The First Sunday of Advent 2015
Jer33: 14-16; 1Thes3: 12-4:2; Lk21: 25-28, 34-36

Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, starting on the Sunday nearest St. Andrew’s day and encompassing next three Sundays, ending on Christmas day.

Advent tradition spread from Europe to the United Stated after World War II as American military personnel and their families who were stationed in Germany brought them home and made them pre-Christmas traditions. Some people credit the 34 ^th president of United States Dwight Eisenhower with helping the tradition of the Advent calendar spread in the United States during 1950s.

Purple is historically the main color used during advent because it reflects patience, fast and color of royalty to welcome the King Jesus.
Advent is originally a season that focuses on reflecting and preparing for two important things. They are.

1. It focuses on the preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus similar to how the lent is preparation for the celebration of Easter. In other words, it is the time of the fulfillment of the prophesy of Jeremiah (33:15) that God will raise up for David a just shoot. All of us do prepare for the birth of Jesus. We buy gifts, we decorate our houses, our Churches and we prepare special food menu etc. But how far do we prepare ourselves spiritually to receive the Son of God who wants to dwell in our hearts? How clean are our hearts to receive Him? If our hearts are not pure enough for Him to come in, is there any way that we could make our hearts pure for Him to dwell in there?

2. Secondly, it focuses on the preparation for the second coming of Jesus. As we read in today’s gospel (Lk21: 25-28, 34-36) about being aware of the signs of the second coming of Jesus, it is the time to be on watch for His return. When we talk about the second coming of Jesus what come to our mind are final day and the judgement. The thought about judgement always reminds us of the kind of life we are leading and the further effort that needs to be taken in order to put our lives back on the right path. The thought about the final day reminds us of the uncertainty about the day or the hour of Jesus’ second coming in our lives. It cautions us to be always ready for that day and hour. It gives us an inspiration to be always vigilant. Are we vigilant enough? Examination of our daily lives will tell us how vigilant we are.

Advent is a special time of grace God has given us to repent of all our false ways of living in order to receive the newborn bay into our homes (hearts) as well as a time to prepare ourselves to be ready to meet the King when He returns.

As we begin this season of grace, let us pray that we may have the grace to make proper resolutions and to realize them in our daily living.