The common theme of today’s readings is that vigilant service prepares us for the coming of Christ as our Saviour during Christmas and as our judge and Lord at the end of the world. Advent is the season of special preparation for and expectation of the coming of Christ. It encourages us to examine our lives, to reflect on our need for God to enter our lives, and to prepare earnestly for, and eagerly await the coming of Christ. Take heed!” (Be on your guard) and “Watch!” (Be alert, stay awake, and don’t grow careless) The new liturgical year begins by challenging us to pay attention to endings and new beginnings because the central human experience is one of transitions and progress, from past through the present to the future. Today’s liturgy reminds us of what God has done in the past to encourage us to hope and work in the present for the final coming of the Lord to finish what he has begun. Hence Advent is not simply a waiting for someone who has not yet come. Instead, it is a period for enjoyment of the gift of Jesus who has come to save us; and who will come again to reward us. We begin a new liturgical year (Year B) and, with it, we shift from the Gospel of Matthew to the Gospel of Mark, the shortest and the first written gospel.
Let us remember that Christmas is about gift giving so use the period of Advent to forget about the material gifts and remember the real gift given to us in the manger over 2000 years ago. This week spend time considering yourself as a gift to the people in your life. Do not worry about the past but think about the many people for whom you can become a gift from God. Write them a letter, make telephone calls, give everyone a smile, help someone in need, talk to people around you, show them that you care. Jesus trusts us to do this every day of our lives. Let us remember this Advent the saying of St. Thomas Aquinas: “Without God, I can’t. Without me, He won’t.”
There is a story told by Mgr Arthur Tonne about a newly ordained priest who was to deliver his first sermon and nervously started with the text, “Behold I come!” Then his mind went blank. He repeated, “Behold I come!” Still his brain wouldn’t function, so he leaned over the pulpit and repeated, “Behold I come!” At that moment the pulpit collapsed. He fell over into the lap of a lady. He got up and, red-faced, stammered, “Oh, I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!” The lady was not upset in the least and replied, “That’s all right. I should have been expecting you. After all you warned me three times!”
Tell that story to as many people as you can and count how many do not laugh or smile at the final line – like I hope you did! I don’t think you will have many to count.