In today’s
first reading from Isaiah we heard, “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to
the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may
walk in His paths.” And from the Gospel
of Matthew, Jesus finishes by saying, “So too, you must be prepared, for at a time you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
There are
two themes at work here and the Church puts these readings together nicely for
the 1st of Sunday Advent. The
two themes are, “The Coming of the Lord,” and “preparing oneself.”
When we
speak of the Coming of the Lord we can be referring to a number of, “Comings of
the Lord. The Lord’s first coming was being born into this world as one who is
fully human and full divine, i.e. the birth of Jesus the Christ. In Scripture we often hear two terms, “The
Day of the Lord and the Lord’s Day.” The
Lord’s Day is Sunday, which we celebrate every Sunday, in particular the
Resurrection. But, when we refer to, “The
Day of the Lord,” it means His Second Coming.
So there are two major comings of the Lord, one when He was born,
Christmas, and two when He returns at the end of time. But, there is also a third coming, for most
of us will die, or at least the odds are we won’t be alive for the 2nd
Coming, but then again, you never know.
Anyway, odds are the Lord will come to us when we pass from this life
and judgment is immediate, but like last week we pray as did James that mercy
triumphs over judgment.
So you just
got a mouthful of Eschatology, the theological study of the Last Things. But, it is the second theme which I believe
is just as important, if not more so, and we must prepare for any
and all comings of the Lord. Advent is that season when we do remember all
of these comings of the Lord, especially the birth of Jesus in a manger, but
also His birth in our hearts.
As human
beings all we do is prepare for things all our lives and anything worth its
weight in salt will mean that we prepare for a long time and that we prepare well. We begin preparing right from childhood as
grade school becomes this place that teaches us what it means to “practice” and
to work hard. If you want an “A” you got
to work. If you want a 4.0 GPA you have
to work. Many hours are spent reading
and rereading, writing, looking up resources, especially in college. Think of how hard one works for a Ph.D.
It is not
just school where one works hard in preparation, but also in our jobs. Think of how hard and long one prepares to
become a carpenter or electrical journeyman, anywhere from 4 to 5 years of apprenticeship
while working. This is done so that once
the person becomes a journeyman he or she is ready to face all scenarios at
work, but also to do their job well.
Think of the soldier, especially Navy seals or green berets who train
both body and mind to do dangerous work and to be calm and collected while
bullets fly overhead. I recommend the
move Captain Phillips; you will be amazed and left in wonder at what our Navy
Seals can do, all through exhausting preparation, precision, and unbelievable dedication. You can’t just show up at Navy headquarters
and say, “look here I am, I am Navy seal.” That won't work nor does that work anywhere, be it for a carpenter, a
navy seal, a doctor, or even an RCIA Candidate looking to become Catholic.
Jesus understood
that great faith, a holy faith comes with preparation, diligent preparation in
fact. The season of Advent reminds us that just as we prepare for everything in life so too must we prepare for our lives of
faith in God. You may ask, “What must I
do to prepare?” That’s easy; pray, fast,
and work. Prayer keeps our relationship
with Jesus active and intimate. Fasting
clears the mind and reminds us that we clearly rely on God as we feel each pang
of hunger and working means to visit the sick, help the poor, bury the dead,
visit the prisoner, and give people time when they need us. There are no complicated methods or practices
involved in our preparing ourselves during Advent. Christianity is very simple; it is we who
complicate it with one law after another.
Christmas
cannot just be about trees, lights, gifts, excess food, and jingle bells,
that’s all nice, but it has to be about us walking every step with Mary and
Joseph to Bethlehem as we go into our four weeks of Advent. Mary and Joseph prepared themselves well for
the coming of the Lord, they were people of great faith, spending much good
quality time in prayer and doing good for others, we too are called to do the
same during Advent. Let’s begin our
preparation right here and right now, Bethlehem is not close but if we walk it
with fasting, prayer, and works of charity when we arrive there on the 25th
it will truly feel like Christmas. God
bless you, FJ
No comments:
Post a Comment