Dominica I Adventus C
1 December 2024

Our word “advent” comes from the Latin “adventus,” which is, in turn, a translation from the Greek word “Parousia.” Parousia and adventus mean “arrival” or “coming.” Our use of the word “advent” refers not only to the coming of Christ at his Incarnation and birth at Christmas, but it also refers to his second coming as Judge at the end of time. The Catholic faith believes in these two comings of Christ: the Incarnation and the Second Coming, as we clearly profess each time we state the Creed. Advent is a time of year that is hectic and exciting in holiday anticipation. And so, the gospel selection today may sound almost strange to us, as if it is out of place for Advent. Where is John the Baptist? Where is the tender story of the virgin with child? And if we think this gospel passage is out of place for Advent, perhaps that teaches us a critical lesson about how we view life and faith. What is truly strange? Is it the Church’s focus and the scriptural selection that is strange and doesn’t fit? Or is it rather how we tend to live that risks being out of step with Christian preparedness and vigilance for the moment when the Lord comes again? As we look ahead to celebrate the birth of Christ, which has already happened in time, we must remember that we can never pause our ongoing preparation and looking ahead to that coming of the Lord that we still await: the advent, the Parousia of the Lord, at his Second Coming!

The gospel is from Jesus’ discourse on the Mount of Olives where he speaks of his second coming. He speaks of dramatic cosmic signs that will accompany his return in glory and he alludes to a prophecy from the Book of Daniel that the Son of Man will come in the clouds. These signs are disturbing. People will be in dismay and perplexed. In fact, “people will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world.” Considering this, Jesus’ instruction seems counterintuitive. He says when you see these things “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” He says that we are to be vigilant in our belief that the coming tribulations are imminent. We can add to this the lesson from the second reading that we do even more to be ready for the Lord’s return. St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God – and as you are conducting yourselves – you do so even more”.

How are we possibly supposed to face the final advent, the final coming of the Lord? Jesus tells us that our responsibility is to be prepared. I want to offer two general categories of how we prepare: (1) Some things not to do; and then, (2) Some things to do. The things not to do. Jesus says, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” Jesus warns us to take care that our hearts not be weighed down by things that will prevent us from being ready to stand erect and to raise our heads. In particular, we must be on guard not to become drowsy from “carousing”. Other translations of this passage use the word “dissipation.” That’s a word commonly used of the younger son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The word in Greek translated as “dissipation” or “carousing” refers to “unbridled indulgence.” We become drowsy and unprepared when we give in to unbridled indulgence in all the pleasures of the flesh: money, sex, power, food, recreation, sleep, and material goods. These are the things that we cave to so easily in our fallen nature, making them our focus and, in so doing, becoming weighed down with an earthly, lower focus that obscures our true dignity as God’s children and impedes our ability to be ready to stand up and to raise our heads to meet the Lord when he comes. To respond to Jesus’ call to be vigilant for his second coming, we have to guard our hearts so that we do not let them fall in love with a disordered and unbridled attachment to lower things that weigh us down and keep us from being prepared.

And then, the things to do. Jesus tells us that our responsibility is to be prepared. Jesus says, “Be vigilant at all times and pray.” This refers to the spiritual advice of staying awake and praying, especially in the night time hours. This spiritual discipline of vigilance is perhaps less considered than a more familiar spiritual discipline like fasting, but it is just as much part of the Jewish and Christian traditions. Monks get up while it is still dark, late at night or very early in the morning, to pray. That time of prayer – not surprisingly – is called “vigils.” This call to be vigilant, to stay awake and to pray, helps us understand and appreciate key Catholic practices. Ever wonder why we have a Midnight Mass at Christmas? To keep vigil, to stay awake and to pray ourselves into the dawning of light on Christmas Day. We keep vigil on Holy Thursday night after the Mass, praying before the gift of the Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament. We have an Easter Vigil that is always held in the darkness of Holy Saturday night so that we keep vigil as preparation for the arrival of Easter Sunday. If you don’t already do so, you might consider whether you can attend those special Masses. The spiritual practice of vigilance can also be grown in the devotion of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. When we come to an adoration chapel we are coming to be vigilant, to stay awake and to pray before and with the Lord. Perhaps the message of Jesus on this First Sunday of Advent might drive you to take up this practice, to commit to adoration, and to let the Lord prepare you for his return. We always need more parishioners to commit to participate by taking time in our chapel, especially in the night time hours. Let this be a call to you to participate in quiet time with the Lord. I hope you will learn more about adoration and commit to time in our chapel. You won’t regret it! The Lord tells us to be vigilant, to stay awake, and to pray that we may have strength to escape what comes and to stand before him. Physical strength will do us no good at the Second Coming. We need spiritual strength. Train yourself in that spiritual discipline of vigilance that we perhaps unwisely leave only to the most dedicated monks. Stay awake and pray with the Lord in adoration so that you remind yourself of his Kingdom already present here and now, whose fullness we await in the life to come. Train yourself in prayer and adoration to desire that Kingdom more than daily anxieties. And as you pray before the Lord let him help you identify the sins that need confession. Let him raise your head and cause you to stand secure in his love such that when that day with disturbing signs comes, you may see it not as a day of fear but as the arrival, the advent, of the gift of God’s love and desire for you: “Your redemption is at hand!”

Homilies