Homilies

Last week I spoke of advent as a time of watchful waiting, a season of anticipation and hope for the coming of Christ at Christmas and at the end of time. Every person needs something to look forward to in life in order to survive. Advent gives us plenty to look forward to, ideally a closer relationship with God as we await the birth of his son.

Moments ago, we heard at the beginning of Mark’s Gospel the cry of Isaiah the prophet, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” To enable his listeners to prepare the way for the Lord, John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He baptized many as they acknowledged their sins.

Centuries later, how might we prepare? John the Baptist isn’t talking about our usual preparations for Christmas such as our meals or shopping or decorations. He’s talking about preparing our hearts. What blocks the way of the Lord from entering our lives and our hearts?

Perhaps we need to change some habits or attitudes that conflict with Jesus’ teachings. Even if we don’t attend daily Mass, we could read the gospel of the day, using The Word Among Us and its comments to ponder the message. Doing so, we may experience the Lord speaking to us in powerful ways through his Word.

There is no limit to the many kind things we can do for others. I am mindful, for example, of the many volunteers who assist St. Anthony’s Kitchen preparing or delivering meals with a smile every Friday.

Sometimes our preparations are not a matter of doing something more but of doing something less, such as watching less TV so that we can have more quiet time to be with God or to be in touch with our loved ones.

There is no substitute for quiet time. Consider using that time to examine your conscience, asking yourself, “Who do I need to forgive and whose forgiveness do I need for what I have said or done or failed to do?” Whenever we say the Lord’s Prayer, we seek the Lord’s forgiveness as we promise to forgive others.

On Facebook, a friend posted this thought, ”One day, you’ll just be a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one.” How might others remember you? Will they see you as willing to forgive or not? If you have offended or hurt someone, does the victim remember you as one willing to apologize or not?

Advent is a good time to share what I call the ten commandments of forgiveness. The first commandment: forgiveness isn’t easy. There is no quick fix. We can’t forgive on our own so we need to ask God for help. The second commandment: forgiving is not forgetting. Forgiveness is about a change of heart, not having senior moments.

The third commandment: forgiveness doesn’t overlook evil. It doesn’t mean, “Let’s pretend it never happened.” The fourth commandment: forgiveness is not indifference. We don’t go back to business as usual and let the hurt go on. We should do what we can to insure that the evil doesn’t happen again.

The fifth commandment: forgiveness isn’t the same thing as approval. We can be forgiving and at the same time express our disapproval of the harmful behavior. The sixth commandment: forgiveness is based on recognizing and admitting that people are always bigger than their faults. We shouldn’t define somebody by something they said to us or the way they hurt us.

The seventh commandment: forgiveness is willing to allow a person who has offended us to start over again. Too often we sever the relationship. The eighth commandment: forgiveness recognizes the humanity of the person who has wronged us along with our own shortcomings.

The ninth commandment: forgiveness surrenders the right to get even. Revenge is not an option here. Finally, the tenth commandment: forgiveness means we wish the person who hurt us, or the group that hurt us, well. That’s tough but its basically letting God be the final judge.

Our readings began with the plea, “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” This we do once we endeavor to practice the art of forgiveness when the need arises. Jesus endeavors to do that in a sacrament that offers us the grace to deal with our weaknesses, to help us, strengthen us, purify us, cleanse us, bring us closer to God and heal our souls, namely the sacrament of reconciliation, which Peter tells us, the Lord wants us to come to.

When we ignore this sacrament, and don’t confess our sins, we hold on to the pain and hurt caused by our wrongdoings. Isaiah calls on us, just as he did the ancient Israelites, to set out on a journey of hope and to risk everything for the unseen future that God has in store for us.

Advent dares us, even in hard times like these, to believe that our deepest longings for peace, for eternal life, are God’s desires for us. This gives us good reason to hope for peace in our hearts. The happy paradox is that repentance is the source of that hope and peace.

Life is full of many waiting moments. Most of us find waiting difficult. Last week countless occupants lined up in their cars waiting to be tested for the corona virus so that they could travel to be with loved ones for Thanksgiving. Others waited patiently elsewhere for food so that they could eat.

Waiting is the name of the game in life. We waited nine months after being conceived to enter the world. Growing up, we wait for when we could be on our own. We wait for that one special love to come along with whom we want to journey through life. We wait anxiously for the birth of our children; then we wait patiently as they learn to crawl, walk, talk, grow and someday leave home.

Being on an island, we wait for the ferry to get from here to the mainland or vice-versa. We islanders have our own way of measuring time when we say that we had a two ferry wait or even a three ferry wait.

We have been patiently (or some of us impatiently) waiting for this pandemic to end so that life can get back to normal and we can again experience fellowship with friends that we once took for granted.

