1st Sunday of Advent

November 30, 2003

"As the sands in the hour glass so are the days of our lives I don’t know of anyone who uses an hour glass any more, except perhaps for boiling an egg. We have more precise analog clocks and watches which measure the movement of hands in relationship to one another. We also have digital time pieces, accurate to the thousandths of a second, but have no relation to past or future, strictly the present.

As human beings we are deeply rooted in the cycle of times and seasons and anniversaries. They help us to understand the mysterious why of life. In different ways each liturgical season helps us to celebrate particular expression of Jesus’ saving Paschal mystery.

All too often the season of Advent is viewed as a time of waiting for Christmas. But it doesn’t express the reality of our lives. Who waits? Decorations have been displayed in stores since before Labor Day; green and red aisles alternating with orange and black. Perhaps the only waiting is in the long line at the registers. Waiting like that is a grind on our nerves.

But by declaring that God is Emmanuel, that God dwells in our time, He has sanctified time forever. The season of Advent is a measure of many things.

Reflected in today’s readings we find that Advent remembers that the prophet Jeremiah proclaims God’s message to a people bewildered and in need of consolation. Broken, seemingly hopeless, their Temple destroyed and many deported, the prophet turns their eyes, no matter how dark to focus on the light.

Advent forewarns not to be concerned with the passing things of the world however attractive, but to be prepared for the Day of the Savior’s coming--the Day of Salvation--not a day of the nebulous future--but the Day is Now--Dies Domini--the Day of the Lord.

St. Paul urges us, as followers of Christ, to turn from our self-centeredness and narcisstic selfishness, to live in relationship with God who is life and love. If we really believed that, wouldn’t we welcome one another and help one another to recognize and rejoice in the salvation of God. Surely we would not have to be embarrassed by the press saying that New Englanders are the "stingiest people in America".

Advent challenges us to see each day as a day of salvation; "A day to awaken and realize that we are closer than when we first accepted the faith." At least we ought to be. The gospel, which begins with images of gloom and doom is truly a wake up call; a time to awaken to the grace which the Messiah promised and gave; a grace that will never allow us to be tested beyond our endurance.

Yet we know that at times we fail. If we don’t know the darkness is darker than you think. We fail God, we fail one another, and we fail ourselves. And in all of that failure lies the greatest temptation, to despair and give up hope. Despair is the ultimate failure, as it was for Judas. Despair is always a possibility. We cannot assume the grace of final perseverance. We must pray for it daily, rejoicing in the hope that God will never fail us.

Advent invites us to come each day with this rejoicing, to come to the house of the lord. To come implies that we are not stagnant or asleep but moving freely on a journey or pilgrimage; to come to the house of the Lord means getting our own house in order. It is a time for examining not so much our deeds but our attitudes, not so much what we do or fail to do, but the attitude which motivates us.

The gospel today offers us very practical advice not only for our lives in general but especially during these next few weeks. "Be on guard lest your spirits become blotted with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares. It is a time to cast aside the provisions of the flesh.

Drunkenness -- is it really necessary that we celebrate in the name of the Savior’s birth--or any other event by toxifying our brains so that we cannot remember. What was the first thing I said about Advent at the beginning of this homily?

Lust -- which often is the bride of drunkenness. Surely lust is a challenge at any moment but more easily bridled when one is sober.

And then there’s gluttony, which we may not even think about, but it can be no less a physical or spiritual toxin to our relationship with God, others and self.

Any of these are sinful attitudes more than actions; attitudes of the heart, of which we must repent, which means turning around 180°. It is the new attitudes that we are invited to bring to the house of the Lord on pilgrimage and to bring to the stable as gifts for the new born King.

And finally, Advent invites us to awaken, to open our eyes to these innermost attitudes. The night is far spent. The day draws near. It is not just a question of putting off night clothes and donning a clean outfit. We must bring into our darkness the illumination of grace. We must let it penetrate into the darkest part of our heart to discover who is reigning on the throne. If it is God – rejoice. If it isn’t God -- then move over and then rejoice "for your salvation is nearer than when you first believed."

May your season of Advent be happy and holy and know that God is with you. Amen.