First Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent

Fr. Ben Riley

As I’ve said many times, “I love the outdoors.” I love recreating, that is recreating myself within the glory of God’s creation. My love of the outdoors started in Boy Scouts. I think scouting is one of the most beneficial activities in which our youth can participate. The parish has a Trail Life troop, and we are working on forming an American Heritage Girls troop. But I don’t care if it’s Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Trail Life, American Heritage Girls, Venture Crew, Sea Scouts, or any other form of scouting, I think that scouting in general, is a worthwhile endeavor. It taught me many practical skills and helped me to develop a character of teamwork, self-control, and duty to God and country. One of the most important and worthwhile aspects of scouting that I have tried to exemplify in my life is the Boy Scout motto: “Be prepared”. This motto, Be Prepared, is also very appropriate for our Eucharistic celebration today, because today is the First Sunday of Advent, and Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ at Christmas. And our readings for this weekend point out the importance of preparation in the spiritual life, because Christmas is not the only thing we should be preparing for.

In our first reading, we hear the prophet Isaiah calling for God to come to earth in judgment. Isaiah is asking God to bring his kingdom to earth, something, by the way, we pray for in the Our Father: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Although Isaiah wants God to establish justice, he fears that God’s justice may lead to the condemnation of many among God’s own people, because, for all of human history, the situation of God’s people seems to have not changed very much. Living in a secular society that mocks our faith and scorns our morals, we cry for justice from God and at the same time realize that we have contributed to, and been complacent in, the sins of our culture and society. Catholics don’t seem significantly more charitable, or chaste, or faithful to their spouses, or pro-life than their fellow countrymen in whatever nation they reside. Non-Catholics don’t see a different lifestyle being lived among Catholics and conclude that the Gospel must not have any answers to the confusions of modern society and life. Yes, Lord, “oh that you would rend the heavens and come down”, reforming and purifying your Church, and in this way, giving hope and witness to the world. But even as Isaiah cries and laments for God to put the world in order, there is an important distinction between the Israelite people of Isaiah’s time and Christ’s Church today.

In the second reading, Saint Paul teaches us that, like the people of Israel, we are waiting for the coming of the Messiah. We wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Always anticipating the end. And although we are like the old covenant people in that we are waiting for the return of the Messiah, we have a consolation in this waiting that was not shared by those under the old covenant. Our reading from the first letter to the Corinthians says, “all discourse, all knowledge, and every spiritual gift has been given to us through Jesus Christ as we wait!” Saint Paul is referring to the Body of Christ as a whole. Not every believer has every spiritual gift, but the entire body is not lacking anything. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life of holiness. This is not from ourselves, it is God’s gift to us through the sacraments. Therefore, our waiting is not pathetic and forlorn, we are equipped to wage a spiritual battle for the Kingdom as we await the return of the king.

Our Gospel teaches us to cultivate an attitude of anticipation. “Be prepared” is the Boy Scout motto. And as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Birth of Christ, we are also called to prepare ourselves for his second coming, and to prepare ourselves for death. “You do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you I say to all. Be watchful. Be alert. “

After I had moved on from Boy Scouts, I joined a search and rescue team during my freshman year of college. As part of the team, we were on call at all hours of the day and night and had to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice, ready to search the Colorado wilderness for lost or injured hikers. We were told to always have ready a “go bag”: a small backpack, that would have all the equipment, food, and water necessary to keep us alive and healthy for 48 hours.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, this Advent season I propose that we all pack a go bag, not full of water, and food, and extra batteries, but a spiritual go bag, so that we may be prepared for Christmas, for Christ’s second coming, and for death. In our Gospel the Lord refers to placing servants in charge, each at his own work. As we wait for the Lord, it is best to be busy about the work that God has left in our charge, and to try to be faithful in the ordinary and extraordinary movements of life: doing our professional work well and with excellence; fulfilling our duties to the family with care and love; speaking of Christ to any who will listen; living a lifestyle of prayer, modesty, and acts of self-denial. That’s how we pack a spiritual go bag. If we are busy about doing these things, we can anticipate the coming of Christ with joy, and not foreboding.

May God bless you. And Happy Advent.