Promises, Instructions and Warnings

Promises, Instructions and Warnings
Homily for November 27, 2016    First Sunday of Advent - A
by Dcn. Bob Bonomi

Happy New Year!  For us Catholics, today, the First Sunday of Advent, is the beginning of a New Liturgical Year.  But it would be a little strange to run around and wish people a “Happy New Liturgical Year”, so I’m sticking with just “Happy New Year”.  Try it – it might make people think you’re crazy but it will also give you an opportunity to talk about the Real Meaning of Christmas.

And despite what you are seeing on TV and in the stores, this isn’t the beginning of the Christmas season, but of the season of Advent.  The word “Advent” comes from the Latin 'Adventus,' which means 'coming', and it is a preparatory season – a season of looking forward and waiting in anticipation for something great to happen.  And as Catholics we use this period of Advent to prepare for two distinctly different events – the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus the historical figure, and, more importantly, for the time when Jesus the Christ will come again.

And all three of today’s readings help us to begin our preparations for this second event, the return of Christ: the first is a promise; then a series of instructions; and finally - a warning.

First, the promise.  Isaiah talks about the future Kingdom of God that is to come, and he gives us a vision of hope.  He describes the coming Kingdom as one of worldly peace; that there will be a day when people “from all nations” will come and seek the Kingdom.  There will be no more wars, nor a need for them.  The day of our salvation is coming. 

But we are not there yet.  And so, St. Paul gives us instructions in his Letter to the Romans on how we should be preparing ourselves for that day of salvation.  His instructions sound almost the opposite of some of our Christmas preparations, doesn’t it?  How many times have we heard about Christmas office parties which get out of hand?  Did you know that there is more alcohol consumed for Christmas than any other time of the year except for New Year’s Eve?  As for rivalry and jealousy, all we have to do is look to how people respond to Black Friday sales to see just how bad people can act. 

And while that sense that the world will end tomorrow has diminished over the last two thousand years, our own need for a sense of urgency in our lives has not diminished, for we do not know the time and the place of our own departure and, sooner than later, we will be facing God, at least individually.

Which brings us to today’s Gospel.  It seems to be a bit of a downer to begin a season marked with preparations for Christmas with such dire predictions.  In his warning to His disciples, Jesus gives a harsh, apocalyptic view of the future – two men are working in the field: one is taken: one is left behind.  Two women grinding in the mill: one taken; one left behind.  The book series, “Left Behind” by Jenkens and LaHaye, was based on a literal interpretation of this passage – all of the faithful have been taken away by Christ, leaving the rest of humanity to face the upcoming apocalyptic battle between good and evil.

And yet, although we normally think of it as referring to some sort of cataclysmic event, the word Apocalypse comes from a Greek word which means literally "unveiling," or a revelation of something unknown.  The second coming of Christ isn’t a time of depression; it is a time of joy for those who are ready.  What if this passage means that the bad guys are taken away, leaving the rest of us to enjoy a new world with Jesus, free from tribulation?  After all, Jesus has told us that He is coming back TO us, that the world will be renewed.  Wherever we are in life, there is a better future in store for us.  We wait in anticipation for His second coming to us.

Unfortunately, for many people the days leading up to Christmas ARE depressing.  There are those who will be facing the holidays for the first time without a loved one who may have died or is gone; there are those who see all of the celebrations and feel the pressures of not having enough to celebrate with them; there are those who may be experiencing family problems and may be estranged from those they should be loving.  They cannot see that the focus of this season is not about parties and presents, but about the gift that God already gave us - the gift of Jesus and the promise of a better future in His Kingdom, where we will be reunited with loved ones and experience the joy of being in the presence of God.

So let’s not get lost in doom and gloom.  Advent isn’t a season of worry and despair; it is a season of hope and anticipation.  I read somewhere, from a Catholic source no less, that since the Christmas season doesn’t begin until December 25th, that we shouldn’t be singing Christmas carols or turning on Christmas lights or even sending out Christmas cards before that day.   I’ve never understood that.  Think about the time just before a baby is born.  What do you do?  You clean and decorate the baby’s nursery; you hold baby showers and prepare gifts for the newborn; and if you’re GOOD friends of the mother-to-be, you might even prepare food for the family, knowing that once the child is born these will be the things which the family will need for the new addition to the family.

And so it is with us.  Advent is a season of preparation, of anticipation.  Let us take these next four weeks to prepare for the annual celebration of Jesus’ birthday, allowing the Spirit of Christmas enter into our lives and sharing with each other the joys we have received because Jesus is in our lives.  Sing songs; share food and fellowship.  But don’t let the frenetic activities of preparing for celebrating a historical event overshadow the true meaning of Christmas.  Let us also prepare ourselves for His second coming into our lives.

Happy New Year.