First Sunday of Advent
(Sunday 3rd December 2017)
Jesus belongs in every heart – (Mark 13:33 – 37)
Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and marks the beginning of the new liturgical year. The season of Advent has a twofold meaning. It is a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. We will impatiently watch the weeks count down on the Advent Wreath until the 25th December. But it also has another meaning.
In our creed we pray “He [Jesus] will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” Our faith tells us that Jesus will return to the earth. How, where and when, we don’t know. But what an amazing promise! It will be the Return of the King in epic proportions! We are supposed to live with this expectation and prepare accordingly even though it may not actually happen in our lifetime. Let us listen to the anointed words of Jesus who repeats “Stay awake!” three times in the gospel and be ready for him when he comes.
How can we prepare for Jesus return? By living every day as if it was our last. That is not as morbid as it sounds. If we knew we were going to meet God tomorrow I’m sure that there are many things we would change today. If this was your last day on earth, you would reconcile with those you have fallen out with. You would tell those you care for that you love them. Saving up for a new phone wouldn’t seem as important to you as it is now. You would do as much good to people as you could. Granted, you probably wouldn’t study as you wouldn’t be afraid of your end of semester exams!
We would also get our souls ready through prayer, confession and regular mass attendance. I want my heart to be pure when I see him so I would avoid all tv programs and music that harm my purity or unity with God.
Why should we bother preparing for his return considering we may not be even here if and when he comes? If you live expecting his arrival and the Lord doesn’t come tomorrow, what have you lost? Nothing! What have you gained? Virtue! You have become prayerful, humble, selfless, pure and happy. You will have become a much better version of yourself. If you are prepared for the Lord to come tomorrow, one day you will be right. We are not here on earth forever. One day we will see him face to face as he really is in all his love and beauty. And on that day we will not regret a single minute we dedicated to him in prayer, a single action done out of love for him or a single impure program we have avoided.
As a small resolution for Advent let us be proud of our Heavenly King and his Most Holy Name. Let us never call Christmas X-mas. Yes, it’s shorter but let us always use the opportunity to say the name by which we are saved in public or on line. Christ belongs in Christmas more than Santa or Turkey. He belongs in every heart that life may be on earth as it is in heaven.
Fr. Patrick Cahill