The Catholic Church begins a new liturgical year with the season of Advent. Advent means “coming,” and it is a time of preparation—an invitation to open our hearts to the Lord. The Gospel for today, Matthew 24:37–44, reminds us that the Messiah often comes in unexpected ways. Jesus recalls the days of Noah, when people were busy eating, drinking, marrying, and living ordinary lives. They did not notice anything unusual until the flood came and swept them away. Despite God’s presence and reminders, their hearts were stubborn and unwilling to listen.

This passage is a wake-up call. Advent is not only about waiting for Christmas but about being attentive to God’s presence here and now. The Lord comes daily—in people we meet, in the beauty of nature, in the sacraments, and in the ordinary duties of life. Yet, like those in Noah’s time, we can easily become distracted, blind, or indifferent.

Jesus warns: “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” To be ready means living with fidelity, keeping a clean heart, and being responsible wherever we are—at home, in school, in the workplace, and in the community. Advent is a season of grace, a time to renew our awareness of God’s presence and to live in His light.

The flood today is not of water, but of worldliness that slowly drowns the heart. We see this vividly in the Philippines, where literal floods occur every typhoon season. Despite budgets for flood control, resources are often misused or wasted. In the same way, our spiritual lives suffer when we fail to use the “graces” God provides. If we ignore His daily invitations, our hearts become flooded with selfishness, indifference, and sin.

Advent, therefore, calls us to interior housekeeping. It is a time to clear away the clutter of pride, resentment, and distraction, so that we may welcome Christ with joy. If we fail to recognize Him in these “small comings”—in the poor, in the needy, in the Word proclaimed, in the Eucharist—we will not be ready for His great coming at the end of time.

The Lord’s coming is not only at the hour of death or at the final judgment. He comes daily. He comes in the smile of a child, in the patience of a parent, in the generosity of a neighbor. He comes in the duties of our state of life—whether as students, workers, leaders, or servants. He comes in the silence of prayer, in the breaking of bread, in the cry of the marginalized. Advent teaches us to sharpen our spiritual vision, to notice these small but profound comings of Christ.

To prepare well, we must cultivate vigilance. Vigilance is not about fear, but about love. It is about living each day as if it were a gift, each encounter as if it were sacred. It is about being faithful in small things, so that when the Lord comes, He will find us ready.

Advent is also a season of hope. Just as Noah built the ark in obedience, trusting in God’s promise, we too are called to build our lives on faith. The ark today is our fidelity to God, our commitment to justice, our compassion for others. When the floods of worldliness rise, it is this ark that will keep us afloat.

As we begin this new liturgical year, let us embrace Advent as a time of renewal. Let us prepare not only for Christmas but for the daily comings of Christ. Let us be attentive, vigilant, and faithful. May our hearts be cleansed of distractions, so that we may welcome the Lord with joy. For indeed, He comes—not only at the end of time, but here and now, in ways we least expect.