First Sunday of Advent, Dec.

1, 2013 (Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44) Another Advent, another reminder of Isaiahs vision of the future glory of Jerusalem. A time of universal disarmament and peace. Christians unite with Jews in their hope for Isaiahs vision to be fulfilled. The vision remains unfulfilled. Paul urges Roman Christians to seize the present time as the appropriate time to act on their faith in Christ who has died, risen, and been seated at the right hand of the Father. Salvation is always closer than when any of us first believed. Yet often the cares of the world cause us to sleep away the faith. Paul calls us to awaken, using language appropriate for an apocalyptic mindset, which marked the early years of Christianity. The night far spent and the day at hand signals the nearness of fulfillment. The armor of light symbolizes the acts of Christian charity which mark the believer. This is the language of preparation for war, which too is apocalyptic language for the struggle to live righteously in the midst of a world which resists the righteous. Paul summarizes what he means by the parallels of orgies and drunkenness; promiscuity and lust; and rivalry and jealousy. All of those actions are equally contrary to a life lived in Jesus Christ. A life lived in Jesus Christ is a life aware of our upward calling Christ, which leads away from the desires of the flesh. Every Christian has to face this struggle. As we grow closer to Christ we grow farther away from all that would separate us from Christ. Paul urges us to remember this and it is therefore a perfect reflection for the First Sunday of Advent. Matthews Gospel reflection comes from his end time discourse. With the arrival of the Advent season we return to the A cycle of readings which draw mostly from the Gospel according to Matthew. The fact that we head to Matthews end time discourse shows us the dual nature of the season of Advent. It is first and

foremost a reflection on the arrival of the Lord in glory at the end of the age. Only secondarily is Advent a period of preparation for the birth of the Christ. If we were to be even more precise, it is really simply a preparation for the Christmas season liturgically. It is not like the Christ is going to be born again. That happened once, long ago, in Bethlehem of Judea, about which we will hear more later. Matthew tells three parables about the unknown nature of the day of the Lord. It is compared to Noahs day when the flood had been predicted but no one listened until the flood came. Or it will be like two men in a field; one taken, the other left. Or it will be like two women grinding; one taken, one left. That does not mean that whoever is left will not be taken later. It simply means that the Son of Man will come when we are not expecting it. Nobody can predict it. So we are all told to be alert at all times. In practical terms, this means we need to be ready to meet death (our encounter with the Son of Man) whenever it comes, by living lives worthy of our calling. None knows the day so we are told to be prepared always. Being prepared in this way means living according to the teachings of Jesus every day, so that we are not caught off guard by the one day we know will come (the day of death). Such are the things we are asked to ponder in this holy season. Fr. Lawrence Hummer