1st Sunday of Advent (Year B) Scripture: Is. 63:16-17, 64:1,3-8; Ps. 79:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Cor. 1:3-9; Mk. 13:33-37
We begin the new liturgical year. The liturgical year for Sundays is divided into three cycles. We shall focus on the Gospel of Mark and occasionally the Gospel of John during this year. This year is also known as ‘Year B’. As I have mentioned earlier the season of Advent is divided into four weeks. The first weeks help us to reflect on the second coming of Christ and the fourth week reflects on the first coming of Christ. The liturgies for the last two Sundays of the ordinary time have already initiated us into the mood of season of Advent.
Readings of the first Sunday of Advent making us aware that Christ will come again. We need to be prepared to meet him. Jesus puts the parable of the landowner who travelled abroad entrusting his belonging to his servants. Each servant was given a particular task. The doorkeeper was also given a task to stay awake. This was a common phenomenon in the times of Jesus. The servants had to own responsibilities on behalf of the owner. It was not expected from him for the reason of his profession but for his bond with the household.
It is interesting to note that the Hebrew scriptures always considered the servants as the members of the household. They enjoyed some rights in the family. We have a reference in the New Testament. The owners and slaves always gathered in the early Christian communities. St. Paul exhorts the slaves to take advantages of being brothers and sisters of the Christian owners to serve the rest of the community members. (1 Tim. 6:2). The parable of the prodigal son also depicts this fact that the servant had certain liberties in the household. The prodigal son remembered it and returned to his father (Luke 15: 17).
The early Christians also considered themselves as the servant of the Lord. We have many references in the New Testament. St. Paul called himself a slave of Christ. (1 Cor 4: 1-2; 9: 16-18). St. Peter also called himself slave of Christ. (1 Pet. 2:16).
The gatekeeper was asked to stay awake. He did not know the timing of the arrival of his master because the master could come at any hour. The word ‘stay awake’ appears on three occasions in the Gospel text today. It gives us a sense of urgency. The gatekeeper has a responsibility to stay awake to receive his master. The master who finds him awake will be glad. The Gospel of Luke narrates it so beautifully in his Gospel. He says, Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them” (Lk. 12:37).
The parable is placing before us the challenge: The gatekeeper of the house is none other than every individual who listens to the Gospel today. We have been placed with a task to guard the house of the Lord. Every one of us is given the task in the house of the Lord. It is given according to our capacities. God has given us many charismatic gifts. St. Paul tells us in the second reading today that He thanks God for the gifts which he showered on them. He tells them to remain steadfast and unblemished until the last day. St Paul believes in the imminent Parousia (Second coming of Christ). We too are given the same gifts. We have given the grace to work for the house.
We are put in charge of the house of the Lord by Lord himself. He is our owner. He has bought us by His blood when we were in sin. We are his slaves. But he says, “I no longer call you servant because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my father I have made known to you.” (Jn. 15:15). Jesus expects us to stay awake when he returns.
The season of Advent is a reminder to all of us to stay awake. Jesus tells this parable and the three warnings of staying awake to his four disciples; Peter, Andrew, John and James. The same disciples except Andrew will find themselves in a practical situation where Jesus would warn them to stay awake. It was in the garden of Gethsemane (Mk.15:33-38). Jesus told his disciples three times to stay awake. What does it mean to ‘stay awake’?
Staying awake means getting rid of our sinful habits. Our sinfulness leads us to the darkness. Once we are out of sinfulness, we will become the light to the rest. The only thing that we need to do is to hold fast to His teachings. In all the difficulties and darkest nights, we must hold fast to his commandment: Stay awake. In other words, we hold fast to his commandment of love.
May this Holy Eucharist help us to hold fast to the commandment of Jesus as we prepare for His second coming.
