What really is our hope? (Sunday homily)

 The keynote of Advent in general is ETERNITY.

The keynote of this Sunday in Advent is HOPE.

One of the things we Christians exist to do – 

and which you and I must often do for each other – 

is to remind each other that we are created 

not just to exist for a short time, but for eternity.

Think about the dreams and ambitions people have. 

So many of them go far beyond the horizon of this life. 

Look at Elon Musk, who is creating electric cars and 

satellite communications and building rockets to go to Mars. 

Or consider the dream that most people have: 

to meet that special someone and build a family. 

If you marry at, say, 25, maybe by 60 you’ll have a few grandchildren; 

but will you live long enough to see their grandchildren? 

One of the most powerful testimonies to our being made for eternity 

comes at funerals. Why are people sad? 

That sorrow only makes sense because we want more; we expect more.

The nature of love is such that we cannot accept any time limit. 

Again: you and I are made for not a limited existence, but for eternity.

So far, so good. But a far bigger question remains: 

What is that Eternity? What will you and I be like?

Very often, TV shows or movies depict that eternity 

as just a continuation of this life. 

If you like golfing here, you’ll spend eternity golfing there. 

I think that’s meant as a joke, but still: is eternity really 

just this world, repeated forever? Is that actually what we want?

This is why God came into the world, becoming one of us.

The whole point of the Incarnation – which fulfills 

all the promises of the Scriptures – was to give us, 

not some vague promise of eternity, 

but rather, something very specific to hope for and to aim for.

Eternity isn’t just more of the same, forever. 

Eternity is being united with Jesus: to be like him, and to be with him, 

and all the other people who he draws to himself.

The prophet Baruch was speaking to the people of Jerusalem 

when they were at a low point. 

They’d been conquered, their lives wrecked, and their hope destroyed; 

and worst of all, they knew they’d come to this sorry state 

because they’d ignored the voice of God.

Baruch tells them: you need not give up! 

God can change us and make us alive with his glory.

One of the worst temptations many of us face is this: 

to think that we really can’t change, that our sinfulness is just built-in, 

and we’re not going to overcome anger or gluttony or sloth or lust. 

These next two weeks there will be lots of extra confession times 

at our three churches. 

The real point of the sacrament of penance 

is not only to take away the guilt of our sins.

That is only worthwhile if we also receive the grace to change.

And that is what the Prophet Baruch, and John the Baptist, 

want you to know: you can change! 

God will take away the reproach of sin and give you glory!

As I said a moment ago, the task each of us has 

is to be living signs of hope to each other. 

Why should we change, why bother? 

Because you and I have not some vague hope, but a very specific one: 

God came to dwell with us, becoming one of us, 

giving his life to the fullest measure, for us: that’s what the Cross is! 

And he came back from the dead to show us eternal life, 

as well as to prove he wasn’t leaving you and me behind.

Do you believe you are eternal? 

Do you believe Jesus wants you with him, in that eternity? 

That is our hope. Live it! 

And, again, extra confessions are available the next two weeks.