A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 10:00 & 12:00 Masses
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44
Audio Recording
Today we begin a brand-new liturgical year. Advent always starts in a surprising way. Before we ever hear about shepherds, angels, or a manger, Jesus speaks about His Second Coming. Before we prepare for His birth, the Church wants us to prepare for His return. Advent is not only a season of joyful preparation; it is also a season of penitence, a sacred time to turn back to the Lord with renewed hearts.
In our first reading, the Prophet Isaiah gives us one of the most beautiful visions in Scripture. He sees the day when the mountain of the Lord’s house will stand above all other mountains, drawing every nation toward God. All peoples streaming toward the Lord because they recognize that only He can teach them how to live. Isaiah imagines a world transformed by God’s presence—a world where people beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
These images express what happens when God’s grace governs the human heart. Conflict becomes unnecessary. War becomes unthinkable. Hearts once hardened become teachable. Then Isaiah invites us: “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Dear friends in Christ, NOW is the acceptable time to begin walking in God’s light.
St. Paul echoes this same urgency in our second reading when he says, “It is the hour now to awake from sleep.” He’s talking about spiritual sleepiness—the drowsiness that comes from routine, discouragement, or distraction. Life’s pressures can dull our spiritual senses until we forget what is eternal and unseen. Paul urges his community to “throw off the works of darkness,” not because God wants to shame them, but because those things don’t belong to people who live in the light.
Then he gives one of the most powerful Advent instructions in Scripture: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” That is the heart of this season. Let YOUR life be shaped by His life.
Jesus then deepens Paul’s call when He says in today’s gospel reading, “Stay awake!” He reminds His disciples of the days of Noah. People weren’t doing anything obviously sinful — they were eating, drinking, marrying, working, raising families. Normal life. But they were so absorbed by the visible world that they stopped noticing the presence of God. They were spiritually unprepared. When Jesus says “one will be taken, one will be left,” He’s not trying to frighten us; He’s trying to wake us up. Salvation is personal. Eternal life is not something we drift into. It requires INTENTIONAL readiness.
Jesus compares His coming to that of a thief in the night — not to scare us, but to teach us about attentiveness. If the master of the house had known the hour of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. So must we stay awake to the fact that he could come at any time. Not out of fear, but out of love. God’s “coming” is not meant to catch us off guard; it is meant to find us ready.
Advent is the perfect time to get ready to meet Our Lord when He comes; a time of both PREPARATION and PENITENCE. Advent invites us to slow down, to lift our eyes heavenward, and to refocus on what truly matters. And one of the most powerful and concrete ways to prepare our hearts is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
That’s why I’m inviting you to take advantage of our Advent Reconciliation Service on December 11. Several priests will be here that evening to hear confessions. This is a beautiful opportunity to make room for Christ, to clear away the burdens of sin, and to welcome Jesus into your heart, renewed by grace.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not something to fear or to be anxious about — it is a healing, freeing, and hope-filled experience. Our Reconciliation Service is a great opportunity to make a good Advent confession.
Back now to our need to stay awake. What does this look like in daily life? It means living intentionally, refusing to drift from day to day without purpose. It means letting Scripture and prayer guide our decisions and our interior life. It means choosing hope, trusting that God is at work even when the world feels chaotic. And it means repentance — allowing Jesus to remove from us whatever darkens our hearts.
To help us stay awake, here are some practical, simple Advent practices:
• Spend 5-10 minutes in quiet prayer each morning. Just silence, Scripture, or a short offering: “Lord, help me walk in Your light today.” Maybe pray with the Mass readings each day.
• Perhaps commit to an Advent prayer program, like the one offered on the Hallow app. Walk alongside Mary and Joseph on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for 25 days, starting today.
• Pray a nightly examen. Look back on the day with gratitude and ask where God is inviting you to grow.
• Pray one Rosary a week—or even one decade a day. Let Mary lead you toward her Son.
• Attend at least one weekday Mass each week. Discover a quiet oasis in the middle of a busy week, making a great start to your day. We have morning Mass here every weekday at 8:00.
• Choose one act of charity each week. A note, a phone call, a meal, a kindness — these all open the door for Christ.
• And most importantly: make a good confession! December 11th is a perfect time to do this. We also offer confession every weekday at 7:30 and on Saturdays at 9:00. Preparing our hearts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most profound ways to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
As we begin this holy season, IMAGINE yourself standing on Isaiah’s mountain, seeing the world as God desires it to be.
IMAGINE Paul gently shaking your shoulder and saying, “Wake up — God is closer than you think.”
And IMAGINE Jesus looking at you with love and saying, “Stay awake. I am coming — for you.” Not to frighten you. Not to burden you. But to bring you peace, healing, forgiveness, and joy.
The season of Advent has arrived: a season of hope, a season of penitence, a season of renewal, a season to walk in the light of the Lord. Let us intentionally enter into this beautiful season with open minds and hearts, embracing it like never before so as to powerfully experience the joy of the coming of the Divine Infant into our world at Christmas.
Come, Lord Jesus. Make us ready for Your coming.
God bless you.