It’s the first Sunday of Advent. A season to prepare our hearts and encounter Jesus anew. In the First Reading taken from the book of Isaiah, the people of Israel are struggling to be holy but yet the Lord never gives up on them. He is the Potter who has a perfect plan but we must be the clay soft to his creative fingers. But often God finds us rigid and is unable to work with us. Yet, the truth is that God has bestowed every blessing and grace on us through his son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Second Reading St. Paul therefore exhorts the Corinthians to keep striving in their faith with hope for we do not know the hour when we will be required to meet him in eternity. Hence, keep alert and watchful says St. Matthew in the Gospel. We are supposed to prepare our hearts to receive instructions, wisdom, faith and Holy virtues from the Holy Spirit by reading his Word and live the Gospel through his grace. Make good use of the talents and opportunities the Lord has blessed us with for building his Kingdom.