Homily: 1st Sunday in Advent – Cycle C
A
couple of weeks ago, we heard readings that described what it would be like
when time comes to an end and God makes his final judgment on the world. I recall that none of us thought that it
sounded much like a party. The prophet
Daniel called it, “a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until
that time.” Jesus himself said that, “In
those days after the tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will
not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers
in the heavens will be shaken.” In other
words, it will be a time when the whole world seems like it is collapsing and
falling apart (because, in reality, it will be!).
I
know that, over these past four weeks, many of you have been worried about the
promises that our president-elect has made to deport all persons who are here
in this country illegally. I also know
that, even if you are here legally, there’s a lot of fear that you may be swept
up in these deportations. Perhaps, if
you’re like me, you’re just fearful for the trauma that any of these efforts
may cause to individuals and families.
All in all, it may seem like these are signs that the world around us is
collapsing and that the final judgment is about to occur. None of these things are pleasant to think
about, so I wouldn’t blame any of you if you spent a lot of time trying not to
think about it.
Nonetheless,
at one level or another, we all know that, when it is inevitable that something
will happen and that it will affect us negatively if we do nothing, then we
must think about it so that we can prepare: either to minimize the negative
effect or to avoid it all together. Those
of you who are fearful that the life you’ve built here may collapse in a moment
are thinking about what you will do if that becomes a reality. I pray that none of you has to face that reality. I don’t even want to imagine it and I’m sure
that none of you do, either. But preparing
for the possibility is the way that you will make yourselves ready to face that
reality, should it come.
In
our Gospel reading today, it may seem as if Jesus is dealing in exactly the
same kind of “scare-mongering”. We heard
how he said to his disciples, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and
the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of
the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is
coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then
they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” This sounds very much like the fearful picture
of the final judgment that he painted in our Gospel reading two weeks ago. This sounds like Jesus wants us to be afraid
of that day.
The
next words of Jesus correct that idea, however.
For he said, “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and
raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Jesus wants us to be very aware of just how
bad it is going to look on the day of the final judgment. This, because he doesn’t want us to miss the
fact that this day will be our day of redemption: our day of victory! “While the rest of the world is cowering in
fear on that day,” Jesus seems to be saying, “you must stand confidently,
because it will be the day of my return on which I will gather you all to myself.”
What
a blessing! Jesus does not wish us to be
lost on the day of final judgment and so he has revealed to us how that day will
appear, so that we will interpret those signs correctly and respond just as he
has instructed us. In order to do so,
however, we must remain vigilant. Thus,
Jesus, in the second part of the reading today, exhorts his disciples (and us
through them) to guard against the “drowsiness” of becoming too enmeshed with the
things of this world. Jesus knows that
the anxieties of daily living (that is, ensuring that we have food, clothing, and
shelter), along with the temptations toward excessive consumption that our modern
society affords, can make us lose sight of the fact that the day of final
judgment is coming and, thus, unready when it comes. If we are not vigilant—that is, not waiting
attentively for that day—and, thus, unready, we will lose our redemption and
suffer eternal separation from God. If we
are vigilant—that is, not losing sight that we are constantly marching towards
that day—we will keep ourselves ready for that day and, thus, receive the
reward of our vigilance, eternal peace with God.
Therefore,
my friends, we come again to this time of Advent to be reminded of our need to
remain vigilant and to focus once again on ensuring that our whole selves—that
is, our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our strength—are prepared for the
coming of the Lord: not just the celebration of his first coming, but for his return
on the day of final judgment. Just like
Lent, Advent is a time of preparation: of putting things in order, of gathering
what is needed, and of discarding that which is a burden. Therefore, Advent becomes a very fitting time
to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation and to fast from those things that
distract us from prayer and that make us selfish: that is, the things that make
us drowsy to the things of God and that keep us from diligently living our
discipleship in our daily lives. The Lord
knows how difficult this is today, given the materialism and consumerism that
has come to characterize “secular Christmas”.
Nevertheless, this is all the more reason to engage this work: for the
difficulty of the work will serve to make us stronger and, thus, more prepared
for the day of Christ’s return.
Friends,
the easiest way to begin this work is to make time for silence. Each day, we are surrounded by noise: radio,
television, social media, notifications, etc.
This noise distracts us and makes it difficult to remain vigilant. My recommendation is that you commit to time
in silence each day this Advent: no radio, no television, no social media, and
no notifications. Turn all of it off and
strive to sit and to allow yourself to become aware of God, present with you in
that moment, and to be aware of yourself—that is, what is going on inside of
you—so that you might make your whole self present to God. Start small: maybe just ten minutes a day,
each day, then increasing a little each week of Advent. This intentional reminder will help you to
remain conscious of God throughout your day, thus expanding your vigilance and
heightening your preparation for his coming.
It’s not very complicated, but it won’t be very easy, either. God will help you, however, if you give
yourself to this work.
Therefore,
my friends, let us confidently take up this good work of Advent and, thus,
prepare ourselves worthily for his coming.
And let us give thanks to him in this Mass: thanks that he is with us
even now and that he strengthens us with his divine life for this good work. Thus strengthened, we can be joyful in the
face of every adversity: because in each we can see a foreshadowing of the day
of our victory, when Christ will appear and find us standing with raised heads:
ready to enter with him into his glory. Mary,
our Mother, accompanies us in this good work.
Through her intercession, may God, who is beginning this good work in
us, bring it to fulfillment.
Given in Spanish at St. Joseph Parish: Rochester, IN –
December 1st, 2024
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