Today we begin a new season, a new time in the church year, we entered into the season of Advent, the season of preparation for a new birth. Steve, our parish manager, and his wife just gave birth to their third addition to their family; thanks be to God a healthy Michael James was born a couple of days ago. Steve and Jamie have been preparing themselves and their household both spiritually and financially for the coming of the new birth into their lives. Likewise, the rest of the parish staff and I are trying to prepare ourselves for work without Steve’s presence in the office for a little while, even though we are happy for them and know it is coming, we’re still not fully ready. So, like it or not, ready or not, this season is indeed a time of change, a time of preparation, and like the Mandarino household, time for a new birth in our lives. Let’s look at today’s readings to help ready and prepare us for this new birth.
Our Gospel today from Luke begins like the Gospel of Mark did just 2 weeks ago, talking about the signs which signify the end of time and the 2nd coming of Jesus. Jesus says, “when these signs begin to happen raise your heads because your redemption is at hand”. To some, perhaps talking about the end of the world and the 2nd coming of Jesus is a little confusing for the 1st Sunday of Advent, which after all, is the happy memory of Christ’s first coming into the world. However, make no mistake about it, Jesus is about Redemption. Whether it be his first or his second coming, he comes for the same purpose- to bring about salvation and redemption upon the earth.
Our 1st reading from the Prophet Jeremiah begins, “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah, Jeremiah is talking about the promise of unity, peace, and salvation God made to his scattered people. The Lord through the prophet goes on to say, “In those days, in that time I will raise up for David a just shoot, which we know is ultimately referring to Jesus Christ a descendent of King David. But notice how real that time being talked about is, ‘in those days, in that time’- how certain of a time it is. In today’s readings our Lord is talking about a physical coming, a real moment in history- our 1st reading a prophecy about His first coming by birth that has already happened, and our Gospel about his second and final coming in glory that is yet to happen. My brothers and sisters, our God, who is the author of time and space, but yet who Himself is outside time and space, can make a time in history that has happened and a time that will happen, can make that time be the eternal now. Therefore, what I am saying, is that the real time of salvation and redemption that has and will happen, that real moment can happen for us now.
And so, as we enter into this season of Advent, are you, am I, just going to let this be a normal and routine time of preparation for the birth of Christ, are we going to just go through this time the same way perhaps we have every year, or are we going to ask God to make this time be a true season of redemption, a real season of change? Are we ready for the change God wants to do in us? Let us ask God to make us ready and wanting.
Our Gospel goes on to say, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life”. Some people do have a tendency for carousing or drunkenness, in which they lose control over their words or actions. However, dare I say, all of us have the tendency to let our hearts become drowsy because of the anxieties of daily life, that is we let the anxieties of life get us down and we lose control of our inner peace and happiness. I have been told that I am a joyful person, which always seem to have a pleasant and happy disposition. If that is true, than that is simply because I have let God be Lord of my life. However, a couple of days ago, after a somewhat busy day, I was out running errands wearing my collar. I was tired and emotionally spent, and as I got into the car where I have Catholic radio (AM 1310- hint hint) programmed and started listening about the hope and love God brings in our daily life. I noticed that I had let my heart become drowsy, and I was just kind of going through the motions that day. And even though I was in my collar, my attitude and inner self wasn’t revealing the love of God and the Good News of being in relationship with Jesus Christ to those I encountered. I reflected that is because although I had spent some time in prayer that day, that time was spent mostly just saying my routine prayers, and I hadn’t fully surrendered my heart and let my soul bask in the love of God. And as the anxieties of the day caught up to me, I didn’t relate and offer them to God, but instead I was carrying the burdens myself. So through Catholic radio proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and love of God, the Holy Spirit caused me to recognize how I had let my heart become drowsy that day.
Perhaps, and hopefully, the Holy Spirit is convicting you or making you recognize that in yourself right now. And so, what are we going to do about it? Are we just going to let this time be normal and routine, or are we going to ask that this season be a time of grace-filled redemption? Join me in praying that this season will be a true renewal for our hearts and be spiritually renewed this season. Pray that we will have a deeper desire for prayer and longing for God, pray that we will recognize the areas in which the Lord is calling us to grow and reveal the love of God. And join me in praying, as our 2nd reading says, “May the Lord make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as to strengthen our hearts to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father”. May this time be a true growth of becoming blameless in holiness before our God and Father. The time has come, are we ready? Will we take every opportunity to grow in holiness, or will we let this time pass away without significance? Will we effect change in our lives? Stay tuned next week for what and how we can grow in this time and season.