Isaiah 2: 1-5/ Romans 13:11-14/ Matthew 24:37-44
Today is the first day of December. The month of December gives rise to a few pleasant thoughts that might bring a smile to our lips.
December means that Christmas is coming and we can start writing our wish-list, but it will probably just remain as wishes.
One of our wishes may be to go for a holiday overseas.
And that would mean that we take a flight out of Singapore for a holiday break.
Taking a flight out of Singapore for a holiday is convenient, and also we want to get as far away as possible so that our boss can’t reach us or make us go back to work.
But whether for a get-away holiday or for work, taking a plane is no big deal.
And we know what usually happens when we board the plane.
Before the plane takes off, the flight attendants will go through the safety instructions for us.
And that is one of the most challenging moments for the flight attendant.
As she goes through the instructions and demonstrations, like how to fasten the seat-belt, where to put the hand-carry luggage, how to wear the life-vest, etc., the only passengers who are paying any attention are probably those who are taking a plane for the first time in their life.
The rest will be sending out last-minute messages and emails (especially if you forgot to apply for leave), or flipping through a magazine, or talking away with someone, or just looking out of the window and dreaming away.
After all, nothing has ever happened, and it is unlikely that anything will ever happen … hopefully.
But let’s say, the plane has taken off and cruising along high in the sky, and then suddenly there is jerk, and the lights flicker and some strange noises are heard.
The seat-belt lights come on, and then the flight attendants appear with a serious look on their faces.
And then they start to go through the safely procedures again, telling us to sit straight and buckle-up and telling us where the life-jackets are and where the exits are, etc.
Now, would we be paying any attention, or would we continue to read our magazine, or keep chatting with our neighbor, or continue sleeping, or getting flustered that our in-flight movie is suddenly stopped?
Would we be suspecting anything, or would we think that it is a bad joke and no one is laughing?
In the gospel, Jesus recalled a story for the Old Testament that even children would know about – it was about Noah and the ark.
We know that Noah brought a pair of all the animals into the ark, before it started to rain for 40 days and 40 nights.
Yet Jesus said that when Noah was building the ark, the people suspected nothing.
They saw Noah and the ark as a big joke, and probably they were laughing at it, and they continued eating and drinking, taking wives, taking husbands.
They suspected nothing. Until it started raining, and raining, and raining, for 40 days and 40 nights it rained.
And then the people would have realized the reason for the ark. But it was too late. All because they suspected nothing. They sensed nothing. So in the end no one was left laughing.
So to say that God does not give warning signs is certainly not a fair statement to make.
Even though Jesus said that the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect, it is to get us to be alert and ready always.
God will always give us signs; we only need to sense it and act on it.
The month of December may be a happy month for some, but certainly a busy month for many others.
There are accounts to be closed and the tedious stock-taking at the work place to prepare for next year.
And then at home, it is time to bring out the Christmas decorations and the yearly headache of shopping for presents and preparing for parties.
It seems to be more busy than happy, more stressful than joyful.
So we huff and puff, we push and rush to meet the deadline which is December 25.
It is strange to think that how December 25, which is Christmas Day, has become like some kind of deadline to meet.
But going back to that point in the gospel – do we suspect anything happening? Do we sense anything happening?
Advent is a preparation to celebrate that moment in time when God became man, i.e. the birthday of Jesus.
So all that we are doing is for the birthday celebration of Jesus. And who would not come for his own birthday celebration?
Oh yes, Jesus will come, He promised to come, and the imagery He used is that of like a thief in the night (although that is not a very comfortable imagery).
So Jesus will come in the midst of our preparations, our busyness, in our stress, in our anxiety. And He comes quietly and silently.
But we have to sense His presence. And to help us do that, the Church is offering us this Advent reflection booklet with the theme “Sensing Christ”.
It reminds us that Jesus is present in what we see, hear and touch.
And most of all Jesus is present in the persons around us.
So let us not take anyone for granted, as they are God’s gifts to us.
And let us also not take anything we see, hear or touch for granted, because that is how God is communicating with us.
Yes, Jesus is already present in those persons and things that we take for granted so often.
We only need to open our senses, and we will be able to see, hear and touch His presence.