Some of this waiting can be wasted time, like waiting in the check out line in a supermarket, standing idly six feet away from the person in front of us.  Some periods of waiting are filled with anxiety, such as for the student or patient wondering what the results of the test will be.

Advent, which begins today, is also a period of waiting. This season, the prelude to Christmas, is markedly different from ordinary time, the season that just ended. Notice the colors in our worship space are changed. Purple hues have replaced the shades of green. And near the altar is the Advent wreath decked with four candles to remind us that we will be waiting through four Sundays to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

The wreath, soon to be blessed and lit, is a sign of our Christian waiting. First, the wreath is a symbol for Christ to come at Christmas. Like countless generations of believers did before us, we wait to see God’s plan of salvation be revealed to us by his son, Jesus. Like the people in Isaiah’s time, we lament that our world is a mess and we await God’s help to restore its beauty.

Secondly, this wreath is a symbol of Christ’s coming at the end of time or at the end of our life. The end of our life is the only thing certain about our life. But the circle of the wreath is a reminder that life doesn’t end. We have the assurance of life after death flowing from Christ’s death and resurrection.

As Paul mentions in his letter to the Corinthians, we are waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This happens in countless ways provided we are open to encountering him through prayer and reconciliation. Think of the advent wreath as a symbol of our waiting for Christ to come into our lives more and more in the days ahead.

In the gospel, we hear Jesus admonishing his disciples, “Be watchful! Be alert!” Like Mark’s first century audience many people today have been living in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. Covid-19, ongoing struggles for racial justice and inequality, the uncertainty of having a job, the presidential election have all dominated our minds and hearts.

We long for a time of reconciliation and peace, a time of mutual respect and cooperation. Advent is a time of waiting for this new world to appear.

These readings remind us that without Christ, our hopes tend to die, our dreams fade away, our life has no ultimate direction. But with Christ, there is much to be gained. As our mentor and model for living, Christ provides us with the blueprint for living fully in this time, repeatedly urging us to incorporate works of mercy into our daily lives. When he comes, will he find us doing that or being preoccupied instead lusting after images on the internet, engrossed with our cell phones or indulging in malicious gossip? May we use these weeks to put away our distractions and put our faith in Christ anew being ever watchful for his coming.

And how might we do that? For starters, our day is filled with many distractions, which doesn’t allow us to wait patiently. Distractedness is a way of not paying attention to the needs of others or the voice of God.  A good antidote would be to attend Mass but if you are hesitant to do that, at least take time to reflect on the daily readings proclaimed at Mass. In the comfort of your home, go to a quiet corner, light a candle on your advent wreath if you have one, pick up your copy of the Word Among Us, reflect on the day’s reading and the commentary.

Consider adopting an internal quiet time to wait with and for Jesus. We might want to quiet ourselves with more prayer. One manner of doing that could be to say the Jesus prayer. “Lord Jesus, son of Mary, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I do this almost daily after lunch for 15-20 minutes.

Advent is a time when we prepare to celebrate an event of the past: the birth of Jesus but the readings today invite us to look to the future as well, namely our hope and anticipation of eternal life with Christ in the kingdom of God. As we wait, be alert! The moment God has in store for your divine encounter may come when you least expect it.

As a teenager, from our living room window, I could see Mt. Rainier on a clear day. I understood why the local Indians named this peak the Mountain of God. At 14000 feet, majestic Mt. Rainier is an awesome challenge for anyone to climb. Many years ago, nine physically handicapped people joined together in climbing the mountain to the summit. One had an artificial leg; five were blind; two were deaf; and one had epilepsy. In spite of all this, together they made the summit and came back without a mishap. When asked how they did this, one of the blind men said, “We got a lot of help from each other.”

I would also say that they trusted each other while making this not so easy climb. Trust is a word we hear often but do we ever consider its meaning? What is the opposite of trust? Most anyone I asked would say distrust.

According to a European theologian, Wolfhart Pannenberg, the direct opposite of trust is actually security. If trust means that I am willing to place at least a portion of my life in some one else’s care, then its opposite must be the desire to take care of everything by myself. The opposite of trust then is to be totally self-sufficient.

Being self-sufficient is a goal that many people set for themselves but that is not what I hear Jesus endorsing in this parable. We have just heard about three servants who were handed talents according to their ability. Instead of being self-sufficient, the master trusted his servants to handle his assets well in his absence.

At a glance, this parable is confusing. As usual, Jesus used outlandish images to make his point. This parable is meant to jolt us into a deeper awareness of what God expects of us. A talent was equivalent to 16 years’ wages. Jesus didn’t live in a capitalist society that relied on investments, so I doubt this was a lesson on financial investments. What then was his point?

Jesus was the man going on a journey. He knew that his time was drawing to a close and that he would be leaving his disciples behind. But someday, he would return and when he does, he will judge his servants, which includes you and me, on how well we used our talents to spread the Good News and bring about his kingdom.

