First Sunday of Advent: Keep Alert: God is Seeking Us in the Work of Equality for All

Today's Scripture Readings

Mark 13:24-37 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "In those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from heaven,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see `the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake-- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Blog Reflection

This past Thanksgiving Day I read a terrific reflection on Mark 6:6.  It is the story of Jesus preaching in the synagogue in his own home town of Nazareth.  Upon hearing Jesus' words the people standing around remark: "Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses?"  In the reflection I read this past Thursday was the following:

"Exploring God's wisdom in whatever sort of clothing it comes to you requires faith and humility.  Pray for both of these virtues."  (Bible Day by Day, Catholic Publishing Company, page 173).

As we begin the new Liturgical Year with this First Sunday of Advent, we are told by Jesus to beware and keep alert.   What is it we are keeping alert for? 

The Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano suggests that Jesus is telling us to be watching for God, because God is the only real something or someone that can truly give us fulfillment.

We are all searching for something or someone. Not just the small things, like our house keys or a parking space, but also bigger things, deeper things, people, places, and relationships that we hope will fulfill us, bring us joy, grant us peace. Many people are searching for a job, but also more than a job, for the sense of purpose and value and security the hoped-for job will bring. Many people are searching for wisdom, but also more than just an education, for the sense of truth and goodness and direction that we hope real wisdom will bring. Many people are searching for relationships, but also more than Mr. or Mrs. Right, for the sense of fulfillment and flourishing we hope loving and being loved will bring. We are all searching for something or someone.

But experience teaches us that that something or someone is elusive. We photograph the perfect sunset, but when we look at the pictures later, it looks rather ordinary. The excitement of a new career settles into the humdrum of a job. The first flush of a new relationship turns into coordinating schedules and dates. Even when we find what we think we are looking for, we may find the experience quite exquisite but also leaving us unsatisfied.

That is why spiritual writers tell us that what we are all searching for, whether we realize it or not, is God. The longed-for thing or person who will ultimately fulfill us, bring us joy, and grant us peace is God. Everything else, even the exquisitely true and good and beautiful things of this life, will leave us unsatisfied at some level. Life is transient, and we continue our search for true fulfillment and flourishing and love.

The New American Bible uses the words: "Be watchful. Be alert" in place of "Beware keep alert."


Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration and Catechesis for 2012 provides the following reflection.

Jesus' admonition "Be watchful! Be alert!" was spoken to hearers holding heightened expectation that the Messiah was about to come to restore Israel to its former power, wealth and glory.  However, in this case, rather than opening them to new possibilities, the expectation Jesus' hearers narrowed their vision.  Their limited expectations prevented them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah already among them.  Jesus was just not the one they were expecting.  After all, none of us looks to a carpenter if we are expecting a Messiah.  Or do we?


If we expect Christ's presence, we will find it because God is always present to us. "God is faithful" (second reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3 -9).  From the beginning of time God has wrought "awesome deeds we could not hope for" (First Reading: Isaiah 64: 1-9, in this reflection, Isaiah 63: 16b-17, 19b are included).  God has "enriched [us] in every way" and assured us that we "are not lacking in any spiritual gift" (second reading).  One challenge of being watchful and alert is that we open our eyes to the simple, everyday ways God is present to us with gifts we cannot even imagine.  An attitude of watchfulness and alertness increases our expectation so that we are far more able to recognize God's presence in the goodness people and events reveal. (Living Liturgy is published by Liturgical Press, this quote is found on page 2).

Our Advent season is a time to be on the lookout for God.  Advent is about remembering that Christ who came once in history, and comes to use spiritually and in the Sacraments, will also come in glory. 


The Rev. Dr. Pegano again gives us some valuable insight.

The story of Advent is not a story of a God waiting to see if we human beings will finally figure it out and find God. The story of Advent is that God comes to us, and better yet, that God has already found us. We may feel like we are always looking for something or someone, but the Good News of Advent is that God has already come to us, is coming to us, and will keep coming to us.

Our problem even in this 21st Century is that Christians continue to look for God is to be ready to receive God as God actually is.

As we are seeing in the Occupy movement, God is not all in all among those who are considered as part of the 1%.  Wealth, political power and prestige are not a sign of superiority when it comes to finding God.  God seeks us out so that we will seek God in those people and places where humankind least expects to encounter God.

God is among the poor and the economically oppressed.

God is present and weeping as the students at UC Davis were being pepper sprayed.

Somehow God is speaking to all of us through the stories of individuals who are deliberately violated such as the 19 year old woman in Seattle who while pregnant, was beaten in the stomach and pepper sprayed to the point that she miscarried.  Yet, while God is there, the so called "pro-life" movement remains silent.  

An Evangelical Mom who held the belief that one could not be gay and Christian at the same time, suddenly changed her heart and mind because she became close friends of a lesbian fellow hiker.  The lesbian friend told her stories to the Bible believing mother.  This incredible woman named Kathy Baldock is now a witness to the Gospel of how the Holy Spirit can change our hearts to be a faithful apostle in the work of healing the wounds between Christians and LGBT people.  

God is searching for us in the work of equality for all of God's people.  This Advent is an opportunity for all of us to be open to encountering the living God who revealed God's Self in Jesus Christ on that first Christmas morning.   We can meet God not only on Christmas Day, but every day and every moment. 

Fr. Albert Holtz, OSB wrote in his book From Holidays to Holy Days; A Benedictine Walk through Advent:

For a Christian, life is made up of unique moments, each one a kairos (time or season), an opportunity that will never come again.  Every task we start, every decision we make, whether trivial or great, is a special time, a chance to build up the kingdom.  Every encounter with another person is a unique kairos, a season for loving. 9Pages 5 & 6).

The questions that might want to ask ourselves includes, are we prepared to accept Christ coming to us as he actually is, or do we have expectations as to who and how Christ will be when he appears to us?  

When Jesus comes to us in that someone who is different than how we think a person or people should be, do we welcome Jesus or are we just a little bit suspicious by how Christ present in someone who dresses, behaves, reasons and loves in a unique way? 

Are we prepared to do something for Jesus who seeks us out to feed him and welcome him in the stranger, the homosexual, the lesbian, bisexual and transgender without expecting Jesus to be any different or to become something or someone that Jesus is not?

Advent is a great time to explore these and other questions as God searches for us, while we are aware and watching for God to reveal God's Self to us.


Prayers

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the First Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).


Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816)

Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, page 260).