First Sunday of Advent

11-27-2016HomiliesFr. Chauncey Winkler

This Sunday begins the Advent season of preparation. This is the beginning of the Year of our Lord 2017. This year we will be following Jesus primarily in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, Jesus warns of the coming destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. An event which happened in 70AD. An event that shook the Jewish people to their foundation.

While Jesus' words of warning in today's gospel are specifically for the Temple event and not for His second coming at the "end of time", nevertheless, His teaching to be always alert and always ready for God's judgment is applicable to every people in every age. While this question is important all year long, in the season of Advent, it is emphasized and placed before us quite deliberately. So let us ask: "Am I living my life today the way I want Jesus to find me?" and also, "Is our parish community life ready to welcome the Lord in all his glory?"

One of our biggest obstacles to being ready is that we get all tangled up in the cares and worries that are limited to this life and have no place in eternity. This leaves us unprepared. We are active in the world but spiritually asleep. What can we do to prepare? We must commit ourselves to reserve a properly respectful chunk of time every day that belongs to God and not to ourselves. It might be similar to time in your life that already belongs to someone else like your spouse or your children or your boss. These are commitments you have made and you fulfill these with time in your day. The Lord is most worthy of our commitment and our time. Sunday already belongs to Him and not to ourselves. So each day, do something that points toward Sunday. Read and pray Scripture, pray your rosary, pray for and bless your family, examine your conscience and go to confession.

In the second reading today, St. Paul commands us to "awake from sleep". It is "making provision for the desires of the flesh" that puts us to sleep and leaves us unprepared for Jesus' salvation. What will wake us up? What can we do to be awake and ready?

One morning in the seminary we had gathered for morning prayer and a classmate of mine was scheduled to proclaim the scripture reading, but his seat was empty. He arrived a bit late, looking as if he had just hopped out of bed and quickly prepared himself for chapel. As he approached the ambo to read, he began: "Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep." He paused and dropped his head. He was visibly embarrassed as we all tried to quiet our giggling. This is one example of the many times that the Lord calls us to accountability in our lives. Are we ready today to give a final account?

St. Paul instructs us to "make no provision for the desires of the flesh." He gives some specific examples. Orgies. Our sexual passion must be persistently given right direction otherwise they become destructive. Fidelity, chastity, generosity to both God and spouse as well as selfless concern for the other, properly direct the passions of husband and wife toward God. Then their passions become an assistance for salvation rather than an obstacle. Without growing in these virtues, sexual passion will propel them away from God and one another. Runaway passions will put us to sleep spiritually and close our eyes to God and all things eternal. St. Paul cries out "Wake Up!" We all know what the weight of sleep feels like when it tries to hold us back from getting out of bed before we want to. One saint called this "the heroic moment." This is often what it will feel like to grow in virtue.

Drunkenness propels people into selfish actions. Even if this person has a desire to do good, he/she is bound up in selfish destruction and needs to respond to the call of Jesus Christ and accept the power and responsibility to be free. "Wake up! step into the daylight of Christ".

Trading in promiscuity for modesty requires that we remember that we belong to Christ and that we are called to glorify him in our bodies rather than stroke our own ego. Lust will smother a healthy imagination and rob us of the freedom to meditate on all that is good in the sight of God. It produces a spiritual sleepiness of the mind from which we must be called and awoken. "Awake from sleep! Open your eyes and let the light of Christ purify your imagination. Choose to live in the daylight of your salvation."

Rivalry and jealousy set us against one another. Whether by greed or pride we make an enemy of our fellow man. We focus on what we do not have and compare it to what we see in them. This is the lie of comparing ourselves to others. This way of thinking and acting is unjustifiable in a Christian. It requires a remedy. "Wake up and take your morning medicine! don't willfully die in your sleep!" The remedy for rivalry and jealousy begins with gratitude. Let us always give thanks to God in every circumstance for by going without something we may learn to depend on Jesus more completely. The next medicine is pity. Take pity on anyone whom you see to be in need; friend or enemy. Think not what you believe you are entitled to, but of what you have to offer. Rivalry and jealousy cannot survive when we faithfully take this medicine.

Awake and keep watch so that the Advent of the Lord may be your cause for joy.

Father Chauncey

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