Opening Prayer Series Year B: First Sunday of Advent

The Opening Prayer for the First Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

Let us pray

(that we may take Christ's coming seriously)

All powerful God,

increase our strength of will for doing good

that Christ may find an eager welcome at His coming

and call us to His side in the Kingdom of Heaven

where He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit

one God for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. How will I take Christ's coming seriously this coming week?
2. In taking Christ's coming seriously, what changes will I make to my life?
3. Examine my will for doing good right now and decide what steps will I take to increase its strength?
4. How will I make best use of this season of Advent to give Christ an eager welcome at Christmas?
5.  What gift will I give Christ at Christmas this year?
6. What short term, medium and long term goals do I wish to achieve this liturgical year?

Today's Gospel message is very clear "Stay awake! You never know when the Lord will come''.  This should give us all a knock out of our seats in Church.  However, let us consider it further. 

Consider for a moment when we are sleepy and tired. We are not physically, emotionally, spiritually switched on. We are tired, even exhausted, our capacity to make well informed decisions is greatly impaired since our capcity to concentrate is shot. It is so hard to stay awake when we are tired. We also need to think about why we are tired. Perhaps we have been burning the midnight oil or just so tired that our bodies cannot sleep.

The Church commands us to stay awake. To be awake implies that we are concious at least- hopefully physically, emotionally and spiritually in good condition. Our senses are on heightened alert. Why do we need to remain in peak condition?  Today's gospel tells us 'You never know when the Lord will come''.

We may all had the experience of someone we love dying suddenly. For those left behind, it is a tragedy and great shock because they were not expecting it. I had this experience with the sudden death of my mother earlier in the year.  Thankfully mum was ready to meet her Lord.

The season of Advent gives us time to prepare spiritually for the coming of Christmas. If we only make physical preparations such as the meal, the cleaning, the christmas tree and crib, then we  will lose the benefit of this season. We are to prepare spiritually for the coming of the Lord, not only at Christmas, but for our own meeting with Him when He calls us home. 

Advent too is a time to ponder His second coming.  Advent is a season of hope.  Scripture is quite clear about this also.  Scripture tells us that we do not know the hour or the day of the Lord's second coming. The Church in this season of Advent invites us to be ready for the Lord's coming and look forward to it with hope.