Homily – First Sunday in Advent, Year A

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo, has begun his first Apostolic Journey abroad, visiting Turkey and Lebanon. The journey began on Thursday, 27 November, and will conclude on Tuesday, 2 December. In doing so, he fulfills the desire of Pope Francis, who wished to make this pilgrimage to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, held in what is now Iznik, Turkey. The second leg of this historic journey is to Lebanon, a nation with the highest proportion of Christians in the Arab world, yet one still experiencing significant and ongoing instability.

The theme chosen for the Holy Father’s trip is Unity and Peace. In his first address to Turkish President Erdogan, he highlighted that the land is “inextricably linked to the origins of Christianity,” yet also a land that calls all the children of Abraham—Muslims, Christians, and Jews—to recognize and embrace difference not as division but as a pathway to fraternity. In keeping with this theme, the emblem for the journey features the bridge over the Dardanelles Strait, which Pope Leo used to point out Turkey’s unique identity as “a nation physically connecting Asia to Europe, but even more profoundly, connecting itself—from east to west, from tradition to modernity, from difference to unity.”

These words of Pope Leo’s address resonate deeply with the hopeful imagery we hear in this week’s first reading from the Prophet Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation, nor shall they train for war again” (Isaiah 2:4). What could be more desirable than these images—so urgently needed in our world today? It is the desire for a world filled with hope and peace; a world without hatred and conflict; a world marked by love and forgiveness; a world full of joyful encounters among all humanity.

In the language of Paul to the Romans, building such a world requires that each of its members “awake from sleep,” “throw off the works of darkness,” and actively “put on the armor of light”—and this armor of light is nothing other than Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). The message of salvation and the reality of redemption take root only when one dares to follow the path of Jesus: offering love and care, forgiveness and reconciliation. This indeed requires courage and determination; it takes effort and commitment. Queen Rania of Jordan, in a brief yet telling exchange, asked Pope Leo regarding this first Apostolic Trip, especially the visit to Lebanon: “Your Holiness, do you think it’s safe to go to Lebanon?” Pope Leo replied simply, “Well, we’re going.” (Source: EWTN Vatican)

The gospel message for this First Sunday of Advent powerfully reminds us that time is moving swiftly. Our hour may come like a thief—in a quiet and unexpected moment. Let us heed the call to stay awake, holding fast to our armor of light, Jesus Christ, so that every word we speak and every action we take may bring peace, hope, and joy to all those we encounter.

Fr Sang Ho