2nd Sunday of Advent (Fr. Vinner)
“Homecoming”
My sisters & Brothers in Christ,
The central theme of today’s Liturgy for the Second Sunday of Advent is Homecoming All three readings focus on the absolute necessity of our getting ready for Christ’s “Homecoming” into our hearts and lives by true repentance, reparation, prayer and the renewal of our lives. Advent is a time of expectancy along with our waiting in hope. Advent is forward looking. we have our own sets of expectations, longing for a better world. While it is true that the reign of God has, in Jesus Christ, been established among us, it is likewise true that we humans have not responded to God’s offer, as we should. We long for peace.
Today’s first reading come from the prophet Isaiah. God tells Isaiah to comfort His people. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,” He tells Isaiah, and proclaim to her that her time of trial is coming to an end. “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be making a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the lord shall be revealed. The vision is both broad and personal at the same time. God speaks to us as a people, a people dear to His heart, while at the same time He speaks to us personally and individually. We have our responsibilities, both communal and individual. God’s judgment falls upon nations as well as upon individuals.
The second reading today, repeats this lesson to us: “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” It is God Himself who wants to give us comfort but can only do so insofar as our hearts are open and waiting for Him. It is God who invites us to be patient and who reminds us: “Beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.”
The words in today’s Gospel account are the very first words in St. Mark’s Gospel account of Jesus Christ. They come from Mark’s first chapter, verses 1-8. We should note that those words and thoughts are all about change, change that is coming upon us, change that we should face not in fear and dread but change that we should accept in faith and expectant hope. Why? Because we all need what God can offer us in changing not only the world around us but in changing our very own lives, which is perhaps the most difficult of all of the challenges we face. For Jesus came to empower us with God’s Holy Spirit, an empowerment that should give comfort to us all, a power God gives us to comfort those around us.
Coming to our lives, we need to prepare for the rebirth of Jesus: We are invited by the Church to prepare for Christmas by repenting of our sins and renewing our lives so that Jesus may be reborn in us. Let us ask with Alexander Pope the challenging question, “What do I profit, if Jesus is born in thousands of cribs all over the world unless he is born in my heart and in my life?”
We need to allow Jesus to be reborn in our lives. People around us should recognize Jesus’ rebirth in our lives by our sharing love, unconditional forgiveness, compassionate and merciful heart and spirit of humble and committed service. We need to accept the challenge of John the Baptist to turn this Advent season into a real spiritual “homecoming” by making the necessary preparations for the fresh arrival of our Lord and Savior Jesus into our hearts and lives.
May God Bless you.
FR. S.Vinner HGN