The Advent Season always contrasts with what is going on on the heels of Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The secular world turns its focus to Christmas events; the radio stations begin playing Christmas music; the fervor of the season ramps up. But within the Church we hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah calling the nations up to the “house of God” (Is. 2:3) , St. Paul telling the Church to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12) and the Lord Jesus speaking of signs of the coming of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:29). The Saccharine and Sacred collide.
Interestingly, both are calling us to “Be Ready” but in very different ways. The world revs us up to almost a frantic pace of gift-buying, cleaning, baking, and socializing. The church season of Advent calls us to reflection, recollection and repentance. The world empties you out of energy, patience, and money but the seasons (when we can observe it) fills us up with light - an ordered soul.
It is difficult to allow Advent to work on us - difficult because if we are not actively making our souls ready the world will creep in. Advent reflection is not passive. How do we make ourselves ready for the three comings of Christ? Intentionality plays a key role. Let the reading from Isaiah be sources of meditation for you - not just things you try to figure out or passively experience. What does it mean that the Lord God will bring all peoples to the holy mountain and house of the Lord and that he will be judge? It means that nations shall be judged and no longer be able to war against one another? Spiritually, it means that all our spiritual foes - the principalities and forces that harm us will be judged. How about the lesson of the fig tree or the heavens? Jesus tells us to “be ready” for the coming of the Son of Man not being pre-occupied with the things of this world. Meditate on your priorities. Where is prayer in comparison to shopping? Reflection in comparison to parties?
How do we prepare for the Lord Jesus’s weekly coming to us at the altar? Do we come expecting his presence with certainty? Do we prepare our hearts by examination and being at peace with our neighbors and fellow parishioners?
How do we prepare for the final coming of Christ? Are we striving to do his will? Are we looking for that day with the certainty of hope or letting the cares and pressures of today overwhelm us? What is shaping us? How are we resisting the dizzying world? Are we ordering our lives? Praying the Great Litany for ourselves and the world is a great beginning of being ready. I hope you’ll listen to the sermon and reflect this week with me on being ready. Let’s obey Jesus and heed His call.