1ST Sunday of Advent Cycle C
Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 Luke 21: 25-28, 34-
36
It’s almost always a joy to talk to adults about the faith. Situations where “the
morning star rises in our hearts,” because most every time that adults discuss
the teachings, the ways, the love, and the mercy of Jesus Christ, and do so
with sincerity and genuineness for the purpose of drawing closer to the Lord,
spiritual success and spiritual growth is greatly
achieved.
For example, here in the Diocese of Worcester a Chesterton Society has been
formed. You may ask, “Who is Chesterton?” G.K. Chesterton was an early 20th
century English convert to Roman Catholicism who wrote a prolific amount of
material, much of it being his philosophical take on life in general. But also a
couple of religious classics called The Everlasting Man and Orthodoxy. So
when questions arise about some aspect of Chesterton’s life, there is
someone in the Chesterton Society who can respond with knowledge to any
proposed question.
But, talking to children about God is quite different. They ask questions that
can take on the image, warning, and meaning of today’s Gospel; they can catch
an adult by surprise. One of my favorite questions from children is, “Where did
God come from?” Or, “Who made God?” (You parents with young children
better get ready for those questions!) So we know these questions are coming
at some point. The problem is that children usually go on to ask another
question that completely catches you off guard. It never fails! I’ve been
blindsided and unprepared by the questions of kids in my priesthood more
than I have been by adults. Adults I can answer in a straightforward manner. To
answer children’s questions about God, however, you have to tip-toe.
But Jesus says in this Gospel on the first Sunday of Advent, “Don’t tip-toe with
our faith.” And don’t just not tip-toe, but also do our best to make certain that
our faith is always in ready mode. That’s it’ s always ready to be expressed at a
second’s notice. Where’ there are no surprises. That the rock is always in the
slingshot, so to speak, pulled back, and ready to be released for when Christ
appears before us. So when Christ appears in our presence, be it in the form
of a child, a poor man or a poor woman, a person we happen to know is taking
on the image of Jesus as the Suffering Servant, or the many ways Christ
appears before us each day, we are ready to fling the rock of our faith and
penetrate another soul with the power of Christ’s
love.
Advent is a time of preparation in a unique way for the coming of Jesus.
Everything about Jesus is once. All that encompasses his life; his birth; his
being lost in the Temple; his threefold temptation by the Devil; his unique
miracles and words of authority; his calling Lazarus from the grave and raising
the widow’s son; meeting the Samaritan woman at the well and riding a colt
into Jerusalem. All once. Carrying his cross; his death, resurrection and
ascension into glory, once.
Just as we go through life once. Yet within that once, Jesus keeps coming
back to us in many faces and colors. In many shapes and sizes. And he asks
one adult question with a child’s answer; “Are you ready? Are we ready to
respond to his presence? Is the slingshot set, with the rock of our faith ready
to be flung in any given situation where our faith in Jesus Christ is the answer
to be given?”
It’s what Jesus means by not becoming drowsy. Drowsy in our ability to
respond to his appearance by way of carousing, drunkenness, and the
anxieties of daily life. In the midst of life challenges, Jesus says, “Have your
slingshot pulled back and ready to be fired.” Jesus, somehow in his undying
and passionate love for us, gives us the strength we need to keep that
slingshot of love ready at hand. Our strength is the Holy Spirit.
In this Gospel, Jesus gives us all these possible scenarios that can affect our
lives.
“There will be signs in the sun.” Meaning, there are times when our personal
world will be darkened (death, suffering,
unemployment).
“There will be signs in the moon.” Meaning, there will be craters in our lives;
holes that create valleys; ups and downs.
“There will be signs in the stars.” Our lives may flash in front of us like a star
that falls, streaking across the sky of our
lives.
“There will be nations in dismay.” Especially the nation of our soul. Dismayed at
why things can’t run smoother.
“We will be perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.” Yes, we will
be tossed around. We have been tossed around, and we’re perplexed by the
tossing!
“People will die of fright because of what’s coming upon the world.” But only
for those who lose trust. Remember, Jesus has won the victory, and God is
ultimately in charge.
“And the powers of heaven will be shaken.” Thanks be to God. “God, shake it
up, and then shake it some more.”
But through it all, we have the strength and the capacity to love. Through it all
we keep the slingshot ready. Through all of life’s confusions and upheavals,
Jesus continues to show up and remain our calming force. He continues to
show up in many faces and colors, shapes and sizes. And we are reminded
each time of the purpose for which we have been made. What calms the whole
list of uncertainty is our choice to continue to
love.
Love calms life. Shooting the slingshot everyday, and many days numerous
times, says that we are ready. We are ready for the birth of our Savior, which
happens only once.
“Are we ready to show that Christ is alive in our lives?” It’s an adult question
with a child’s answer.