First Sunday of Advent (A)

Is 2:1-5
Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Rm 13:11-14
Mt 24:37-44

The approach of the holiday season usually finds me in search of what I like to call the "lost Christmas," a fantasy combination of childhood memories. Hello, I’m Father Greg Friedman, and this is the "Sunday Soundbite" for the First Sunday of Advent.

A treasured ornament; a worn, shabby Santa figure; an heirloom Nativity scene—all these can evoke powerful recollections of Christmas as a child, when life was less complicated. It's probably closer to a fantasy than reality, since I can easily "edit out" unpleasant memories.

It's easy to get caught up in Christmas nostalgia, and forget the central truth of the season: God is breaking into our troubled world. The Scripture readings for this first Sunday in Advent urge us to wake up to what is happening here and now. This is the hour of salvation, St. Paul tells the Romans. He echoes Jesus' words in Matthew's Gospel: We must be prepared, focused on making our hearts ready to receive God at every moment of our lives.

Without letting go of fond memories, it's my hope this year to focus more on the good news which the season celebrates, the birth of hope into our midst. It might make a difference in how I relate to all the frantic preparations for the externals of Christmas; a true change of heart might open me to the peace promised by Isaiah in the first reading. That would make for some new memories of this season, to carry into the future.

Scripture:

•They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; …nor shall they train for war again. (Isaiah 2:4)

•May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, (Psalm 122:6b,7a)

•…the night is advanced, the day is at hand.…put on the Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 13:12a,14a)

•Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:42)

Reflection:

•Is there a time or place for Isaiah’s prophecy to occur? How do you let it happen?

•Can you find a “place” or “time” of peace despite the conflict that may surround you? Is this a spiritual place or time?

•Is the sense of time in these scriptures measured in kronos (spatial time) or kairos (beyond spatial time?)

•Where do you “go” to find peace? Is where you go in time or space?

•Is Advent a season to find a spiritual peace?

Let nothing disturb you, nothing affright you; all things are passing, God never changes… (St.Teresa of Avila)

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Hope is the theme of the First Sunday of Advent. In the readings for Mass, Isaiah describes a future in which all is well because (1) God is recognized as the highest authority and (2) following his ways is the people's highest priority.

This vision gave great hope to the oppressed Israelites. As a picture of heaven, it also gives great hope to us. Even if "terms" (of purgatory) must be "imposed" upon us because we've not stayed entirely on the paths of God, we will be living in the light of the Lord after death, and there will be no more wars to battle.

Knowing that this is our future, we can look at today's trials as preparations for heaven. The weapons that we use now to defeat and overcome the powers of darkness can be used as plowshares for enriching our soil (our earthly life), bringing us into new growth and producing a harvest in ministry. Sufferings that are turned into ministries to help others make the hardships very worthwhile.

Although Isaiah was speaking of the coming of the world's Messiah through the Jews, these verses remind us that when we respect God's authority and make imitating Christ our highest priority, all is well for us. Our battles against evil aren't over yet, but Jesus has already won the victory for us. Our hope is not based on a wish for peace; our hope comes from the reality of what Jesus has already done and what he will do. So, "let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord!" (Psalm 122).

The Gospel reading tells us that our hope is realized only if we stay awake and alert to the activities of Christ. What are you despairing about? Despair and worry are merely an attempt by the devil to make you forget that Christ has already won the battle for you. If we stay alert to the presence of Christ, recognizing his authority and following his ways, we live in hope — not wishful thinking, but a hope that's based firmly on reality.

Questions for Personal Reflection:

What are you despairing about? What would it take for you to feel hopeful? In what way do you need Jesus to come to you now? What can you do to become more aware of his presence at your side?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:

How do you find hope in difficulties? Describe a time when you nearly lost all hope. How did Jesus rescue you from this?