The First Sunday of Advent, C December 2, 2018
Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia
“Already, but not yet.” That is, or should be, the motto of every Christian in this world. It is also the perfect expression of Advent. We already celebrate Christmas, but it is not yet here. The liturgical new year has already begun, but it is not yet New Years in the world. The Lord Jesus Christ has already come as a child to redeem us, but he has not yet come back as the final judge.
That’s why, even though our world is currently filled with Christmas lights, Christmas food, Christmas music, the Gospel doesn’t even mention Christmas or the baby Jesus. Instead, it talks about the end of the world. In the midst of warmth and laughter, shopping and partying, the Church is kind of a buzzkill with all this “people will die of fright!” and “don’t get drunk!” that we hear from Jesus today.
Well, if you’ve never thought to yourself “Jesus is kind of a buzzkill,” then perhaps you haven’t really paid attention to Jesus. Because he is. It’s not that Jesus doesn’t like laughter and fun – he is God after all and he did create all the good stuff in the world – it’s just that he knows what’s up. He knows that when it comes to celebrating, we human beings tend to prefer the “already” part to the “not yet” part. If there is an excuse to celebrate something, to take it easy and have a good time, most people jump at the chance.
And it’s hard to blame someone for doing it. With the craziness in the world, who doesn’t like an excuse to be cheerful? On top of that, it’s a great way for businesses of all kinds to make a good bit of money. And, it’s part of our fallen nature to focus on the things we can see, touch, and hear right now. Our senses have evolved to deal with what is immediate. So, the spiritual world and the distant future don’t often create that kind of instinctual gut-reaction that seems to govern most daily decisions.
Which is why Jesus is a buzzkill. Because the buzz can kill us if we don’t kill it first. Whether we look forward to it or not, whether we prepare or not, the Son of Man – Jesus Christ – will come again in glory and terrifying power. If we are too focused on the good times already here in the world, we will not yet be ready for the good that lasts forever. Hence, Jesus warns about “becoming drowsy” from three specific things: carousing, drunkenness, and anxiety about daily life.
Carousing is excessively chasing after a good time. This covers all forms of entertainment: games, movies, vacations, any pursuit of pleasure and comfort. It makes us drowsy in the sense that it narrows our focus and makes us selfish. Someone intent on living the high life really resents it when you try to pull them out of the party to deal with something that isn’t immediately satisfying.
Drunkenness can refer to anything that deliberately messes up our ability to think and make good decisions. Alcohol is not always evil, but if you intentionally use it to “get wasted” and seriously impair your ability to think, then it is a mortal sin. Our ability to think and choose is the part of us that reveals God’s image in us, so it is quite wicked to deliberately mess that up with various substances. If a drunk person won’t even face the life they have today, they certainly won’t deal with the question of eternal life in any meaningful way.
And then there is the anxiety. On the opposite extreme of tuning out life with partying and drinking is obsessing about it. If all we think about is the next deadline, the next bill, our professional network, or any other of the million things life throws at us, then we can again forget the larger perspective.
So, how do we avoid these pitfalls? If these things make us spiritually drowsy, what is the spiritual equivalent to a good night’s sleep or a shot of espresso? Well, look at the color we’re using. It’s the same as Lent. And like Lent, the spiritual wake-up call of Advent uses the same tools: almsgiving, fasting, and prayer.
Almsgiving: As opposed to looking out for your own fun in carousing, almsgiving is a chance to sacrifice your own comfort for the good of others. We have to be careful though. Don’t just toss coins in the salvation army bucket – what they support isn’t always good. Plan your giving and let it hurt a little. Taper your shopping budget and put some thought into who to support.
Fasting: As opposed to drunkenness, fasting is a fairly stark reminder of how temporary this life is. The more radical side of me would like to challenge you to avoid all “Christmas” parties that happen before Christmas. That’s not strictly necessary, but please do at least sacrifice something. Advent is an “already, but not yet” season, so it makes some sense to already celebrate. But we need to do something to make that “not yet” part real to us. Something that, in a physical way, says “hey, it’s not actually Christmas yet.”
Prayer: As opposed to anxiety, prayer builds trust. There are like a million kinds of Advent devotionals, at-home retreats, and reading plans. Find one and stick to it. Add at least one extra bit of prayer to every day. Maybe take an hour a week in the adoration chapel if you don’t already. Talking honestly to God about this life helps us to think about the next and it helps to build the trust we need to be free of anxiety.
I don’t like that so many Christians let the world tell us when and how to celebrate Christmas. I hate the fact that, for so many people, December 26th is the end of the Holiday when it’s really the beginning of a whole season – 2 full weeks or more of just Christmas. People get depressed that Christmas is over when it’s actually just beginning. We should be the ones looking up because the real joy has only just arrived.
So, take advantage of Advent. Be generous. Fast one day a week or give up something. Pray more. It’ll be good practice for the end of the world. Be alert so that, when people get depressed about the end of the world, you can “stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” It’s already begun, but it’s not here yet. Don’t get ahead of yourselves, or you may never get there at all.