Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 30 November 2025

Awakening to the Presence of Christ

Canon Robin Gibbons reflects on a passage from the Letter to the Romans, which brings a message of clarity and renewal. He focuses on the Apostle Paul’s call to wake up from sleep and recognize that salvation is nearer now than ever before. Gibbons interprets this as a reminder to live awaken, alert to God’s presence working in and through every moment of life.

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light."

Living in the Light

According to Gibbons, Paul’s image of the “armour of light” urges believers to protect their spiritual integrity and act justly in the world. This means rejecting self-interest, indulgence, and moral indifference. Instead, followers of Christ should live transparently and courageously, allowing the light of faith to guide them.

He contrasts this awakening with modern society’s distractions, where people often lose themselves in noise, consumption, and superficial goals. True Christian life, he writes, begins in awareness — in seeing the divine in daily encounters and responding to it with compassion and honesty.

A Call to Transformation

Gibbons stresses that this reflection marks the beginning of Advent, a season not just of waiting but of transformation. The call to “wake up” is both personal and communal: every believer is invited to examine where darkness still resides in their own heart and what steps can bring renewal.

Jesus’ coming, he reminds, is not only a historical event but a continual awakening of the divine within humanity. To live Advent well, one must cultivate openness, hope, and the courage to change.

"To be awake is to see the world through God’s eyes — to live as one who dares to hope and act in love."

Advent as Daily Practice

The reflection concludes with an encouragement for readers to live each day of Advent consciously, embracing light over darkness. In doing so, they prepare a spiritual space for Christ’s light to enter more deeply, both within themselves and in the wider world.

Author’s summary: A reflection by Canon Robin Gibbons on awakening to divine presence and moral renewal during Advent, drawn from St. Paul’s exhortation to live as children of the light.

Independent Catholic News — 2025-11-29