Walking with Jesus on the First Day of Advent

For Sunday, November 30, 2025

Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 14:37-44


The First Sunday of Advent is the beginning of a new Church Year. The readings are spread across a three-year cycle — A, B and C. This year we are in Cycle A. All of the first readings this year are taken from the prophet Isaiah and all of them look to a future time marked by peace and tranquility. Our initial thoughts might be that we really need this in our world that is filled with conflict and suffering — conflict within and between countries, and suffering especially among the poor and underprivileged who are striving to survive — and society is not helping them. Here in our own country we are becoming much more aware of the poor, especially with the price of daily living — paying for food, rent and daily necessities, keeping our children safe and hopeful in a time where there is a huge lack of support and hope. We need peace in our lives.

When Advent comes our mindset is focused on a time that we prepare for the coming of God through Jesus at Christmas, but the readings also direct our attention to our own journey to God. We are focused on Christmas preparation with cards, gifts for loved ones, decorations, putting on happy faces and greetings for those in our lives — and remembering those who are in need and wondering how can we help in these dire days. The overarching theme of this first Sunday of Advent is: How am I doing on my journey to God? Vatican Council II called us a pilgrim people whose destination is heaven with God forever. All are invited. There is no discrimination here; no restrictions of gender, race or age. No one who wants to undertake this pilgrimage will be prevented from doing so. Satan does not want us to go to the place promised by God, the place he was expelled from. All have a place on the “mountain of the Lord” as Isaiah says. Do I want to go to heaven? Am I waiting to start my pilgrimage because I’m young or really busy or don’t have the time right now? Do I think I'll have plenty of time when I'm old and feeble? Each of us has loved ones who passed on to the Lord this year — some earlier than expected, others whose journey was drawn out ... many in suffering. Now is the time for us to prepare. Let this be a part of our Advent journey. The Lord is helping us with each step we take.

In the ancient world, high mountains were believed to be the homes of the gods: The higher the mountain, the more important the god. Isaiah claims that Mount Zion, though only of medium height, will be established as the highest mountain because it is the site of the Temple — the place which represents God’s sovereign rule. In time, the kinship of God will extend beyond Israel as the nations receive instructions previously reserved for Israel and the benefit of God’s just judgment. In listening to God, the nations will have no need to resort to war. Are we taking God seriously? Our merit before God consists not in pious prayers or good actions but in the kind of people we become. Whatever love, caring, acceptance, and tolerance we make a part of ourselves now is the kind of person we will be for eternity.

Paul is telling the Romans how we are to live out the tension of authentic Christian living — how we are a people of love, how we are to take time and eternity seriously and “… put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Romans 13:14] This comes down to having a sense of justice at work, trying to show kindness to our neighbors during the day, having patience with family, being charitable in speaking to others, having a Christian concern for others, and accepting the suffering that is a natural part of our lives. These are our struggles and the Lord is with us. Do I ask for His help?

Jesus tells us that we are living on the edge of time — we don’t know the time of our own or our loved ones’ passing. Therefore we are not to be caught off guard when He returns. Now is the time to make whatever changes need to be made in one’s own life. So the point is, am I living in a way that corresponds to Jesus’ teaching on love that is fitting for the reign of God? Bottom line — there is a time when it will be “too late” — when the time of preparation will have passed. Stay awake! Be ready! We may know when Christmas is coming, but we do not know when Jesus will come again in glory for us — for the world. But with God’s help we hold on to this quiet time of Advent in hope. God is timeless, but God is also the Lord of time. Jesus is here, now and always. What help do I need? We bring all to our Loving God.

So I reflect on:

• Do I look at the problem times, the edginess times in my life, and reflect on how God was with me in these moments?
• Do I look at how I can use this season to grow spiritually stronger for the next “something” that is coming my way?

Sacred Space 2005 states:

“These early Gospel readings of Advent encourage us to stay awake and alert. In reality for me this might mean that I will try to notice anything that has struck me in my daily living for the past few days.  I may recall a conversation with a friend, or an event that — if I stay with it — may have something to say to me. Could this possibly be God speaking to me? How else would I expect the Lord to interact with me?”