LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Isaiah 2:1-5

We enter the liturgical season of Advent, in which we turn ourselves towards the coming of the Messiah, that is the birth of Jesus Christ, when we celebrate God’s love for humanity, and so great that love was that he came to be God-with-us.

Advent is a time pregnant with promise and hope. It is God’s Promise that keeps our hope alive, because we are sure that God will fulfil his promise. We call this season Advent, because he has come, and he is coming. Indeed, he is the one “who is and who was and who is to come” (Rev 1:8).

If we stop for a while, look around and listen attentively, we remain with a feeling of hopelessness and even despair, because these times we are living in are so dark that we cannot find a direction or discover where we are moving to. That’s why the prophet Isaiah advises us: Walk in the light of the Lord. Only his light can disperse the darkness that surrounds us. We cannot find a way, but with him, because he is the Way.

The Gospel of this first Sunday of Advent tells us that in Noah’s time people just went on with their lives “eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands”, as if everything was in order. They didn’t question themselves and they didn’t listen to Noah’s warnings; and so they did not become aware of the impending disaster that would destroy them. It is the same with us, in spite of so many warnings of danger. There was a time, when we thought that peace would be possible, because man was learning from the mistakes of the past, thus showing much greater respect for human rights and for the dignity of our neighbours. It seemed to us that finally all peoples of the world were being set free and the wealth was being more equally shared, while at the same time we were gaining victories against major diseases. But the reality has shattered all that optimism: there are as many wars today as before, and they are more vicious and bloody than before. It seems that humanity is intent on self-destruction, destroying the world - the common house of all, and destroying ourselves. The thirst for power and domination and the hunger for riches are bigger than ever. It is as if we are thirsty for human blood. And in the name of freedom and human rights, we dominate and exploit, feeding ourselves on the lives of the poor, whose number is on the increase. However, in the name of political correctness, we cannot speak out. The true values that make us human, as created in the image of God, are thrown out as old fashioned. We are intent on creating a society where God is never mentioned and never thought of, forgetting that man left to himself is consumed by self-hatred, easily going astray and never finding the way back.

It is good to listen to Isaiah’s advice: Walk in the light of the Lord. And as he advises us, Isaiah puts forward God’s Promise as a source of hope and motivation to change direction. The time has come for us to learn the ways of the Lord, “so that we may walk in his paths” (Is 2:3). If we start waling in the paths of the Lord, then we will enjoy the peace that comes from the Lord.

Nation will not lift sword against nation,

there will be no more training for war. (Is 2:4)

Advent is a time of preparation - a time to be awake and to stand ready:

“Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mt 24:44).

Let us prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord by walking in his ways. He is the way, he is the truth and the life (Jn 14:6).