First Sunday- Advent Dec 3, 2006

Jeremiah 33:14‑-16 Psalm: 25 1 Thes 3:12‑-4:29 Luke 21:25‑-28, 34‑-36

1. Advent once again. Is it a matter of “plus c’est la meme chose?” Then I realised the Advent: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again is so different. It was different in the heady days following the Vatican Council. It was different with the space age, and the race to put a man on the moon. Then came the computer age - CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN has taken on a new shape and a new meaning. Although Advent is a time of quiet and reflection, it is also one of intense activity. It is true that God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, everything starts and finishes with and in God, but God wants us to do our part. Recently, I saw a Mercedes Benz on four blocks. Someone had jacked up the car in the parking lot and stolen the four wheels. That expensive car was going no where. Some of us tend to be like that Mercedes during Advent.

2. We begin with Jeremiah. The enemies have defeated the chosen people. They are discouraged and at a low ebb. But Jeremiah promises them a quick restoration of the Kingdom of David. He gives them a sense of security and hope.

He tells us that the days are coming

The promise will be fulfilled.

Judah will be saved.

Jerusalem will live in safety.

But that was not to be the case. The prediction of an eternal Davidic dynasty to fulfill the prophecy of Nathan (2 Sam 7:11 -16), and of a perpetual priesthood and sacrifice (Jeremiah 33:18), was not to be realized in the restoration of the Jewish nation. It finds its fulfillment only in Jesus of Nazareth, who combined with his messianic Davidic kingship an eternal priesthood. (Heb 6:20; 7:24)

3. The second reading is of a similar sense of dread. Scholars tell us that his letter of Paul is a patch work of two letters. Paul begins with the same hope and security as our first reading. Paul gives Glory and thanks to God for this community. They have been faithful to the teachings and to the practice of their faith. But the second part of that reading gives us the impression that all is not so peaceful and pastorally idyllic as it looks. AS the ghostly Marcellus the father of Shakespeare’s Hamlet would say, “there is Something rotten in the state of Denmark” (Act.1 sc.4). Paul exhorts that Thessalonian community to pray, to work hard towards living a life that is pleasing to God. He urges them to do more and more.

4. Our Gospel seems to repeat the same message and in almost the same words as the the Sunday before Christ the King. There will portents and signs in the heavens.

the sun will not shine

the moon will be darkened

the stars will fall from the heavens.

Advent does not seem to have the peace of “O little town of Bethlehem” or “While shepherds watched their flocks by night.” And that is right and just. We have not reached the fullness of redemption which will come with the passion, death and resurrection. The birth of Christ is just the beginning. It is like the seed being planted. As farmers know there is a lot of work at this time; the digging of the soil, the fertilising, the picking up of stones, levelling the hills and filling up the valleys . John the Baptist will tell us about that in the next two weeks.

But we are here on this First Sunday in Advent, with grim reminder that we should be ALERT, be on guard against the dissolution of life, drunkenness and dissipation. Jesus has just spoken about the destruction of Jerusalem at the very beginning of this chapter.

Jerusalem was central to the religious practice of the People of Israel.

Jerusalem stood for the fidelity of God in times of difficulty.

Jerusalem stood as the place where the Laws was taught, and Prophets spoke

Destruction of Jerusalem would have the effect of a Tsunami or an earthquake.

It would be like the events of 9/11

Jesus was also giving them a clue, a hint that a new Order was going to unfold. One cannot help remembering the words to the Samaritan Woman in John 4. You will worship neither here nor in Jerusalem. It was a Kingdom of God, it was a new Beginning. The signs were there, the prophets had foretold it, but it would be beyond anything anyone could imagine. It would start with

Emmanuel: God is with us

The Word becoming flesh and dwelling in our midst.

The Unseen, All powerful God becoming vulnerable and visible on earth.

Something we would never in our wildest dreams think it possible.

We have only Just Begun !

APPENDIX

5. Christ will come again is a major challenge. However we prefer to remain with recalling the historical birth some 2000 years ago, it is less intimidating. However that is as profitable and comfortable as a thin cotton shirt on a cold winter’s day.

St. Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises speaks of three classes of People. We could use those three classes in our expectation of “Christ who comes again”.

the first Kind would like a non-confrontational Christ. A Christ who approves of all that we are doing. We do not want a Christ who will point out to what we have to change in life: our sponsorship scandals, our double dipping, our padded expense accounts, our using tax payers money for personal expenses. We do not want an Auditor General. We do not want anything negative. We do not need Christ as a Saviour.

the second Kind are in a way similar to the first. We are sinners, but let us not concentrate on that. Let us concentrate on doing good . we do not want a Doctor who is going to give us a full physical. If we do not know perhaps the cancer, the diabetes, the osteoporosis will go away. We are in a state of denial. We are like the old sergeant Schultz in Hogan’s Heroes: “I know nothing. I see nothing.” We do not need Christ as a Saviour.

the third Kind is - let us do nothing. If we do not do anything, we will not sin, we will not get into trouble. We are more or less like the Parable of the Talents - the servant who took the talent and buried it in the ground. He thought it would be Ok if all he did was to return the talent on the Master’s return. We do not need Christ as a Saviour.