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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012  FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

[Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - 4:2; and Luke 21:25-28, 34-36]

     The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.  [Jeremiah]

 

     Happy New Year!  The "liturgical year" of the church begins today!  A whole new cycle in the Sunday and daily scriptural readings begins (C-1), the church may be decorated with an Advent wreath or "Jesse Tree," and the priest will wear purple vestments most days.  Yes, all of that is true, but there is more to it.  The liturgical year is one large "preaching" of the story of God's plan of salvation and the homily begins with the expectation of the Messiah among the Jewish people.  So, there are passages from the Old Testament, especially the "prophetic" books which bear on this expectation.  The second scripture passages and the gospels refer to the "second coming,"  - the expectation of Christian faithful.  One of the challenges of preaching in this season is to keep that "anticipation focus" of the Messiah strong.  There is a cultural anticipation that competes loudly outside the church walls:  X number of shopping days left till Christmas!

 

     This weekend I am beginning a parish mission at a parish in Florida.  The theme of the mission is FULFILLING THE PROMISE - ADVENT DISCIPLESHIP.  Although we Christians believe that Christ will return in glory, we also believe that he has already come a first time.  Advent includes both "comings" but more especially it challenges us to look at the "meantime" between the two "comings."  The "story" of the whole liturgical year is about all of God's plan of salvation.  In Advent, although we consider it a "preparation" for the celebration of Christ's birth, we are challenged to look at our everyday life as Christians!  The cultural pressures of the season can make for frantic social schedules, depression because of loss of loved ones or a job or a separation, and the constant drumbeat of "buy, buy, buy!"   My hope in this parish mission is to have the listeners stop and take a look at their baptismal calling - an identification with Christ.  How can we make this "season" a fruitful one spiritually?  Among all the decorations, the "crib scene" may find a place, but even there, the smallest figure is the baby in the manger!  That child is "the reason for the season!"  Keeping him and his whole life and his future return somehow in our minds and hearts in this Advent will be a big challenge, but it can begin in the small ways we reach out to others who find it hard to be "jolly!"  It's really all about God's love, which we can preach as Advent disciples!   AMEN