Our business isn't busyness

I Sunday of Advent Matthew 24:37-44 Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Today’s Gospel presents a scary picture. It reminds me of those famous, “left behind” novels. Stories about the end of the world and how some people were snatched up and how others were “left behind.” You can just imagine it, two men out in the field and all of sudden one is gone and the other is asking himself, “where did he go?” Two women grinding flour and all of sudden, “what happened to my sister?” Our protestant brothers and sisters put a great deal of emphasis on this situation. It has been called the rapture, which by the way Catholic Christians don’t give very much attention to. That isn’t the point of the story, that isn’t what this season of advent is about. The key word for advent isn’t “watch out!” it is, “be prepared” “stay awake” That is what the readings today are about, that is what the season of advent is for. A time of preparation, a time of staying awake and not falling asleep. So how is it that we are suppose to “prepare?” What can we do to make sure that we don’t follow asleep as we await the coming of the Lord?” This is a season of great preparation. Where I live, just to the east of the Cathedral it is a great time of busyness, shopping, getting ready. Our streets are always mayhem, but more so now and it will be that way not just until the 24th of December but it will continue through January 6th the feast of the Magi and not really wind down until the 2nd of February the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. I will confess that I like all of these preparations, all the busyness of the advent season but I know that that isn’t what the season of advent is about. Buying presents, sending cards, baking cookies and preparing tamales will not get us ready for the coming of Jesus. If anything all those activities, and all of that busyness will take us away from Jesus and will make us less ready. The first reading, from the great prophet Isaiah tells us how to get ready. He invites us to climb the mountain of the Lord, to allow God to instruct us in his ways, to teach us God’s path. Climbing a mountain is the opposite of walking the streets of the mercados and malls. It means to take time for quiet, to rest in the presence of God. This season of advent, if you do anything take some time for quiet. If you could go away for a retreat that would be wonderful, but if you can’t at least come to church on Sunday a few minutes before the service begins. Sit in the quiet for a while. Meditate on Jesus in the manger. That is why we put manger scenes in our Churches and homes. It isn’t just another decoration like the tree or lights, but a meditation, a meditation on a God who loved us so much that he took on our flesh as was born as baby in a stable. Isaiah goes on to talk about turning swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. It is obvious what Isaiah is talking about. We need to be people of peace! It is good that we are concerned about peace in places of war like the Gaza, Ukraine or some places in Mexico where the narcotraficantes have the upper hand. But more importantly we need to be people of peace in our own homes, with our families and our neighbors. I may not be able to end the war in Ukraine but I can be more kind to my neighbors and my family. Today’s second reading also tells us how to prepare. In the letter to the Romans we are admonished to put aside deeds of darkness and to be people of the light. What the author is telling us is that we need to live our baptismal calling, which means setting aside those deeds of darkness and to be people of the light of Christ. We are people of the light, but we are called to be that light to others. To encourage people to leave behind their deeds of darkness and enter into the light. Today we begin this blessed season of advent. A time to prepare, prepare for the coming of Jesus the light into our hearts into our lives.