HOMILY ADVENT SUNDAY ONE – C
Celebrate an Advent Triple-Header
(Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36)
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In the world of baseball, a triple-header is when two teams play three games against each other in succession over a few days. That sporting event pales in comparison with the liturgical triple-header that is involved in the season of Advent and Christmas.
There are three aspects to Jesus’ coming in the Advent Season. One looks to the past as we anticipate the celebration of his birth among us 2,000 years ago. The second looks to the future, for his coming again. The third situates us in the present, as we prepare ourselves to receive him anew in our lives today.
So, as we begin the Advent season, let us prepare our hearts not just to celebrate Christmas, but also to be ready to welcome him when he comes again in glory, by living in Christ today.
The readings spell out this triple-header quite clearly. The prophet Jeremiah in the first reading speaks of a righteous Branch from the House of David that will bring justice and righteousness. He adds that Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will be safe. He is speaking about that first Christmas, and the awesome mystery of the Incarnation. The coming of Jesus as a little child in humility and powerlessness was a fulfillment of that prophecy. That event, the child Jesus in the wood of the crib, revealed what God’s love is like – the power of powerlessness, or exousia, in Greek. This is the power of a little child to melt the hardest heart. It is that same humble power that the adult Jesus portrayed on the wood of the Cross – the power of love as forgiveness, the greatest power of all.
In the gospel, we look to the future. Jesus, the one who came in humility as a child at the Incarnation, now speaks of a day when he will come in glory and power, what we call the second coming of Christ. There will be cosmic signs. The nations will be confused and people will faint in fear.
However, there is, so to speak, a third coming of Christ, in between these two. That coming involves living in Christ in the here and now. Jesus comes into our lives any time and any day that we ask him to, that we allow him to. Those who do so, those who believe in him and are faithful to him will be able to stand tall with heads held high in confidence and serenity at the second coming, for their redemption is drawing near. This is a very interesting comment, implying that the birth of Jesus, his life, death, resurrection and the sending of his Spirit at Pentecost, was only a beginning of our redemption. That redemption will be complete only when he comes again in glory.
This living in Christ in the present is what the second reading from Thessalonians is all about. There we are told that what is important in all of this, is love. The three comings of Christ into our world and into our lives are all about the abounding, extravagant, generous love of God poured out for us, on us and over us. We are to respond to that amazing love of God for us made present in Jesus Christ by loving one another just as Jesus has loved us, and just as St. Paul loved the Thessalonians in his day.
We are to be blameless, with holy hearts, growing daily in doing God’s will rather than our own and living in a way that pleases God. Then we can be assured that we will be able to stand erect with heads held high in confident joyful celebration, when Jesus comes again in glory.
The late Joe Mehan was an example of someone who lived his life fully as a triple-header. A family man and dedicated teacher, he devoted himself to serving his community in a variety of ways. When he came down with Lou Gehrig’s disease, his faith kicked in and helped him and his wife Rena to journey through that time of suffering in an admirable manner. Instead of complaining, he trusted the Lord and resolved to live every day he had left to the full. When I visited Joe months before he died, hesitant to even ask about his health, I was shocked when Joe asked me to preside at his funeral and assured me everything was prepared and ready. Rena shared at his wake that as he lay dying, he would murmur, “God is good, God is good.” Joe is someone who celebrated the birth of Jesus throughout his life, looked forward with confidence to meeting Jesus after his death, and above all was open to the Spirit of Jesus coming to him each day of his life. He serves as an inspiring example for us.
The Eucharist flows out of the death of Jesus among us 2,000 years ago. It is also an intense encounter with the Risen Lord right here and now through Word and Sacrament. Finally, it is a foretaste of that eternal banquet we are confident we will share in when Jesus comes again in glory and power.
So, as we begin this Advent season, let us prepare our hearts not just to celebrate Christmas, but also to live in Christ today and to be ready to welcome him when he comes again in glory.
