Advent, a new beginning

As we begin a new liturgical year, here is the reflection I shared with those who came to pray with us during the Masses for this first Sunday of Advent.  Readers need to know that in one of the parishes I serve, there is a tradition of placing a live evergreen tree in the church during the season of Advent.  For the weeks leading up to Christmas, this tree serves as a Jesse tree, inviting the parishioners to help us provide gifts for some of the less fortunate in our city, and as Christmas Day arrives, this same tree is decorated and figures prominently in the decor of the liturgical environment.

This year, the tree has been donated by one of our oldest parishioners who willingly allowed us to harvest it from her own property and to bring it to the church.  We are very grateful to this wonderful woman for her generosity.

Doorkeepers invited to keep watch

When you came into the church tonight (today), did you notice that something was different?  At some point yesterday, this magnificent tree was placed here in the church and since that time, it has been perfuming the air with a subtle reminder that something has changed.  As we gather to celebrate the liturgies tonight (today), we may also notice a few other changes: the colour of the vestments has changed to purple, and we now have a wreath with candles in our midst.  Even someone who has come through these doors for the very first time tonight (today) will be struck with the fact that something is different.

The season of Advent, which we begin today, marks the beginning of a new liturgical year.  This new beginning does not negate anything of our lived history up to this point, but it reminds us that all things can and will be made new in Jesus.  In the gospel account that we have just heard, Jesus tells the disciples that they should stay awake: be on the lookout for the coming of the Lord.  Something new is happening, so stay awake.  

In order for us to better understand the story that Jesus tells, it might help to think about some of our own teenagers.  Can you remember the first time that you – their parents – had to leave them alone at home?  Perhaps you had to be away for a few hours, or even overnight.  I’m sure that before you left, you made sure to leave one of them in charge.  You made sure that they had some food to eat, or some money so that they wouldn’t go hungry.  Of course they had your contact information, in case they should need you; one never knows when emergencies might occur.  I’m sure you trusted the one you left in charge and knew that he or she would take care of the house, and the other siblings who were there until you came back home.  In a similar way, Jesus says that his disciples must be like the faithful doorkeeper who is commanded to be on the watch … for you do not know when the master of the house will come.

This first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of this new liturgical year gives us the wonderful opportunity to ask ourselves: Have I acted responsibly in caring for the treasure that has been entrusted to me by my God?  Is there something that I need to change so that I can better keep watch for Jesus when he comes?

The prophet Isaiah speaks today of the temptation that is deep within the human heart, a temptation to believe that God somehow makes us stray from his ways, or that God hardens our hearts so that we do not fear him.  The truth is that we are the ones who too often forget about Jesus, or try to neglect even knowing him.  Even when we feel furthest away from God, He is always close to us, waiting for us to turn back to him, waiting for us to realize that we are the doorkeepers who he invites to keep watch.

How do we keep watch?  Saint Paul tells us that we must begin by recognizing the gift of grace that has been given to us in Jesus Christ.  Do we truly believe that we have been enriched by Christ?  Do we truly believe that in Christ, we have been given every spiritual gift that we need so that we can wait in hope for his coming?  As we begin this season of Advent, this new liturgical year, ask yourself the following questions: Do I truly believe that I have been given the gift of grace in Jesus Christ?  Do I truly believe that my relationship with Jesus enriches my life and fills me with joy?  Do I keep watch for the coming of Jesus, and if so, how do I encourage others to watch in hope for his coming?