1st Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 2:1–5; Romans 13:11–14
The First Sunday of Advent draws us into a season of hope by revealing God’s dream for humanity—a world transformed by His peace and illuminated by His light. Isaiah’s prophecy envisions a time when nations will abandon violence, reshaping instruments of harm into tools that cultivate life: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” This is not simply a political ideal but the fruit of hearts turned toward the Lord. Saint Paul tells us how such a transformation begins: by “throwing off the works of darkness” and “putting on the armor of light.” Advent invites us to wake up from spiritual sleep and allow Christ’s coming to renew our desires, decisions, and relationships. Peace is not achieved by our strength, but by letting the Lord reforge our hearts—turning anger into compassion, rivalry into service, fear into trust. As we enter this holy season, we are called to become living signs of the peace God promises, witnesses to the light that overcomes every darkness. Let’s reflect: What “works of darkness” must I lay aside so that Christ may forge my heart into an instrument of His peace and clothe me in His transforming light this Advent?
Don Giorgio