Advent means waiting for the Source of our joys

First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: Mark 13:33-37 “Watch, for you do not know when the time will come.”

Full homily text: This weekend is the biggest shopping day of the year. Advertisers are working overtime to “help” us all prepare for Christmas. Since Halloween, they have been out in force on the radio, television, and internet spreading the message of all the great deals that can be made in the days after Thanksgiving.

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I can remember one year when my sister was engaged and her fiancé took the opportunity to do some of this early shopping. He got what he considered to be the perfect gift. For the next four weeks he proceeded to talk about this gift which he had gotten for the women he loved. Maria, my sister, wondered what it could be. Anticipation grew within her each day as she considered all the possibilities: Was it jewelry? Or a nice sweater?

Big box surprise

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived and Maria could finally discover what this gift was. Her fiancé had placed a large box under the tree. Maria could hardly wait to know. She knew it was not jewelry, but it must be something special since he was so excited. Christmas morning came and everyone watched as Maria reached for the gift. First, she began to untie the bow and then pull the wrapping off. Finally, she opened the box and pulled the gift out…it was black and white cow slippers with little cow heads on the front!

Being the younger teenage brother, I could hardly contain myself as a fell to the floor laughing. Maria was a quite disappointed, but eventually got over the event.

Two comings of Christ

As we enter the season of Advent, the Church tells us that it is a season of “joyful expectation.” We all know that expectation is waiting for something wonderful to happen (like Maria did). What are we waiting for that is so wonderful? Well, it is the two comings of Christ to the world. The first half of Advent focuses on the future coming in glory and the second half remembers in a special way the first coming of Jesus in humility. These two comings are tied together closely. One of our models for the Advent “joy expectation” is Israel awaiting the Messiah.

The people of Israel began to recognize that God planned to come in a special way to visit his people. Prophets, such as Isaiah in the first reading, called upon God to “rend the heavens and come down” to his people. Israel could not wait till the coming of the longed-for Messiah.  The experience that they had was a joyful feeling in the soul of expectation of some great future good. God revealed to Israel that the coming of the Messiah was something great. This is a feeling of supernatural joy. It is not to be confused with pleasure which only affects one physically and emotionally for a time.

Happiness in the soul

Joy is a lasting happiness in the soul, which only can come from God and the things of God. As human beings we do anticipate gifts at times such as Christmas, but these are passing and not a source of true joy. Having God become Man and be with us as Emmanuel is real joy that can bear eternal fruit in our lives.

Before the Messiah’s coming, the time of preparation was best exemplified by the prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna who meet the child Jesus with his parents during the Presentation in the Temple (Lk. 22-40). Scriptures tell us Simeon “was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.” Anna too lived in joyful expectation: “she never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.”  St John the Baptist, another Advent figure, prepared for the coming of Jesus by spending most of his life in the desert. These are our examples as we enter the holy season of Advent. In joyful expectation we must use these four weeks to prepare for Christmas and ultimately the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel to “Be watchful!!” “Be alert!!”

Waiting for the Source of joy

The gifts Jesus bestows to those who faithfully await him are not passing but instead bring true joy which leads us to eternal life. So how can we “be watchful” and “be alert”? We do this by following Anna, Simeon, and John the Baptist in joyful expectation. We can take advantage of this time to pray, go to the Sacrament of Confession, and try to help those in need. Our efforts show that we have an expectation of Jesus coming which has an effect on our lives.

The things of the world are passing. Gifts at Christmas and material possessions only lead to temporary pleasure. The Messiah wishes to give us true Joy. We only need to view the Nativity scene to see our focus. Jesus must be the source of our life. He gives a gift to us that will never disappoint. This Child brings joy which changes our souls and is a foretaste of heaven. Let us prepare this Advent for the things that last and the Joy that will never end.