Most of us know there is a risk involved whenever we invest money and the same can be said for investing in “the spiritual stock market.” Anytime I take the readings at hand and prepare a homily, I am taking a risk. I may alienate someone with the message of my homily and the readings. At the same time, I hope that what I say will draw you, the listener, to an even closer relationship with God.

Jesus expects all of us to take a risk in using our talents and resources to share the Good News and bring about his kingdom. Every one of us from childhood to our golden years has a part in the building of God’s kingdom. Our part is likely to evolve as time passes, but he is counting on us to do our part in sharing the Good News by what we say and do. We all have talents that God hopes we will put to good use.

As with the servant who buried his talent, fear is what stops some people from doing their part in sharing the Good News. Fear paralyzed that servant, prompting him to play it safe but in the end he gets the stinging rebuke, “You wicked, lazy servant!” Might Jesus say that to us? I hope not.

Jesus has put his trust in us, providing us with talents to further the kingdom of God on earth. He wants us to make good use of what we have been given so that his kingdom of peace and justice may prosper. He takes pleasure in what we accomplish but for the complacent and fearful, the parable comes with a warning. “Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside.”

There is no reason to be afraid. Imagine Jesus saying to you, “Make use of your talents, don’t bury them. Enrich yourself, your community, your church, and the kingdom of God with loving concern for the welfare of others. Your lasting security comes from trusting God. Do this and you won’t have to worry about your future encounter with me at your last judgment.”

Life is God’s gift to you. What you do with life is your gift to God. God has endowed each of us in different ways and in different degrees. God has gifted every one of us. It is not what you have that is important; it is what you do with what you have. As one coach used to say to his team, “Do not let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.”

In the midst of this pandemic that continues to impact the health and fiscal well being of so many, let us pray that we use our talents generously to build the kingdom. Like those who climbed the mountain of God, we all have limitations but trusting in one another and working together as a team, we can make the Kingdom of God more visible to others by what we say and do.

On  Facebook this morning I found this quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

This parable is not about wedding customs or about staying awake at night. The bottom line is being prepared to meet Christ. How often do we find ourselves poorly prepared like the foolish virgins? Perhaps there are a few college alumni present who can relate to this story of a foolish freshman.

The night before his first final exam, this student, who believed that he always worked best under pressure, finally got out his books and notes at 10:00 and began to study. He was doing well—reviewing his notes and highlighting certain passages in his textbooks. Around 2:00 in the morning, he fell asleep at his desk. When he woke up, he was stunned to discover he was an hour late for class.

Grabbing his pen, he ran to class. There he desperately explained to his professor what had happened. As one would expect, the teacher wasn’t sympathetic and just said, “Well, do what you can with the time you have.” Needless to say, when the grades were posted, he didn’t pass.

Highlighting on the custom of his time, Jesus tells the story of ten virgins, five of whom he called foolish for not being prepared. Unlike those who were wise, they did not have sufficient oil for their lamps to last through the night. Caught short-handed, they had to fetch more oil elsewhere and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived.

In the early years of the Church, many believed that Jesus, as the bridegroom, would soon return in majestic glory. The end times were near. By the time Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians, many early Christians had died and hope of Jesus’ return in glory was beginning to fade.

Realizing that the return of Christ was not eminent prompted Matthew to write his gospel for future generations. He included the parable of the ten virgins to caution his readers that like the bridegroom, Jesus was delayed in coming. We do not know when Christ will return in majestic glory but we must be prepared when the moment arrives.

It may seem strange to you that the wise virgins refused to share what oil they had with their foolish counterparts. After all, that sounds selfish, but Jesus is speaking of something that couldn’t be shared. If we see the “oil” as our good deeds and acts of love, that explains why the wise virgins couldn’t share what they had with the foolish virgins. The oil we use to light our lamps comes from our good deeds and acts of love, from being good stewards.

Such a life asks us to share our gifts of time, talent and treasure. Yes, the parish benefits from these gifts, but more importantly, we are concerned about the person you are becoming. The parish ultimately exists for the sake of your eternal salvation and we want you to be prepared for the day you take your last breath by living this life well.

Like the wise virgins, we have “oil” in our lamps. If we practice stewardship, we will have the generous, humble and open hearts, which the Lord requires of us. But if we keep putting off what really matters, Jesus may one day say to us, “I do not know you.” As the foolish virgins and freshman learned too late, each person has the responsibility to be prepared, for someday there will be no second chance.

When we strive to live unselfishly and care about the needs and interests of others as well as our own, our chances of being a member of the heavenly family will be granted. If we are vigilant, thus mindful of our responsibility before God to be good stewards of what we have, we will grow in kindness and compassion. That is truly being prepared.