Advent is a time for joy, not primarily because we are anticipating the anniversary of the birth of Christ, but because God is already in our midst (Immanuel). The readings for today, Gaudete Sunday, assure us that God is with us, not as a judge but as a Saviour. We rejoice over the saving acts of God that make us confident of God’s care and unafraid of whatever may cross our paths. We rejoice in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Advent joy springs from the realisation that the presence of God in our midst can so transform our lives that the promises of peace and security will be fulfilled. Advent joy is the way we live in the tension between already and not yet.
While the advent of God’s coming with its promise of fulfilment show us that God works within everyday life, John the Baptist, on the other hand proclaims the kind of transformation that results in a change of heart. Reversals characterise such transformation: the robe of mourning is replaced by the splendour of glory; tears are turned into rejoicing; those led away by enemies are brought back by God; valleys are filled, mountains are levelled, winding roads are made straight; even nature offers itself as shelter for the people of God. Those who are shamed and discarded are made glorious; those who suffer are comforted; the oppressed are freed; all of life’s obstacles are removed; the way to God is made straight; the natural world enjoys peace and harmony. The transformation or repentance of heart takes place within human life, within relationships of justice between people and with the earth, in right living, in genuine unselfish love. It produces the fruits of righteousness of which Paul speaks. Advent is the time to prepare ourselves for this.
The readings of the First Sunday of Advent set the stages for our reflections on the entire season. They contain a number of promises, all pointing to peace and fulfilment. The promises reveal a loving and provident, a merciful and forgiving God. These are promises full of hope. The coming of the Lord is clearly a time of expectation, not of fear and trembling. Although the earlier tradition about the Day of the Lord included punishment of the wicked, the focus here is on redemption. The time of expectation may be preceded by apocalyptic signs in the heavens and dismay on earth, but this cosmic shift will bring fulfilment, not destruction. The love and providence, the mercy and forgiveness of God will be made manifest. An Advent way of life exhorts us to ‘wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ’. This way of life is both simple and profound. It does not necessarily require unusual behaviour on our part, but it calls us to live the usual unusually well. It affects the everyday events of life; it directs the way we interact with people; it informs the attitudes that colour our judgments and motivations. It is as ordinary as the birth of a child; it is as extraordinary as the revelation of God.
Enthroned in heaven, Christ is revealed as the faithful witness to all that God has done and will continue to do. As first-born from the dead, his resurrection is the promise of our own resurrection. The dominion that he received from God is universal and exclusive and it will last forever. When he comes again on the last day, he will be revealed in all his glory. Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice and love and peace. We need not stand at a distance from him, afraid to approach because of our human vulnerability. He is the one who loved us so much that he handed himself over to suffering and death so that we might live. He has already brought us to birth in this kingdom through Baptism and he has taught us how to live in it. Today we look to that time when his glory will be revealed, when we will all be gathered into the embrace of God, there to sing praise to that glory forever.
In some way, all of today’s readings state that good will finally prevail over evil. In the last days, Michael, the angelic warrior of God, will rise up. In the epistle, Christ is pictured seated triumphantly at the right hand of God with his enemies under his foot, a sign of conquest. Finally, in the gospel, the Son of Man, the mysterious figure from apocalyptic literature, comes in the clouds with great power and glory. All of these images are apocalyptic; each of them is quite hopeful. We read these stories at the close of the liturgical year, because we are coming to the conclusion of our yearly telling of the story of salvation. However, apocalyptic images are timely whenever we find ourselves in the throes of the battle with evil and it appears that we will succumb. These forms will remind us that good will be able to withstand evil. From this we will conclude that we need only trust in God.
Jesus is the ultimate example of heroic generosity. He first offered himself as expiation for our sin. Now, as the eternal high priest, he stands before God as our mediator, pleading on our behalf, bringing salvation to those who eagerly await him. The giving that is pictured in today’s readings is nothing less than heroic generosity. However, God will not be outdone in generosity. Sometimes we become the beneficiaries of obvious blessing, as was the case in the story of the woman of Zarephath who was granted a year’s supply of floor and oil. At other times, we simply continue living life as usual, like the woman in the temple who was unaware of the commendation that Jesus had given her. The truly generous do not look for reward. They carry out their responsibilities and place the rest in God’s hands.
We are called to a covenant relationship with the Lord who is God, the one who is Lord alone. We have been invited into an intimate personal relationship with the creator of the universe who with infinite interest has numbered the very hairs on our head. It is not marvel enough that this mysterious God has created us; we have also been redeemed. As victim-priest Jesus has offered himself on our behalf. He is the sacrifice that sealed the covenant; his blood was the expiation for our sins; he is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our shield, our stronghold. Only one thing is asked of us in return: that we open ourselves to him and cling to the covenant, that we proclaim with all our hearts ‘The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!’ We are to love with all our heart and all our soul and all our strength; we are to love God and to love others.
Throughout this liturgical year we have examined several aspects of our faith. We have pondered the history of our salvation, the merciful compassion of God and God’s willingness to lead us out of the bondage of our addictions. We have meditated often and long on the person of Jesus, on his life and death, on the meaning of his sacrifice, on his resurrection and on his influence in our lives today. We have considered our own ongoing transformation as disciples of Jesus, baptised into his death and resurrection, commissioned to bring the news of his love to all those with whom we come into contact. We have reflected on all of these wonderful deeds of God, and now we must ask the question: What difference has it made? Have we accepted more genuinely the Christian responsibilities that are ours as baptised followers of Christ, in our own personal lives, in our families, in our relationships with others, at the workplace? To what degree have we been transformed into Christ? How open have we become to the action of the Spirit in our lives? Have we been made a new creation? And do we recognise Christ in our midst?
When we set out to follow Jesus, faithful to the promises that we made at baptism to renounce sin and live lives directed by the Spirit, we normally do so with generosity of heart. Of those to whom much has been given, much will be required in return. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we will be expected to mirror him. The great ones in the reign of God, the ones who exercise authority over others, must be the servants of the rest. Parents, teachers, civil authorities, managers of every kind, pastoral leaders must all be servants, as Jesus was a servant. We will also have to drink from his cup of suffering and be baptised into his death. As we draw close to the one who gave his life as an offering for sin, we will find that the same self-sacrifice is being asked of us. When we struggle with the misfortunes that we face because of our commitment to Jesus, we will have him as an inspiration and a model to follow. He can sympathise with our weaknesses, identify with our suffering. We can draw strength from his example and hope from his kindness.
This Sunday’s readings confront us with the need to make choices in life, choices for God. They also remind us that no significant choice is without its price. However, if we make the right choice, we are assured that we will be richly rewarded. One of the mysteries of faith is the incomprehensible generosity of God. We choose wisdom instead of all of the good things of the world, and we receive these good things along with wisdom itself. We are asked to relinquish all of the things that we value, and we get them back a hundredfold. We are invited to take a step into the unknown. We are told that we will not fall. However, we are never sure of this until we take the step and discover that we have not fallen. God demands so much, but gives so much more.