Fr. Rick’s Homily: First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2024
Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14; 1 Thes 3:12—4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Notice the purple vestments and altar cloths which we began using again today. Purple is a sign of penance and cleansing. Advent is a time of reconciliation, fasting, interior examination. It’s a time of waiting, expectancy and anticipation.
Waiting for what? Anticipating what? The gospel today states at the end times “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world.” What could be so dreadful that would cause us to die of fright just anticipating some event?
Anticipating holiday visitors that are usually antagonistic or disruptive in some way? Anxieties of daily life of making our dollars last at the grocery stores, getting to appointments on time, awaiting the next lab reports from the hospital? Depending on our emotional and spiritual state, these seemingly routine activities and events can be overwhelming.
We might dread hearing the world news in anticipation of more violence and the likely disruption of our familiar routines. I talk to a lot of people who say they just don’t listen to the news. (One of my sisters told me the other day she doesn’t even listen to the weather). Granted we have to listen selectively, but we should be able to face the world we’re passing on to our grandchildren. Maybe others need to fast from TOO MUCH media and news and the endless COMMENTARY.
The last line of the Gospel today is, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent.”
Sometimes the good news is wrapped in the worst news. It can seem counter intuitive as Jesus is often working in surprising ways. Our Advent reflections and journey into the heart can prepare us for the unexpected joy of Christ in our world.
The season of Advent comes along just as we are edging closer to the shortest (and hence darkest) day of the year. The liturgical season recognizes a natural and necessary time to withdraw a bit from the often too busy, noisy world and all the artificial lights. Before all the conveniences and distractions offered by electric lights and other modern developments, people naturally quieted down because it was dark and more conducive to listening to the inner promptings and rumblings within us. Human beings need this slower, quieter time to reflect and contemplate on the previous year. Sometimes this might involve re-entering some of our less pleasant feelings that require more time and spiritual space to process. Advent is a good time to grieve, but also to honor some of the more subtle gifts and blessings we have received. This past year we have encountered countless people who have graciously served us in some capacity or blessed us with a particularly friendly demeanor. The fact that there is so much friendly and cooperative interaction in the world instead of chaos is proof of Divine providence. Not everywhere in the world do people enjoy such peace and relative safety.
This deeper awareness of our personal and communal worlds is an important aspect of prayer. Prayer is largely a state of being and a true awareness of God’s presence. As Catholics we know that God has indeed drawn us into His very presence. We call this the ‘indwelling LOVE of the Trinity.’ The Holy Spirit that we have received is the very Spirit of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You have probably already had several conversations about this over the past week or two. Right? (Gaze around slowly at the congregation). Likely this is not part of our daily conversation or awareness. This is why we need Advent. It’s not just a period of time; it’s a dimension.
Advent itself is sort of a paradox. We are essentially preparing for something, the birth of Jesus, that already happened 2000 years ago. If Jesus already came and as we celebrated last weekend, He is King of the Universe, why this specific 5-week period of preparation. Well, the Church understands human nature and our propensity to make up our own world, priorities, rules, and order. All too often that produces results such as present-day Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Afghanistan. Or in our own country, the coming rancor of more budget negotiations and Senate confirmations of Cabinet picks. This does not seem like the ‘indwelling love of the Trinity’.
To pray well and to be conscious of which rules, from which king we are actually following, takes a deliberate reflection and honesty. This requires ‘praying from the heart’. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tell us:
CCC # 2562-63 According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain. The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place “to which I withdraw.” The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.
Wow, if this is true we could wonder if 5 weeks of Advent is going to be enough. If our prayers are in vain when our hearts are far from God and if praying from the heart requires a journey into our hidden center which is beyond the grasp of our reason and of others, what type of space do we need to create in our lives? Do we have time in our busy schedules and daily demands? If we don’t, then who is making up the rules in our lives? Last week the King of the Universe told us that His Kingdom is not of this world….. Then who IS our king? Gulp.
The last line of the Gospel today is, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent.”
Sometimes the good news is wrapped in the worst news. It can seem counter intuitive as Jesus is often working in the most surprising ways. Our Advent reflections and journey into the heart can prepare us for the unexpected joy of Christ in our world.
This year I have recommended participating in the short video series offered by the St. Paul Center, Walking with the Holy Family—a free 32-day Advent series from the St. Paul Center—you’ll explore 32 brief video reflections on the Scriptures and the Church’s mystical and liturgical tradition. These reflections center around the key messianic promises of the Old Testament, and their typological fulfillment in Christ and His Church.
Also, consider spending some quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. I will likely be available for confessions during that period just in case any of you have had a tendency to make up your own rules over the past few months. I’m also available for Confession by appointment; just leave a message on the office phone.
Today we will light the first Advent candle on our journey which will create more Divine light as we progress through this holy season. As we enter more fully into the Eucharistic celebration let’s now try to open ourselves more fully to this Divine space…