We stand at the beginning of the liturgical year – the year of Matthew – in this First Sunday of Advent.
Advent reminds us of the sure fact that Jesus will return in glory. Advent is also a time to prepare for the Solemnity of the Lord’s Nativity, the feast of Christmas.
The first reading brings us a vision of heaven, God’s mountain, where all nations will come and live together in peace. The Lord himself will be judge and arbitrator between the peoples of the earth, and they will change their weapons of war into instruments for cultivating fields and plants. Christ knows how deeply the human heart yearns for concord, harmony, communion. God’s mountain described in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is the promise of such concord and harmony. We have the vision, even if this vision will only be fulfilled at the end of time, after the Last Judgement, when Our Lord Jesus Christ returns to restore the Kingdom to God the Father.
The second reading, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, asks us to be focused – as he puts it, “the day is near”. We are to live honourably, not getting drunk or high, not giving in to the corruption and the lusts of the flesh, not quarrelling and in-fighting. We are to strive after goodness, self-control, chastity, purity. By living in such a way, we “put on the armour of light”, in St. Paul’s words. Have you ever noticed how some people radiate light? This is not the in the CGI special-effects way, where a movie hero might become so bright, that he blinds his enemies. No, the light that radiates from the saints is one that attracts, glows, gives a steady light, at times it challenges and exposes sin, but it does not burn or overpower.
The Gospel asks us to consider and be mindful of the fact that the Son of Man is returning at an unexpected hour, using the image of a thief in the night who breaks into a home at an unforeseen time. We are to be awake, to be ready, to be watchful. As the Homiletic Directory, the document that is the preacher’s hand-book, explains, “On this Sunday it is the preacher’s responsibility to remind the Christian people that they need always prepare themselves for this coming and judgement” (Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, #80). St. Hilary of Poitiers, a Father of the Church, put it this way: “the thief is the devil who seeks to invade our bodily homes with the darts of his thoughts and allurements in order to ruin us while we are sleepy and careless. It is good therefore that we be prepared. Our ignorance of the day of Christ’s return should provoke us to be careful as we eagerly await his coming” (Matthew 14-28, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Manlio Simonetti ed., 2002, pg. 210).
In the surrounding culture, we are well on the way to preparing for Christmas: “Advent puts Christmas in mind, and in many places the wider culture is already conjuring up the gentle images of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem” (Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, #80). Christmas has great appeal, even in a purely secular perspective: in Japan, for example, the 25 th of December is a day for exchanging presents, but also as a day for candle-light dinners, when couples get together, as they celebrate the romantic love they have for each other.
So, in the midst of the Christmas carols already playing, Christmas decorations already up in many places, Christmas parties already occurring, it is important to ask the question – how does a Catholic live Advent?
Here are some suggestions: make a conscious effort each day, to spend some time in silent prayer – here in the church – at a quiet spot at home – or maybe in our wonderful adoration chapel. Follow the readings of the day, because the Liturgy of the Word during Mass is a sure guide for living Advent in a faithful way. Consider attending some weekday Masses or some Rorate Masses during the time of Advent. As you come into the church, you can stop by the figure of St. Joseph and then the figure of Our Lady and ask them to help you live Advent well. Also, if you haven’t been confessing for the past little while, then do a good examination of conscience, and go to confession.
Most importantly, try to have Advent unfold on its own rhythm; I would venture to say that the greatest gift, the best present that you can give to someone else is that divine light, that “armour of light”, as St. Paul describes it, that glows, warms and invites.
As we stand at the beginning of the liturgical year, in this First Sunday of Advent, let us try to have this season unfold with its own rhythm. In Advent we are reminded that Jesus will return in glory, and that He has been born in time. Let us patiently await his manifestation.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, Dec. 1, 2019)