First Sunday of Advent (Mt. 24:37-44) “Use Your Time Well”
First Sunday of Advent (Mt. 24:37-44) “Use Your Time Well”
Happy New Year! Seems strange to say that. But the First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. Almost every religion has its calendar. Muslims have a religious calendar. Hindus have one. Buddhists have their calendar. The Mayans do. All religions have a common theme when we come to a new year. We look back on what has happened in the past regretting perhaps where we have gone wrong. We look forward, hoping to carry the virtues that we have learned during the past year into the rest of our lives.
Advent is multifaceted, but somehow Advent has been boiled down to one idea. Advent is about getting ready for Christmas. Secular society uses Advent to push its agenda. I was out walking this morning. I walked by someone’s house that had decorated for Christmas. On the garage door was an electronic clock that was counting down the seconds, minutes, days to Christmas, like there was a rocket about ready to launch. I would imagine this was to remind people that we have only so much time to shop. Christmas is a day to eat, drink, open presents, consume things which keeps the economy moving.
I was talking to a relative on Thanksgiving. The subject got to Advent. We began to talk about Advent calendars. I was surprised when he said that his family had about seven or eight Advent Calendars. He had one that had a small bottle of wine behind every door that two people could share. He had another that had a different cheese behind every door which one could consume each day. Advent Calendars now are marketing tools. Doesn’t it seem odd? We know in our hearts that this isn’t what Advent is about.
If we want to understand the spiritual roots of Advent, we can look at how our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate their New Year. The Jewish new year begins sometime in September or October. The holiday like most Jewish holy days is tied to agriculture. The Semites sewed seeds for the spring grain harvest in the fall. Believers felt prayer was important if there would be a successful growing season. But there was more to the beginning of the new year than agricultural concerns.
The Jewish new year is called Rosh Hashanah. The biblical roots of the feast are tied to the creation of Adam and Eve. Rosh Hashanah kicks off ten days of self-examination. Jewish tradition holds that during these ten days God opens three books. One is the book of righteous. The second book is the book of the wicked. The third book is for the people in between. The people who have their name in the book of the righteous immediately have their names transferred to the fourth book, the book of life. People in the book of the wicked are probably lost. Most people have their names in the book that lists those who live in spiritual mediocrity. During the days of the commemoration people do penance so they can have their name moved to the book of life.
A ram’s horn is blown multiple times a day during Rosh Hashana as a wake-up call. People need to have a change of heart. The ten days end with the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. On this day people ask for the mercy of God. Even if a Jew isn’t all that devout, they will use Yom Kippur as a sabbath day, a day of prayer fast and penance.
Advent has its spiritual roots in the Jewish practice of Rosh Hashanah. The readings today remind us of that. Advent isn’t just at penitential season, but it has that aspect to it. Advent is a time for self-examination. Our Epistle today reminds us of that. The reading from the Letter to the Romans speaks of some spiritual challenges. One challenge is the passage of time. Paul reminds people that the clock is ticking. We aren’t just worried about the time we have to buy our presents before the holiday is celebrated, but Christians are also concerned about the second coming of Jesus (what Christianity calls the Parousia). The question is whether we will be ready to meet the Lord when he returns at the end of time. In what ways do we need to change? Paul uses one of his favorite metaphors which has to do with how we are dressed as we move through life. Do we put on the armor of light? Do we cast off deeds of darkness?
Tempus Fugit as Virgil the Roman poet reminds us. Time is fleeting. We only have so much time to place our name in the Book of Life. We need to use the next four weeks well so we will feel prepared to meet our Lord face to face.
How will I use Advent to prepare to meet Jesus? Would some penance be in order?
What is a Christmas tradition I keep that might not be all that important? Can I give it up so I might have more time for a spiritual pursuit?
Dear Parishioners,
On Saturday, December 3rd, Matt Martel and Mike Maynard will be ordained as deacons for our parish. Both will be functioning at the 11 a.m. Mass on the 4th of December and there will be a reception after the Mass at Culemans Hall. These two men have spent a lot of time preparing for this ministry and have invested their treasure as well. We are blessed to have them functioning at Sacred Heart.
The two of them will help lead our parish as ministers in a variety of ways. A deacon is expected to provide the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. They also have several liturgical roles. They can Baptize, preach, marry couples, bury the dead from the funeral home and lead communion services.
I would hope that we many parishioners will stop by the reception and wish Matt and Mike well as they begin their ministry. I would like to thank Denise and the rest of the Maynard family who have been so important in Mike’s preparation. Please pray for these two men in the days ahead. They will have many new experiences and adjustments as they begin their diaconal ministry.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for us that our world may become more peaceful,
Fr. Mark
P.S. Our Centennial Campaign is off to a good start. We just began to borrow money from the diocese for the construction. We need your help to keep our loan payment as low as possible. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. You should have received a flyer in the mail listing possible sponsorship opportunities.