Being a Homily delivered during the 9:00am (Second Mass) at Holy Trinity Parish, Ogboja Ogoja, by the Parish Priest, Very Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe
First Sunday of Advent.
Advent begins with a horizon of hope. Adventus in Latin means “arrival” or “coming”. The coming of the One whose arrival changes everything.
Advent reminds us that God draws near to humanity. It is a season that invites us to move forward spiritually, to awaken, and to prepare.
The season of Advent comes with many signs. The priest wearing purple symbolizes penance and purification a sign of metanoia, a true change of heart. This is why we are called in this season to prepare our hearts.
St. Paul gives us three key attitudes for Advent:
Cast away the pains and burdens of our hearts.
Reject the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Live with discipline, avoiding drunkenness and every excess.
There are some people who work from January to November, many squander everything in December. Advent calls us to a different path, a path of discipline, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
The best preparation for the coming of Christ is the preparation of the soul. Advent is a new beginning. A time to start over. A time to put off anything that makes us spiritually old, jealousy, hatred, resentment, and bitterness.
It is a time to put God first in all we do, so that even those who do not know God may see Him reflected in our lives.
Advent is a call to watch and pray, to recognize the challenges of our time. Psalm 141:1–4 reminds us to guard our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions.
We are called to discipline ourselves, to resist the enemy, and to nurture a prayerful life. How else can Christians return to God if not through prayer?
As we begin a new liturgical year, let everything about us be made new. Let us begin again, a life that reflects Christ, a life that speaks of Christ. Carry others in your heart with love, even when they go about their lives unaware.
Let go, reconcile, and seek peace. When we pursue God above all things, the outcome is peace, peace that only the Lord can give. But when we pursue the things of this world, we remain restless until we possess them, and even then, they do not satisfy us, we year more for the latest version.
At Christmas, we celebrate the God who came for His people. As we seek forgiveness for our sins, we are called to become agents of forgiveness ourselves.
We pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” and we must live that prayer.
Let us not deceive ourselves by merely putting up lights or outward decorations, let us instead embrace the virtues of Christ, mercy, forgiveness, humility, and love.
I wish you peace, and may that peace, which comes only from the Lord, fill your hearts this Advent season