Homily for 1 Advent B, Nov. 30 2011

Let us make joyful preparation for the Lord's return!

This part of the Isaiah was probably written 530 510 BC, soon after Jews returned to Israel from the Babylonian captivity. Now the prophet prays to God: please reveal yourself as you did during the Exodus! Display your wondrous works so the other nations will fear you oh God.

Note the sense of urgency: rip the heaves open and come to us.....

Paul greets his readers at Corinth: he wishes them grace (God's freely given gift of love) and peace (the total state of well being to which we are admitted through Christ). He makes the point that they are indeed richly blessed, but later mentions that they tend to dwell on the excitement of the present rather than looking forward to the "revealing of ... Christ", his second coming. This is not something to be afraid of; God will help them prepare for that day, so that they may be among those judged worthy of eternal life.

Jesus has prophesied the destruction of the Temple to the disciples. Then Peter, James, John and Andrew (the first four he called) have asked him: "when will this be?" Today's lesson is Jesus' response. Jesus admonishes his followers to "keep alert" for this coming. The leafing of the "fig tree" is a sure harbinger of summer; similarly, when they see "these things," the End is near, very near. But, it is all at the Father's prerogative and the exact time will not be revealed.

Remember this, and passages like it, the next time someone clamming to know when the second coming will happen. That they have read the signs and know that it is near. It cannot be known.....

At Advent we do not simply look forward to celebrating the birthday of the Lord. We also look forward to his return in glory and power, when God=s kingdom will be fully established and all will be made right.

Like lent we use Advent to get ready for Christ=s return, but we do it with a different focus. In lent we look at our personal short comings and take steps to improve our selves for the judgment to come. In Advent we look forward to the joyful aspect of Christ=s return, to the setting of all things right, to the joy of seeing God win out at last. In this season we absorb the beautiful awareness that God is with us and will be with us in a yet more powerful, inspiring and loving way.

In this is a time of joyful preparation we remember that the Lord did come to humanity, and we will celebrate the anniversary of this event at Christmas. We also remember that Christ is with us in a mystical way today, and will return in triumph in the future. We prepare to celebrate the Incarnation.