Sunday, Nov. 30, is the First Sunday of Advent. Mass readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44.

The first weeks of Advent focus more on the Lord’s second coming in glory than on his first coming at Bethlehem. The Gospel clearly states that we must always be prepared, for at an hour we do not expect, the Son of Man will come. But how should we be ready? The second reading from the Mass gives us a basic recipe for readiness.

… you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake.

What St. Paul is really saying here is that we must be alert and aware of what is happening. We need to be morally awake and responsible for our actions. We must not engage in worldly, irrelevant, dreamy thinking that is not rooted in reality or is fundamentally absurd in its premises.

… not in orgies … not in promiscuity and lust … and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

This text indicates we should avoid the near occasions of sin. To make “provision” literally means to “see ahead” or to “look toward” something in such a way as to facilitate it. The text says to resolve ahead of time not to provide occasion for the flesh. God is not out to limit our fun; he is trying to protect us. Those who make light of sexual sin have been deceived; it is a very serious matter, and God makes this clear in his word.

… not in drunkenness …

Physically, to be drunk means to have our mind confused due to the influence of alcohol. Conversely, to be sober is to have a clear mind that is capable of making sound judgments. So much of our battle to be ready to meet God comes down to our mind.

… not in rivalry and jealousy …

An awful lot of our sins revolve around our sensitive egos. The Lord wants to give us the gift of a heart that is loving, generous, considerate, happy for the gifts of others, forgiving, truthful, patient, meek and open to others; a heart that is less egocentric and more theocentric.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The moral life of the New Testament is not achieved; it is received. It is what happens when Jesus Christ really begins to live his life in us.