living with purpose and attentiveness.
Like John, we are
called to keep watch—not just for the signs of the end times but for the signs
of Christ’s presence here and now.
Advent is an
invitation to hope.
Yes, we face
storms—grief, illness, uncertainty—but we also await the One who calms the
seas.
Christ comes into
the chaos of our world not to condemn us, but to redeem us.
He invites us to
lift our heads and see the light breaking through the darkness.
This Advent, I
encourage each of you to find moments to pause and reflect.
Where are the
signs of Christ’s presence in your life?
It might be in the
kindness of a stranger, the beauty of creation, or the quiet assurance of
prayer.
Advent calls us to
open our eyes, lift our heads, and trust that redemption is near.
As we light the
first candle of the Advent wreath today, let it remind us of this promise: the
light of Christ is coming, and it cannot be overcome.
Let us prepare our
hearts with prayer, stay vigilant in faith, and embrace the hope that
redemption is near.
May this Advent
season be a time for all of us to stand up, raise our heads, and welcome the
Redeemer who brings light to our darkness.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment