Why Advent? Why Creation? Why me? (1st Advent Homily)

 A lot of people don’t quite “get” Advent. 

And I suspect they may not want to admit that.

Let me confess, for a long time, that included me, too!

What do I mean, we don’t quite grasp Advent?

First, Advent comes and goes pretty quickly; 

we barely have time to focus before it’s over.

Second, the prayers and readings 

seem to pull us in different directions. 

We start out talking about the end of the world;

and we end focusing on the birth of Jesus. 

Am I the only one who finds that confusing? 

It took me a lot of years to reach an insight that has helped me, 

and so, I share it with you.

“Advent” means coming; and it is first about the approach of Eternity. 

Only then, within that frame, is it about Christmas.

Because, when you think about it, 

What is Christmas really about?

Far more than the birth of a baby.

Christmas is the birth of hope;

about Eternity becoming something concrete and present in our midst.

A frequent Advent refrain – we just heard it – is, “Be prepared.”

Yes, there will be an end to history.

Jesus “will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.”

Along the way, each of our own lives on earth will end.

At certain moments, both young and old, 

You and I have moments where we ask ourselves: 

what do I want my life to be about?

It can be a powerful thing to challenge yourself to live each day, 

not on a kind of auto-pilot, but with a view to the far horizon.

It is deeply satisfying to know my life is for something larger.

So that “being prepared” isn’t just for the last day, but each day.

To be a Christian is to believe that something larger is Jesus, 

and the redemption and hope he brings.

The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” 

But precisely why is it Good News?

The answer is that humanity has a deep problem 

that Jesus came to address. 

The answer is that you and I have an incredible destiny – 

and Jesus is the way there.

During this Advent, as a parish family we’re going to focus together

on this reality, both our need and His remedy.

Our patron St. John Paul II wrote that when people 

hear the story of both humanity’s spiritual poverty, 

and also the eternal riches Jesus offers,

"they are one day overwhelmed" 

and moved by grace to surrender their lives to Christ in faith. 

Have you been overwhelmed by the Gospel?

That’s our shared project for this Advent.

To be overwhelmed by Eternity, and by Jesus.

Here’s our tool: the other deacons, priests and I 

invite you to read this book (hold up book), 

Rescued, by Father John Riccardo. 

How you can obtain the book is on our website and in the bulletin.

There’s also a daily devotional booklet that you can download for FREE; 

and we do have some printed copies available as well.

Drawing from this book, we have four big questions,

Which we’ll dig into on the four Sundays of Advent.

They are: 

(1) Why is there something rather than nothing?

(2) Why is everything so obviously messed up?

(3) What, if anything, has God done about it?

(4) If God has done something, how should I respond?

Let’s start with that first question:

"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Or more personally, “Why am I here?”

One of the first “overwhelmed” moments many of us have 

comes when we consider the Creation we belong to.

Who could fail to be dazzled by the night sky?

Parents: how did you react at the first glimpse of your child?

And if I’m not going too deep, we might further ask,

why do we even ask why?

Do dogs or even dolphins ask why?

This is where reason becomes the precipice for faith.

Does not all this around us – and we ourselves –

point to an act of Creation? An act of love?

If the answer is no, then why not be content to be animals?

No need to pray: “Help us, O God!” 

We can just prey, like wolves among sheep?

The Book of Genesis makes a startling claim, 

which most world religions don’t address, and some actively reject:

Humanity, male and female, is made in the image and likeness of God.

And this makes sense:

After all, as splendid as the Cosmos is,

There is no relationship with stars and comets and galaxies.

Only man can respond when the Creator asks, “where are you?”

The reason God created was to begin this great Romance:

To call each of us into relationship, unto Eternity.

In St. Paul’s words, that’s worth waking up for.

In Isaiah’s vision, that’s a mountain full of life.

And this is why Jesus himself sounds the alarm: 

It’s not automatic. It’s a choice. Prepare.