When the chief is expected, even the chicken walks properly. So too the coming of Christ at Christmas calls us to straighten our paths, renew our hearts, and prepare our lives with reverence and joyful expectation. The word advent comes from the Latin Adventus (coming or arrival) or Advenire (to come). It is approximately a month of preparation for Christmas, and it consists of four Sundays. In this preparatory season, Prophet Isaiah challenges us to transform our swords into ploughshares. Thus, he calls for a total overhauling of lifestyle; an end to strife and war; re-channelling of energy from fighting a “bad fight” into fighting a “good fight.” He calls us to repent from all internal wars going on in our hearts, cold wars, silent wars, wars of words, family wars, wars of attrition, civil wars, guerrilla wars, trade wars, psychological wars, unending quarrels, and bitter conflicts. He challenges us to redirect our energies into fighting for a good cause, such as waging a non-violent war against poverty, injustice, and corruption. Likewise, St. Paul calls us to “throw off the works of darkness (drunkenness, jealousy, quarrelling, reckless lifestyle) and put on the armour of light.” (cf. Romans 13:11-14). Jesus reminds us of the days of Noah when people were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, and missed the saving ark. Those who entered the ark were saved from the destructive flood, but the flood swept those who were lost in the affairs of the world. Are we ready to enter the ark of Jesus in this season of Advent by preparing adequately and spiritually for Christmas? Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14a; Matthew 24:37-44; 1st Sunday of Advent, Year A