FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Cycle “C”
Luke 21, 25-36
A story is told of a photographer taking a picture. He says to the lady, “Smile pretty for the camera.” After the shot, he tells her, “OK, Madame, you can resume your usual face.” My dear friends, whether you and I will have a successful Advent the next four weeks will depend on the attitude or face we bring to it today. Our faces must be fresh and alert in eager expectation, as Jesus advises us in today’s Gospel, and on top of our game. This first week in a fresh liturgical year might quite literally change our lives.
Advent is the most human of all seasons, as we begin to feel the darkness of winter and then experience the winter solstice. Like us, the ancient pagans knew the pain and darkness of humanity and anxiously awaited the celebration of the winter light, the ancient pagan feast of the invincible sun god. Christians have adopted this pagan festival, significantly changing the middle letter in the word “sun” from “u” to “o”. And now we Christians know the time of human longing as Advent and Christmas, the celebration of the invincible Son of God, Jesus, the Wonder Counselor, Messiah, the Prince of Peace. Advent situates our lives as individuals and as Church at a threshold - the threshold of time and eternity, the threshold of hope and fulfillment, the threshold of dawn and the light of everlasting day.
We are, indeed, a pilgrim people. We have to reach the other side. Churches, nations -- we’re involved in one of those historic crossings that lead towards another shore of mankind. A shore further than the moon. Countless numbers are crossing over. Many pause to discuss the day, the place, the hour; or the position of to be given to women, and children, civil and religious authorities, lay people and clergy. Not surprisingly, there is a certain amount of confusion. There’s a lot of talk about what possessions should be salvaged. Refugees talk like that. We must take essential things. Do we know what we shall most need ? Mattresses, food, the family jewels, the cat, old photographs, a compass, a paperback, the TV ? We have to decide. We can’t take everything. When it’s time to make a move, we can’t help asking, “Why on earth did we accumulate so many things ?” What can we salvage that is really part of us, part of our true selves, that can strengthen us, and give us light on any human shore ? There have been many rivers on our journey, ever since the end of those thousand years when Abraham touched Sarah’s hand and said, “We must get our things together.”
A certain poet, thinking of the donkey that carried Mary, wrote, “Mary weighed little for she was concentrating on the future within her.” We can hope for a similar lightsomeness of spirit and body, as we release ourselves of worldly attachment and skip towards the coming Messiah.
Today’s Gospel says, “The Son of Man is coming in a cloud with great power and glory.” Many self-styled prophets have fixed a day for that arrival. For example, towards the end of the Second World War, the Nazis placed the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in prison. He was involved in a conspiracy against Hitler. Some of his fellow Christians were convinced that Hitler was the anti-Christ. So they believed that Christ himself would soon return. They pleaded with Bonhoeffer, "Why do you risk your life ? Jesus will soon return and destroy Hitler, and all your efforts will count for nothing.” Bonhoeffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I shall rest from my labours. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle till it is finished.” And Bonhoeffer continued his work and witness till the day of his execution by his captors. Like him and all the saints, we must labour in the here and now of our circumstances and difficulties. Our dear Lord Jesus will plan his own arrival and set up his own schedules. We must contend with today and its problems, knowing that he is with us in every one of them.
PRAYER: (Janet Morley)
Your coming is like freedom to the prisoner,
like the return of those long captive.
You are the movements of the dance I have forgotten,
you are the face of satisfied desire.
My soul is stirred for you, my beloved;
I cannot contain my heart;
for you have seen my longing,
and your eyes are dark with love.
Your love is stronger than death,
your passion more relentless than the grave.
You will but speak the word,
and I shall be healed;
though your touch is the touch of a stranger,
yet is your voice my home.
St. Thomas’ Church,
Calcutta, 3rd. December 2000
Luke 21, 25-36
A story is told of a photographer taking a picture. He says to the lady, “Smile pretty for the camera.” After the shot, he tells her, “OK, Madame, you can resume your usual face.” My dear friends, whether you and I will have a successful Advent the next four weeks will depend on the attitude or face we bring to it today. Our faces must be fresh and alert in eager expectation, as Jesus advises us in today’s Gospel, and on top of our game. This first week in a fresh liturgical year might quite literally change our lives.
Advent is the most human of all seasons, as we begin to feel the darkness of winter and then experience the winter solstice. Like us, the ancient pagans knew the pain and darkness of humanity and anxiously awaited the celebration of the winter light, the ancient pagan feast of the invincible sun god. Christians have adopted this pagan festival, significantly changing the middle letter in the word “sun” from “u” to “o”. And now we Christians know the time of human longing as Advent and Christmas, the celebration of the invincible Son of God, Jesus, the Wonder Counselor, Messiah, the Prince of Peace. Advent situates our lives as individuals and as Church at a threshold - the threshold of time and eternity, the threshold of hope and fulfillment, the threshold of dawn and the light of everlasting day.
We are, indeed, a pilgrim people. We have to reach the other side. Churches, nations -- we’re involved in one of those historic crossings that lead towards another shore of mankind. A shore further than the moon. Countless numbers are crossing over. Many pause to discuss the day, the place, the hour; or the position of to be given to women, and children, civil and religious authorities, lay people and clergy. Not surprisingly, there is a certain amount of confusion. There’s a lot of talk about what possessions should be salvaged. Refugees talk like that. We must take essential things. Do we know what we shall most need ? Mattresses, food, the family jewels, the cat, old photographs, a compass, a paperback, the TV ? We have to decide. We can’t take everything. When it’s time to make a move, we can’t help asking, “Why on earth did we accumulate so many things ?” What can we salvage that is really part of us, part of our true selves, that can strengthen us, and give us light on any human shore ? There have been many rivers on our journey, ever since the end of those thousand years when Abraham touched Sarah’s hand and said, “We must get our things together.”
A certain poet, thinking of the donkey that carried Mary, wrote, “Mary weighed little for she was concentrating on the future within her.” We can hope for a similar lightsomeness of spirit and body, as we release ourselves of worldly attachment and skip towards the coming Messiah.
Today’s Gospel says, “The Son of Man is coming in a cloud with great power and glory.” Many self-styled prophets have fixed a day for that arrival. For example, towards the end of the Second World War, the Nazis placed the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in prison. He was involved in a conspiracy against Hitler. Some of his fellow Christians were convinced that Hitler was the anti-Christ. So they believed that Christ himself would soon return. They pleaded with Bonhoeffer, "Why do you risk your life ? Jesus will soon return and destroy Hitler, and all your efforts will count for nothing.” Bonhoeffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I shall rest from my labours. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle till it is finished.” And Bonhoeffer continued his work and witness till the day of his execution by his captors. Like him and all the saints, we must labour in the here and now of our circumstances and difficulties. Our dear Lord Jesus will plan his own arrival and set up his own schedules. We must contend with today and its problems, knowing that he is with us in every one of them.
PRAYER: (Janet Morley)
Your coming is like freedom to the prisoner,
like the return of those long captive.
You are the movements of the dance I have forgotten,
you are the face of satisfied desire.
My soul is stirred for you, my beloved;
I cannot contain my heart;
for you have seen my longing,
and your eyes are dark with love.
Your love is stronger than death,
your passion more relentless than the grave.
You will but speak the word,
and I shall be healed;
though your touch is the touch of a stranger,
yet is your voice my home.
St. Thomas’ Church,
Calcutta, 3rd. December 2000
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