November 27, 2022, First Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Our readings for today, the First Sunday of Advent, contain a common theme dealing with preparedness. This should be no surprise as this is the season that we spend “preparing” for the arrival of Christ. We celebrate the birth of Jesus two thousand years ago. We celebrate that he remains with us today through the Church and through other people. And we prepare for his future coming at a time no on can predict. It is this future coming which requires preparation on our part.
In the First Reading (Isa. 2: 1-5) we listen to the prophet Isaiah describe what the return of Christ at the end of time will look like. He describes the “house of the Lord,” which would be the Jewish Temple, perched on the top of the highest mountain of Sion, or Jerusalem. All the people from the various nations will flock to this mountain where God will teach us His ways and how to follow His laws the same way that Christ did.
Isaiah says that God will then judge all peoples, Jew and Gentile alike, and there will be a time of peace. Swords will not be used for fighting, but for ploughing, and spears will be used as sickles. “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war.” (Isa. 2:4b). Isaiah invites us to participate in this wonderful, almost unimaginable, time of peace, God’s time when all can walk in the light of the Lord. This sounds like a time definitely worth preparing for.
St. Paul (Rom. 13: 11-14) also encourages us to be prepared for the Day of the Lord’s coming. He warns that knowing that it is this season, it is the “hour for us to rise from sleep.” The night has passed, and a new day has dawned. We should be ready to put on the “armour of light,” that is to put on the light of the Lord Jesus, who is the light and life of the world. To be ready, we need to cast off darkness, and walk honestly. Not with drunkenness or impurity, nor contention and envy. Now is the time to prepare.
Finally, we hear Jesus speaking to us in the Gospel (Mt. 24:37-44). Speaking of himself as the “Son of Man,” Jesus says that is like the time of Noah, when no one knew that a flood was coming, not even on the day of the flood. The people were busy eating, drinking and celebrating and no one knew that a flood was coming. So, it will be with the Son of Man. No one knows the exact day. One must be prepared,
He describes what the conditions will be like. Two will be working in the field, one will be taken, and one shall be left behind. Two women will be grinding, one will be taken, and one will be left behind. So, Jesus warns us to be watchful because no one knows when the Lord will come. He compares it to a burglar coming to rob someone’s house. Certainly, the homeowner would be watchful if he knew if and when a thief was coming. That is how we should be prepared for the hour that the Son of Man arrives. Advent preparation is a way to be ready, because no one knows at what hour the Son of Man will come.
So, what do we do in the way of advent preparation to be ready for the Lord? We don’t really think of it that way. We tell the Christmas stories to our children as we place the manger under the tree. We tell them about Mary and Joseph and their trek into Bethlehem for the census. We explain how Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn. We describe the vision of the shepherds and their visit to the baby Jesus as a host of angels sang the glory of the Lord. And we tell them about the three wise men and their interest in the newborn king for whom they followed the star. They were well prepared.
However, there are many other things that we do during Advent to prepare for the coming of Christ which really have nothing to do with Christ at all. Things like shopping for a long list of relatives and friends. Searching for and decorating the perfect Christmas tree, decorating our homes, and hanging outdoor lights. Many times, there is a large meal or several meals to prepare for, and abundant baking, as well as cleaning our homes for the arrival of visitors and relatives. Sometimes it can all be a bit exhausting, almost to the point where we dread the Advent Season or cannot wait until Christmas is over. Sometimes the hectic days of the holiday can spoil our mood or cause us to be irritable and short tempered, so much so that we take our frustration out on our loved ones. One wonders, is this the way to prepare for the coming of Christ? For Jesus warns us to be ready, because we do not know at what hour the Son of man will come. We must be prepared.
While shopping, baking, wrapping, and visiting may be necessary to make Christmas time seem festive, these are not things that prepare us for the coming of Christ. In the first place, since we do not know when that day will happen, we must see to it that we are prepared every day throughout the year, not just during advent. However, Advent may be a good time to assess our preparedness and make the necessary changes to be ready for the arrival of Jesus throughout the year.
Spending time in prayer and reflecting upon the daily readings for Mass is one step we can take toward preparedness. Another step is keeping a pure conscience and making use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we have erred in our ways. Receiving the Eucharist as often as possible and joining in communal Sunday celebrations also help to keep our mindset in tune to the words of Christ. And treating those we love and others around us in the ways we want to be treated encourage us to mimic the behavior of Christ toward those with whom we come into contact every day. This is what it means to be prepared for the coming of Christ, not just at advent, but all throughout the year. So that when the time comes we can follow the words of our responsorial psalm and go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. We will have been well prepared.
