Advent 2
- 1. Second Sunday of Advent (A) Christmas vs. Advent Cards Around this time of the year, the children are getting excited especially when parents check the mail… Christmas cards are starting to arrive. There are all kinds of Christmas cards. The classic, vintage, contemporary, portrait, and the whimsical. Cards with Christmas trees, ornaments, and snowflakes. There are holly, bells, and winter scenes of beautiful homes, Even frosty the snowman, and Penguins Walking on Ice. But the Penguins that’s a little downbeat…knowing that the arctic ice they’re walking on is melting away. The point I want to make is that Christmas cards that arrive during Advent never carry the message we should be hearing. Many of the cards say “Seasons Greetings” / “Happy Holidays” / “Peace on Earth.” Even the cards which have angels and shepherds, wise men, and the baby Jesus on them with the words “Merry Christmas,” or even better “Today, Christ, our Savior is born” don’t say everything that needs to be said. Just as in todayʼs Gospel John the Baptist told the Pharisees " not to presume the best " " because they are Jews, that Abraham is their father, we ought not let our Christmas Cards " presume for us (nor for the penguins) " " that Christmas this year is going to bring " " " peace and joy for all. Todayʼs first reading is very clear on this matter. Before the “wolf shall be a guest of the lamb.” " the “baby play by the cobraʼs den,” and lets add " " “penguins waddling ʻlongside leopard seals,” Before any of this happens, " " God has to “strike the ruthless” and “slay the wicked.”
- 2. Just as there can be no peace without justice, " no happiness without sacrifice, " no Easter without Lent, There can be no Christmas without Advent. Whenever we lose site of the total picture, whenever one thing is upheld at the expense of another, something is wrong, (inappropriate, out of order). Today’s Gospels says that the wheat in the barn cannot be gathered without burning away the chaff. Have we forgotten about the wrath of God, the winnowing fan that John the Baptist speaks of? There’s a bumper sticker that reads "Jesus is coming and He is as mad as hell." This is the image that John the Baptist wants to convey. Sacrilege? NO. There are many references throughout the scripture which speak of Jesus coming in flaming fire in judgment on the world. Yet in many respects, too, John himself failed to see the big picture. Let keep everything balanced. Jesus’ ministry, for the most part, showed compassion. What about the image of Jesus as the Divine Mercy? Isn’t that true also? YES But just as their can be no Christmas without Advent, there can be no absolution without confession of sins, there can be no Divine Mercy without judgment. People may learn to appreciate God through the gospel of prosperity, and they may feel good when they hear about God’s favors and blessings. They may even learn to “become a better you,” and how to “live up to your potential.” But until we repent of our sins, we will never know Jesus, It is Jesus to whom we must come, in order to come to God!
- 3. If we take away the prophetic voice of Advent and all we are left with are season greetings, and feel good pop psychology, we will have neglected and abandoned the one thing that is most worthwhile about this time of the year. It is only with an attitude of repentance that we can ever be ready to meet the Lord, whether that is at Christmas, or at the hour of our death. Therefore, let’s not waste the weeks before Christmas, or waste the remaining months or years we have left to prepare ourselves for what is to come. Now is NOT the time for diversions or distractions. Start answering the tough questions: How is sin affecting me? our culture? our environment? What are those things in me (in our government policy) that need to be cut down and burned away? The holidays are all filled with lot’s of stuff that are just weightless, insubstantial, spiritually going nowhere. While it’s okay to dream for a White Christmas, world peace, a cleaner environment, and heaven itself, let’s do so realizing that God’s winnowing fan FIRST has to blow away all the chaff inside us, in our government, in our culture, to separate the evil from the good: God’s life in us, in creation. Start thinking of ways to make our parish, our country, our world a better place. Being Catholic is not just about our salvation, nor is it just about saving the unborn, or the Liturgy, its about Saving the Penguins, too!
- 4. Therefore, in the next few weeks, whenever you receive a Christmas Card, no matter what image you see, or message you read… REMEMBER, We are still in the season of Advent. Imagine an “Advent Card,” if you will. How about one with picture of John the Baptist on front dressed in camel-hair clothing. One which says on the front…”REPENT”… and then when you open the card read, “so that on Christmas Day our hearts, our world, our environment can indeed be as pure as the Christ child.