Walking with Jesus: First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah  63:16-17, 19; Isaiah 64:2-7; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

Thanksgiving has departed. It was different this year. Some of us were with family and we were thankful. We are praying that the many who traveled are spared the ravages of Covid-19. Now we are beginning our preparation for Christmas: wondering, planning what we will be doing and how we will celebrate another difficult yet special season of love. What should our Advent calendar contain? What could be our direction as we continue to explore the depths of God’s love for each of us this Advent season? Pope Benedict XVI gives us definite ideas: “The essential meaning of the word adventus was: God is here, He has not withdrawn from the world, He has not deserted us. Even if we cannot see and touch Him as we can tangible realities, He is here and comes to visit us in many ways.” Am I aware that He is with me? Do I feel a pull to give God more attention during this busy season? Do I take time to see the splendor in the decorations and, most especially, in the faces of the children brimming over with star-struck enthusiasm? The people in Jesus’ time were waiting for the Messiah, hoping against hope that the exploitation by the rulers would change and they would become aware of the plight of the poor. Is God listening? I’ve been praying and hopeful. We’ve been living through eight months of uncertainty and a killing disease. Now we are seeing that the aftereffects are capable of devastating side effects. “Where are you, Lord, in our time of need?” is more often than not a common prayer. We look to the readings to help us be followers of God.

We can tell in the first reading from Isaiah that the bond between the people and God has grown stronger. In the early chapters this is not the case since the people have rebelled and become cold to God and His love. In this present prophecy a dramatic change of heart has taken place. They have come to realize that God loves and cares for them. He is a Father to them and they are the children who never should have wandered away or doubted His love. Now it seems that some of that old “coldness” has made them feel that God has abandoned them again. They plead with God to come back down: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you.” [Isaiah 63:19] They hope again to see the mighty deeds God has worked for their ancestors when it seemed that God was close to the people. They admit that they are still sinful and are unclean in God’s eyes. They are afraid that the good they do must seem like “… polluted rags” to God. They are changing. They realize that their true purpose on earth is to serve the Lord in total love. They plead for God’s help. How much are we conscious that the reason we were born and placed on earth is to realize that God loves us and needs us to be people of love so that those who see our witness can see that they are loved and need to be love? Isn’t this the reason for Christmas giving, caring, decorations, and praise of God?

Paul opens his letter to the Corinthians by thanking God for all the gifts that He has granted this community of faith. Later on Paul explains the three greatest gifts given them: faith, hope and the greatest: love. These are gifts that, when used, will continue to prepare them for the Lord’s second coming. And these gifts will continue to grow in them as they grow closer to Him and come to know Him better. These can be lost by misuse and disuse. This will weaken their relationship with God. The message is given to each of us too. When I concentrate on me … I do not realize I was sent for others to show God’s love for all. How am I doing today?

We know the theme of the materialistic world: Santa is coming. Mark tells us today that ready or not, Jesus is coming. Not to Bethlehem this time, not as an infant, and not to preach, heal, suffer and die. The Gospel theme is that Jesus is coming to draw the world to Himself. We are living in God’s world, but are we living for God? Be on the lookout, be ready, be alert: This is what Jesus’ parable tells us. Many scripture scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was written right before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans or right afterward. Their world had collapsed, or it would be very soon. This chapter of Mark warns us that no one knows when this will happen. There will be persecutions and terrible afflictions; how can anyone possibly be prepared? Don’t be carelessly lazy. Live each day as if it's going to be the last. So how am I preparing for the Lord? Does this seem like a huge responsibility to me right now? It really should. Jesus wants to share His life with us completely. He is giving us the grace to examine our lifestyles and life values. Are they compatible with His?

So I reflect on:

• If I had to make one change right now to bring my life closer to Christ, what would it be?
• What guilt am I ready to relinquish in order to begin again?
• As I look into my life, what are the stubborn resistances that I put ahead of getting to know Jesus and letting Him be at the center of my life?
  

Sacred Space 2021 states:

“Advent begins today. We spend this time preparing for the coming of Christ into our world. He is here already, of course, but He wants to come closer. Let me be one of His points of entry by keeping awake to open the door when He knocks.

“What has Christ put me in charge of? How am I doing? Will I be delighted to see Him when He comes?”