Dec. 1, 2019 Homily

Post date: Dec 03, 2019 2:50:15 PM

December 1, 2019 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

‘Stay awake that you may be ready.’

Jesus’ first words to his followers and now to us.

Don’t be just wakeful but watchful.

These first two weeks of Advent we reflect on Jesus’ second coming or

our meeting him when we die. The last 2 Sundays of Advent

we will focus on his first coming at Bethlehem.

Today’s Gospel does not give us a clear picture of the second coming,

but it does give us a message that is extremely important:

Don’t let his second coming catch you by surprise. God wants us

to know that our time is limited and that our lives and history itself

will come to an end. He tells us this so that we may use our time wisely,

living as real followers of Christ. Jesus considers this lesson so important

that he dedicates 4 parables to it: The faithful or unfaithful servant,

The 10 Virgins, the Talents, and the Separation of the sheep and the goats.

Jesus knew that even the most faithful disciple

can think that this life is the goal and not the path.

How can we be ready? Isaiah urges us to walk in the light of the Lord

and St. Paul urges us to turn away from darkness and live in the light.

Advent is a wonderful opportunity to respond to these words.

The shortest journey to the light is by doing good.

We must try to ensure that the light of truth and justice shines in our words and actions. The most precious light of all is the light of love.

Without that light the world would be a very dark place.

Love lights up everything. It brings hope to a world darkened by selfishness, indifference and hatred.

The image of God is at its best and brightest in us when we love.

People who love shed light around them. They are like a shining lamp.

Those who live in the light have nothing to fear from meeting the Lord. Quite the contrary, they ought to welcome him.

What if we knew for sure Christ was returning to earth this year on Dec. 25^th?

Perhaps we would spend a little more time in prayer, or reading the Gospels, or going to confession, or coming to Holy Hour or morning Mass

during the week or doing some charitable works.

Or we could ask our Lord for a suggestion, then quietly wait for an answer.

This may sound almost heretical, but with each passing year I like Christmas less and less. At the same time, with each passing year,

I like the Feast of the Nativity more and more. Maybe you feel the same.

The craziness surrounding the secular season of Christmas—

the endless ads on TV and online, the crowded stores—

sometimes seems to drown out the true meaning of Christmas.

Typical of last-minute Christmas shoppers, a mother was running furiously

from store to store. Suddenly she became aware that

the pudgy little hand of her 3-yr. old son was no longer clutched in hers.

In a panic, she retraced her steps and found him standing with his nose

pressed flat against a frosty window. He was gazing at a manger scene.

Hearing his mother’s near hysterical call,

he turned and shouted with innocent glee:

‘Look mommy, it’s Jesus. Baby Jesus in the hay.’

With obvious indifference to his joy and wonder,

she impatiently jerked him away, saying: “We don’t have time for that.”