CYCLE A 3RD ADVENT 2013-14
1. I WAITED all summer for the heat to go away. Now I WAIT for the winter cold to go away. There is a rhythm to life thru WAITING that plays an important role in life. We WAIT to eat. We WAIT for payday. I’m WAITING for Downton Abby to begin. Children are now anxiously waiting for Christmas Vacation, Christmas Presents, for the school year to end. There is a feeling of JOY when we get what we WAIT for …yet all to soon, we learn it’s only temporary and we start WAITING again!
2. On Gaudete Sunday in Advent, the Church asks us to explore what it is that will give us Spiritual JOY. Yet even here, the picture we get from scripture is there is a lot of PATIENT WAITING required. We can start with Abraham and Sarah, who had to ‘Patiently Wait’ for 20 years for the promise of their son Isaac. The Chosen People had to ‘Patiently Wait’ for 200 years to be freed from slavery in Egypt. They had to WAIT 40 more years to get into the Promised Land. The Israelites WAITED 200 years for God to give them a King . 60 years to be freed from Babylon. Another 500 years for the Anointed one to come. Job had to WAIT, Simeon had to WAIT, Jesus had to WAIT. All this WAITING came before God acted in their lives. The first 2000 years of collective ‘Patient Waiting’ in the Salvation Story, ultimately leads up to that CENTRAL act of God’s love and our JOY in the INCARATION (Birth to Death). Advent is to be a 4 week waiting period, celebrating the ways God has acted or will act decisively in our lives. Even now, with 2000 more years gone by, we ‘Patiently WAIT’ for God to act definitively a last time in the 2nd coming. Waiting for ETERNAL JOY.
3. The early church actually taught that Jesus would return very quickly. And because it was not happening, James’ Letter today, shows a concern that people might become impatient and drift away. WAITING on God can be disheartening. He reminds all that there is a required task…of waiting …waiting patiently for God to act. He tells us then, “Be patient, until the coming of the Lord.” Just like the seed we plant, God takes it to maturity in its’ many growth Stages. “…Establish your hearts”, make firm YOUR commitment to living in Christ. And “Do not grumble”. Be charitable and affirming to all.
4. In the first reading, Isaiah is telling us how the Jews, who had been exiled to Babylon had to Patiently Waiting for the merciful God to act. Their rescue would come through King Cyrus. a pagan (who would capture Babylon) and allow the Jews to return to their native land. By the Hand of God, they would rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, and make ready to serve God once more as his Chosen People. This reading describes the end of that 60 year period of waiting and the JOY that would come at their liberation. This is truly an Advent reading, because the Babylonian (and Egyptian) Exodus fore shadowed the COMING of the Messiah to liberate the human race.
5. In the Gospel, John the Baptist, got to announce the 500 year WAIT for the Messiah was over. Yet we find him a little concerned. Today John had been imprisoned by Herod, because he had publicly denounced Herod’s adulterous union with Herodias. While in prison, he had heard of the missionary activity of Jesus in which LOVE, MERCY and UNDERSTANDING for sinners predominated. This merciful and loving approach did not quite fit in with the “FIRE and JUDGEMENT” picture, John had foretold of the Messiah’s mission. So John is now wondering if Jesus is really the Messiah. Maybe the WAITING isn’t over. To solve his doubts, he sends a delegation to Jesus to ask : Are you the Messiah, the promised one for whom we have been waiting? Or should we Wait for another?
Jesus’ answer was very UPLIFTING of John . He praises John as a man of principle, somebody who does not bend or brake in the wind. Somebody who would stand for the Truth and eventually give his life for moral principles. We should heed and imitate his preaching . The point is though… the Messiah IS HERE! The WAIT is OVER and while Jesus is here He is the cause for JOY because the BLIND SEE, the DEAF HEAR, the LAME WALK…some physically, but more importantly SPIRITUAL cures abounded. The people in Scripture exude JOY because God is acting in their lives.
6. We all want to be Happy Joy filled People. The important question in Advent is: Am I WAITNG for right thing to come along ? For Mass to get over so I can get home eat. For summer to come back. For Downton Abby to start again. Jesus is the correct answer. Therefore HEED John’s warning; clear the clutter from our lives. Then to find how Jesus cures the blind, the deaf and the lame; seek the ways that God Acts in our lives. Go to confession. If God can restore sight to the blind, He can forgive you your sins. Continue your acts of charity and increase your prayer. If any of this is happening in your life, REJOICE, for God is acting in your life. LASTING JOY is not far behind.
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