Homily: November 30,2025 First Sunday of Advent (Peace)

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 “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

Recently, I read a book titled “Breaking Ground” by Heidi Kühn, the 2023 World Food Prize laureate. This Californian woman transformed thousands of acres of land buried with landmines, in Croatia, Laos, Afghanistan, and other war-torn regions, and converted them into vineyards, fruit tree plantations, playgrounds, schools, and farmland.

Millions of landmines were removed, and peace was established through agriculture. Throughout her book, she repeatedly mentioned the verse from Prophet Isaiah.

Heidi is a mother of four children. When her youngest son was just a toddler in 1997, she felt called to begin this mission. Today, she has already raised and used over 2 billion dollars to bring flourishing life to where it was once a desolate and dangerous zone.

As I was finishing the book, I thought to myself: If there were just a few more people like her, many more million mines could be removed, and millions more lives would be saved. She is a woman who put her faith and Jesus’ teachings into real tangible action.

Heidi Kühn’s faith is an active faith, opening her eyes to the reality of the world but activating her heart to the ideals of the Gospel.

Today, we begin a new liturgical year. We too can allow our eyes to see and our hearts to work. We can challenge ourselves to be active instruments of God’s peace, hope, and healing in the world threatened with war, drenched in despair and brokenness.

In the second reading, St. Paul says, “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

Every day, we are nearer to our end of life, but are we also walking closer to eternal life? What are we doing differently each day that leads us towards holiness?

I would like to share very briefly some words that our late Pope Francis said during his virtual encounter with teenagers at NCYC. His message is not only for teenagers, but for all of us.

He said, “You are called to be peacemakers. In a divided world, you are called to be agents of peace, building community and acting as beacons of hope.”

Specifically, he mentioned that in Church, we should not look at issues that divide us, like identifying ourselves as liberals or conservatives. We should see what is common and bonds us. We are all Christians. We belong to the same Christ. We are on the same side, in the same boat, on the same front.

He then said something very striking: “You were made for greatness, not comfort.” We were made for much more. We are made for God.

He also told them: “Get involved in your parish.”

I totally agree with all that he said. Your gifts and talents are valuable for the Church. Say yes to opportunities that nurture your faith and which also will help someone else’s faith grow.

This first Sunday of Advent invites us to be alert, to be awake, not just to prepare for Christmas but to prepare for Christ.

We all make resolutions for the New Year. What will be your resolution for this new liturgical year? Will you remain in your comfort zone, or will you step forward and become more available for God’s mission? Are you growing more and more a Christ follower?

Amen.


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