Homily for 2nd Advent

Having set the table for dinner, the children began to argue, voicing their doubts that there is really anything in the Advent Present, it is just an empty box. Their parents, Jack and Jill sat there listening to the children. Finally, Jack spoke up, “Okay, that’s enough. Before we begin to eat, let’s pray and light the second candle on the Advent Wreath.” Having lit the first and second candle of Advent Wreath, Jill said, “Kids, you doubt that there is anything in the Advent Present and that there is no such thing as the ‘eyes of faith.’ Consider the light from the candles. What do you suppose the light means?” The oldest, Charles, said “That’s simple. Light dispels darkness. So, we can see what surrounds us. However, everything is still a little dim and not so clear. The light of the second candle together with the light of the first makes it easier to see everything more clearly. So, we can see beyond our selves and even more of what is all around us.”

“You’re right, Charles,” said Jill. “Indeed, the light from the two candles makes everything brighter for us to see. However, there is a lot of doubt these days and many can’t see God’s presence in our lives. Sadly, many no longer believe that Jesus is really present in Holy Communion and don’t bother to go to church anymore. The light from the two candles reminds us that there are better things to come, and we will be able to see and understand more. Jesus told us to stay awake and watch.”

The youngest, Sally, spoke up “What does this have to do with what is in the box? I still don’t see anything!” Charles said, “Can it be that the light from the four candles will help us to see and be prepared for the coming of Jesus?” Jack said, “That is a really good insight. We just must wait, stay awake, and get prepared for Jesus’s coming. With a little more thinking and praying about what we learn from the scriptures we hear each Sunday at Mass, perhaps we will finally get to see what is in the box with eyes of faith.” Jill said “And the veil of secrecy is slowly being lifted away and we will finally see what is in the box. We just must be alert, pray, and prepare.” That said, they began to eat dinner. At Mass, the next morning, the scriptures helped everyone to be a little more prepared for Christmas.

The lesson from the prophet, Isaiah, heard on the First Sunday of Advent, presented a loving Father. Our heavenly Father loves us even when we sin and waits for us to come to our senses. Why does God permit us to commit sin and wonder away from his love? Even though He may be angry with us, He still loves us. He is willing to wait for us to repent. In the lesson from the prophet for the second Sunday in Advent, the Father tells Isaiah to let us know that we are to find comfort, because our sins will be taken away. This ought to give us comfort. We are not to live in fear but continue to stay awake and wait. Better days are coming! So, how do we know that our life will get better?

Both the prophet and the Gospel talk about a voice crying out, “Prepare for the coming of the Lord.” John the Baptist is that voice crying in the desert telling us to make straight the way for the Lord’s coming. It is our responsibility to get ready and wait. So, we prepare by repenting our sins and washing them away in the baptism with water.

Advent is about the two comings of the Lord. The first is his birth and the second is his coming in glory to judge all creation. Saint Peter tells us that the Lord will come like a thief in the night when we least expect him. In the meantime, we are to prepare by living in holiness and devotion. To enable us to do this, Jesus baptizes us with fire and the Holy Spirit.

The fire is love, love for God and love for neighbor. Since God continues to love us, it is the fire of love that enables us to see and understand what it means to live in holiness and devotion. So, we prepare the way of the Lord by repenting (asking for forgiveness) and living lives of holiness. Our devotion (our life of holiness) is our focus on Jesus through daily prayer and works of justice directed to the poor around us. As the Psalm reminds us, “Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth and justice shall look down from heaven.”

The children (and we are the children) are learning the lessons of Advent. The light grows brighter, and we become more aware of the Father’s love for us. This is how we prepare for Christmas. This is how we will eventually get the ‘eyes of faith’ and find out what is in the Advent Present.

God be blessed! Now and forever. Amen.