An Advent Message

The First Sunday of Advent
Today’s Readings: Jer 33: 14-16; Ps 25; 1 Thess 3: 12 – 4:2; Lk 21: 25-28, 34-36

God blessed us with a bit of the tropics this past week! I remember that last year, we had snow at Thanksgiving. This week, it hit 68°. It felt a bit odd running around in shorts and a tee shirt… while the radio stations were playing their Christmas music in full force.

Ah yes. It seems that every year the commercial side of Christmas bombards us earlier and earlier. This year, you probably noticed that we jumped right from Halloween into Christmas, hardly even pausing for Thanksgiving. The newspapers are heavy with slick advertising circulars and sale notices. The pressure is on to start shopping in earnest. Only 22 days till Christmas!!

Now, I’m by no means a Scrooge, but as we dash around buying gifts, we often forget the babe born in a manger had no crib for his bed. So this holy season of Advent, which begins today, is meant to be a little reminder and time for preparation for the real focus of Christmas.

Actually, not everyone is in a shopping frame of mind. Surrounding us are many families who routinely lack food and clothing. Over the past few weeks many of you gave generously so some of these families can get special gift baskets.

Besides the poor and hungry, there are also the homeless and victims of domestic violence. I imagine that some of these folks understand the deeper meaning of Christmas more than those of us who are more affluent. They can relate to the fact the first Christmas was one born out of desperation and poverty.

Instead of looking at the sparkling lights, beautifully wrapped packages and the festivities of the season, please pause for a moment to remember that Jesus’ birth took place in urgent and filthy circumstances. There was no room in the inn, as the beloved Christmas story tells us. Mary’s labor could not be ignored. The unborn child was going to come into the world without the able assistance of midwives or an attending physician. Joseph did the best he could and found a crude and drafty shelter for his cold, tired, laboring wife.

The sweet baby Jesus was born among the animals in the manger, amidst manure and straw. Our dogs have better accommodations than that.

No, there was no commercialism that first Christmas. God’s most enriching gift to the world was born among the poor and the homeless and the dumb animals. Do you think that this is exactly why the grown-up Jesus always spoke so passionately for the disadvantaged and oppressed and downtrodden? He was one of them.

It’s easy, especially at this time of year, to get caught up in the glitz of the season. Certainly we should be enormously thankful to God for giving us bounty and peace so we can enjoy these blessings.

However, we should also make a special effort not to get completely sucked in by the commercialism or obsess about finding, or receiving, expensive gifts. The best gifts cannot be bought. The best gifts are love. . . time together. . . deep, caring relationships. In other words, the best gifts come from the heart.

Consider sharing the true joy of Christmas with the lonely ones around us: people without families, forgotten people shut in at home, in nursing homes, in jail, in shelters and half-way houses… Reach out with a strong sense of caring and community.

Advent is also a fine time to imagine making a spiritual pilgrimage to Bethlehem for that first Christmas so long ago. Why not linger a bit with the wonderful Bible stories about this amazing child who came to be God among us—Emmanuel? I particularly recommend the opening chapters of the gospels of Luke and Matthew.

And during this privileged season of Advent—and throughout the entire holiday season, for that matter—pray in the magnificent words of St. Paul today: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all . . . so as to strengthen your hearts . . .

Yes, give many gifts from your heart this year. Let the light of Christ, which burns in your soul, shine forth. Be kind and patient and generous and forgiving. Be tolerant of one another, especially if you’re under stress. Count and share your blessings. Confess your sins and ask God for the grace to make a fresh start.

As you do these things and journey through Advent, let us pray that you will truly discover that the message of the Holy Child of Bethlehem still resonates throughout the world.