Homily for December 3, 2006

By Fr. Stephen Jarrell

1st Sunday of Advent

 

 

INTRODUCTION

A.     Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of traveling with children is probably familiar with the question, “Are we there yet?”

  1. Little children are eager anticipators.
  2. They’re probably already asking, “Isn’t Christmas here yet?”

 

B.     Meanwhile, adults would like to push back the time as much as possible.

  1. They need more time to make the lists and do the shopping.
  2. They need time to wrap the presents and decorate the tree.
  3. There are cards to send and cookies to bake.
  4. Then they need to make time for school pageants and parties.

 

C.     I would like to suggest that we see this Advent season as God’s gift—it’s a time to slow down, experience God’s life more deeply, and to be renewed in hope.

 

 

DWELLING IN GOD

A.     We begin this Advent season with the Gospel of Luke (and we’ll be using this Gospel throughout this new liturgical year).

  1. Luke is always offering assurance.
  2. Today’s passage (Lk. 21) is known as his “little apocalypse.”
  3. He describes a world where nations will be in dismay, where folks will be perplexed, many will be caught up in the anxieties of daily life, and some people will even die of fright.
  4. Sounds like today—and many other periods of human history!
  5. In the midst of life’s tribulations, the evangelist records Jesus’ words of assurance, “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is near at hand.”
  6. In other words, “Do not be afraid.”
  7. God will be with us to get through life’s uncertainties, trials, hectic schedules---even Christmas shopping.

 

B.     That reassuring word is echoed in today’s first reading (Jer. 33).

  1. The people of Israel had experienced attacks by Assyria, they had witnessed the demise of their northern lands, they had experienced exile in Babylon.
  2. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God reassures them, “The days are coming, says the Lord…when Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.”

 

C.     What comfort and reassurance might we receive from God this Advent?

  1. Strength to face an illness?
  2. Courage to battle an addiction?
  3. Humility to forgive another?
  4. The forgiveness of our sins?
  5. Inner peace?
  6. The comfort of quiet, stillness, and prayer?

 

CONCLUSION

A.     Advent is a time to reflect again on the promises God has made to us.

  1. We heard about some of those promises today through Jesus and the prophet Jeremiah.
  2. May those promises reassure us and renew our hope.

 

B.     Let us pray:

You save us, God who is coming.

Make us thankful, and confident, and joyful

despite the difficulties of life.

May our trust in you

be a beacon of hope for others,

and may we draw strength

from the faith of those around us. Amen.