Sunday 30 November 2025 - First Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Awake in the Light: Vigilance for God’s Justice

Osisi ọfọ

Isaiah 2:2–5

The Mountain of the Lord

Isaiah speaks of a time when “the mountain of the temple of the Lord will be established as the greatest of all mountains.”

For the Igbo people, mountains and high places often symbolize sacredness and closeness to God. Think of Udi Hills or Ogbunike caves. Isaiah’s vision is not about geography alone, it is about a spiritual elevation, a time when God’s presence becomes the highest authority, above all human powers and rivalries.

In Igbo cosmology, the ọfọ (staff of justice) represents truth and righteousness. Isaiah’s mountain is like the ọfọ lifted high, calling all nations to recognize divine justice.

All Nations Streaming In

Isaiah imagines people of every nation saying: “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… to learn how to walk in the right path.”

This resonates with the Igbo communal spirit of ọgbakọ, gathering, sharing wisdom, and learning from elders in the village square (ama). The prophecy envisions a global ama, where humanity gathers to learn peace and justice.

In Nigeria, where ethnic divisions and political strife often fracture unity, Isaiah’s vision challenges us: can the Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and others walk together to the mountain of justice, laying aside suspicion and rivalry?

Weapons into Tools

Isaiah’s most striking image is of swords and spears transformed into ploughs and pruning hooks.

For the Igbo, this is deeply symbolic. The Igbo are traditionally agrarian, with yam festivals (iri ji) marking the rhythm of life. To turn weapons into farming tools is to return to the dignity of cultivation, to the joy of harvest, and to the peace of community feasting.

This prophecy speaks directly to Nigeria’s wounds, conflicts in the southeast, struggles over marginalization, and the violence of political unrest. Isaiah proclaims that true strength is not in the gun but in the hoe, not in destruction but in cultivation. Imagine if the energy spent on conflict was redirected into innovation, agriculture, and education, Nigeria would flourish like a well-tended farm.

Justice and Peace

Isaiah promises: “The Lord will bring justice and peace to the nations.”

Among the Igbo, justice (ikpe nkwụmọtọ) is communal, not individual. Disputes are settled in the village square, with elders ensuring fairness. Isaiah’s vision aligns with this: peace comes when justice is upheld, when truth is spoken, and when the vulnerable are protected.

This is prophetic for Nigeria today. The Igbo community, with its emphasis on fairness and accountability, can be a beacon of Isaiah’s light, calling the nation to walk in truth, to reject corruption, and to embrace communal stewardship.

Walking in the Light

Finally, Isaiah exhorts: “Come, O people of Jacob; let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

For the Igbo, light (ìhè) is a metaphor for clarity, wisdom, and divine presence. Igbo proverb says: “Onye na-eso ìhè anaghị efu ụzọ” that is, he who follows the light does not lose the way. Isaiah’s call is an invitation to the Igbo and all Nigerians: to walk not in the darkness of division, but in the light of God’s justice, peace, and communal love.

Inference & Prophecy for Today

• The prophecy challenges Nigeria to transform its conflicts into creativity.

• It calls the Igbo to embody their heritage of justice and communal peace as a witness to the nation.

• It envisions a future where Nigeria’s “mountain” is not oil wealth or political power, but moral leadership rooted in truth, justice, and peace.

Romans 13:11–14

Awake to the Dawn

Paul’s words begin with urgency: “Now is the time to be fully awake, for our salvation is closer to us now than when we first believed.”

In Igbo land, dawn (ụtụtụ) is sacred. The cock’s crow signals not just the start of a new day but the call to responsibility. Farmers rise early to tend their yam mounds, traders prepare their wares, and elders gather to deliberate in the ama. Paul’s call to awaken is like the cock’s crow to the Igbo people: a summons to vigilance, to moral readiness, to communal responsibility.

This is prophetic for Nigeria today. The night of corruption, violence, and division is far spent; the dawn of justice and renewal is near. The Igbo, with their tradition of industriousness and communal accountability, are called to be awake, to lead by example in truth and light.

Throwing Off Darkness

Paul exhorts: “Let us throw off the works of darkness.”

In Igbo proverbs, darkness (ọchịchịrị) is often linked with confusion and danger: “Ọchịchịrị anaghị ekwe ka mmadụ hụ ụzọ” that is, darkness does not allow one to see the way. Works of darkness, like drunkenness, quarrelling, and jealousy are like stumbling in the night.

Consider the Igbo village square (ama), where disputes are settled openly. Darkness thrives in secrecy, but the ama thrives in transparency. Paul’s teaching resonates here: to cast off hidden sins and live in the open light of truth, just as Igbo justice is carried out before the community.

