First Sunday of Advent – Nov. 30^th, 2025

The readings for this first Sunday in Advent are Isaish 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24: 36-44

Advent is a season of preparation, expectation and hopefulness.  And while much of Advent is wrapped up in the preparedness one makes for Christmas, especially in the secular society with the rush and preparations made for the holiday season.  Advent however, calls us to a preparedness that we be ready not only to celebrate Christ’s birth, his first coming, but that we would be prepare for a future time when Christs will come again.   That preparedness calls us as St. Paul says in Romans,” to lay aside the works of darkness”, to set our houses in order in other words, get rid of all that is not good in our lives, anger, fear, deceit, animosity, unforgiveness, ….so that what we contribute to, or reflect out into our world, do not increase or add to the darkness that  is already there, but instead, do that which stirs up change for the good.  “Put on the Armour of light.” 

An armour is that which fortifies, strengthens, protects one against harm. To put on the Armour of light, as St. Paul was instructing the hearers of his day, is to make sure they are taking the necessary steps/action to secure their salvation, that they would remain faithful, and hopeful, even in the most trying of times. So this is a very fitting text for our time, when there is so much darkness in the world. To put on the armour of light, is a reminder of our own need to firm up the faith we have in our God, that we be not pulled to and fro, as such, but stay always confident in the God who comes to us and remains with us still. 

In this season of Advent we are to make ready, not only for the celebration of our Saviour’s birth, but for a future time of Christ’s coming again.  And while there is much talk about that in the society of our own day, with speculation’s about when and if we might be nearing that day, because of the much darkness there is in the world today.  Jesus says, “as for that day, no one knows, not even the Angel’s of heaven, or the Son but only the Father”.  It’s not to be constantly living in fear of that day, looking to the skies, in fear and trembling, for the signs that might tell us when that will be, or as a sentinel on watch at his post; afraid to move, because we do not the day or the hour. It’s not ours or anyone’s to know, only God the Father.   But we are to be ready in the way, of making ourselves, secure in the promises of our God, as revealed to us in Christ Jesus.  As we move into the Advent season, I pray you will take the time to slow down, and make way for Christ’s coming again, living in the hope and promise of the new day he gives. 

Lord God, Advent stirs up the flame of hopefulness in our hearts, that a new day will surely come, when the weapons of war are no more; Lead us to that day, filling us with all hopefulness, so that the peace  of that  day will be made known, in the light that breaks through the darkness in our world.  Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Amen.