Putting on the Armour of Light

Paul’s imagery of “armour of light” is striking. For the Igbo, light (ìhè) is not just physical brightness but a symbol of wisdom, clarity, and divine presence. Igbo proverb reminds us again: “Onye na-eso ìhè anaghị efu ụzọ” that is, he who follows the light does not lose the way.

The armour of light is like the ọfọ na ogu (symbols of truth and innocence) carried by elders. These are not weapons of war but shields of righteousness. To put on the armour of light is to clothe oneself in integrity, communal responsibility, and the courage to resist corruption.

Imagine Nigeria clothed in this armour: leaders transparent, communities united, and citizens walking in truth. The Igbo, with their heritage of accountability, can be prophetic witnesses to this vision.

Living Honourably

Paul insists: “Let us live honourably, as in the day.”

In Igbo culture, honour (ugwu) is central. A man without honour is considered impoverished, no matter his wealth. Honour is shown in respect for elders, fairness in trade, and fidelity to communal values.

Paul’s call to honourable living is a reminder that salvation is not abstract; it is lived in daily choices. For the Igbo, this means rejecting bribery, resisting envy, and embracing communal stewardship. Honour is not just personal; it is communal, shaping the dignity of the entire land.

Prophecy and Inference for Today

• Prophecy: The dawn of justice is near; the Igbo are called to awaken as moral torchbearers for Nigeria.

• Inference: Works of darkness, namely violence, corruption, or jealousy must be cast aside for the nation to flourish.

• Narrative: Just as the yam farmer rises at dawn to tend his crop, so must the Igbo rise to tend the moral soil of Nigeria, planting seeds of justice and harvesting peace.

Matthew 24:36–44

The Mystery of the Hour

Jesus begins with a sobering truth: “About that day and that hour, no one knows… but only the Father.”

In Igbo thought, time (oge) is sacred yet mysterious. Farmers know the seasons of yam planting and harvest, but sudden rains or droughts remind them that ultimate control belongs to Chukwu (God). Just as no one can predict the exact hour of the flood in Noah’s day, so too the Igbo proverb says: “Oge mmadụ dị ka anwụrụ ọkụ” that is, a person’s time is like smoke, fleeting and beyond grasp.

This calls the Igbo community to humility: to recognize that life is not fully in human hands, and to live prepared, not presumptuous.

The Days of Noah

Jesus recalls how people in Noah’s time were eating, drinking, and marrying, unaware of the flood. In Igbo land, weddings (ịgba nkwụ) and feasts are joyous communal events. Yet Jesus warns that joy without vigilance can lead to ruin. The flood swept away those who ignored the signs.

This is prophetic for Nigeria today. Many are consumed by celebrations, politics, and wealth, while ignoring the moral decay around them. The Gospel challenges the Nigerian people to balance joy with vigilance, to celebrate responsibly while keeping watch for God’s justice.

Two in the Field, One Taken

Jesus paints vivid images: two men in the field, one taken; two women grinding, one taken.For the Igbo, the field (ugbo) is central to life, yam farms, cassava plots, palm groves. Women grinding flour (ịkwọ ọka) symbolize daily sustenance. Jesus’ imagery shows that God’s coming cuts across ordinary life. Salvation is not about where you are but how you live.

This resonates with the Igbo proverb: “Ihe onye metere ka ọ ga-erite” that is, a person reaps what he sows. One farmer may be taken because he sowed righteousness; another left because he sowed corruption. The Gospel warns that God’s judgment is personal, even within the same household or community.

Stay Awake, Be Ready

Jesus concludes: “Stay alert, for you do not know on what day the Lord is coming.”

In Igbo villages, night watchmen (ndi nche abalị) guard against thieves. Families put their harvests in barns and stay awake to protect their yam barns (ọba ji). Jesus uses this familiar image: if you knew a thief was coming, you would not sleep.

This is a call to spiritual vigilance. For the Igbo, it means guarding the moral barns of the community, resisting corruption, protecting truth, and nurturing justice. Just as a thief comes unexpectedly, so too will the Son of Man. Preparedness is not fear, but wisdom.

Prophecy and Inference for Today

• Prophecy: The unexpected hour will reveal the true state of Nigeria’s soul. Those who sow corruption will be swept away; those who walk in justice will stand.

• Inference: Igbo communities must live as if the hour is near, rejecting complacency, embracing vigilance, and cultivating righteousness.

• Narrative: Just as Noah built the ark while others mocked, so must the Igbo build moral arks today, structures of justice, truth, and communal honour that will withstand the floods of corruption and division.

  
  

Conclusion

Beloved, the mountain of the Lord is rising above the hills. The dawn is breaking. The hour is near. Let Ndigbo be found awake, clothed in honour, vigilant in justice, and steadfast in communal peace.

Central Call: Let us beat our swords into ploughs, cast off the works of darkness, and stay awake in the light of Christ.