1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOMILY YEAR B

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOMILY YEAR B

THEME: Be Prepared!

By: Deacon Bill Frere

Wedding Chapel, Cana

A couple years ago, when Covid was still raging but thankfully starting to slow down, Ginger and I took the opportunity to go visit my Mom. It had been a year since we had seen her and, with winter approaching, this would be the last chance to see her until perhaps Spring. But given the world we were living in and all the restrictions and precautions we were all dealing with because of Covid, it was not as simple as making reservations, hopping on a plane, and driving a rental car home from the airport. Nothing was that simple!

So beginning in October 2021, we began to formulate a plan – something that would be safe for us and for my 95 year old Mom. We decided the safest way to travel would be by car. So our plan was to drive straight from Chicago to Maryland, roughly 750 miles, stopping only for gas and pit stops for a snack. We would quarantine ourselves for 2 weeks before that to ensure we were not bringing any other “passengers” with us. We would wear masks the entire time we were home, except for meals and we would not make any physical contact with Mom and my sister – no hugs, no kisses. We would spend the entire visit at home – no visits to stores or restaurants. We even shopped at Costco here in Chicago so that we could bring home all the household supplies we usually get to stock up my mom for the winter.

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We made sure our car would be ready for the journey and we got our cat-sitter to watch over our 2 senior citizen cats while we were gone. And we planned to make our return trip home to Chicago in the same manner – only necessary stops and driving straight through! We even scheduled a test for Covid so that we would not be bringing any ‘germs’ back to Chicago with us and so we wouldn’t have to do another 2 weeks-worth of quarantine! And when we did return home, we anxiously waited at home until we got the negative test results.

And then we pitched the whole plan to my mom – to make sure she was comfortable and felt safe with all the precautions we were taking! And she said YES! Whew! Yes, that was a lot of work, a lot of preparation but in the end it was all worth it!

Truth be told, we can spend a lifetime planning and prepping and still not be as prepared as we would like to be. Case in point – yesterday I tested positive for Covid! After all this time of being extra careful and diligent, Covid rears its ugly head! After all this time, we are back to masking and all those sanitizing efforts to keep everyone else safe and healthy.

We hear a similar tone in today’s Gospel – the master going on a journey and the servants tasked with being watchful, staying alert! Be ready because you don’t know when the master will return. But remember – it isn’t just about staying awake; it’s not just about sitting idly by twiddling your thumbs and doing nothing. It isn’t just about waiting and doing nothing! It’s about preparation! It’s about hopeful, joyful, active waiting!

We celebrate today a new liturgical season, a new liturgical year! We celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin words ‘adventus’ which means ‘arrival’. The “adventus” was a ceremony in ancient Rome, in which an emperor was formally welcomed back into the city of Rome, especially after a successful military campaign.

The people of Rome certainly did not just sit around and wait for the Emperor’s return. Preparations needed to be made, and not at the last minute! Statues would be sculpted; special coins would be minted to commemorate the occasion! Preparations were joyful, hopeful and celebratory!

You already know all the preparations you went through to celebrate our Day of Giving Thanks! You know all the work and cleaning and cooking and all the planning you had to do to make it a day worth celebrating. And you know all the preparations that lie ahead in order to celebrate Christmas Day! Trees and lights and ornaments, presents to be bought online more so than in person, the mailing of Christmas cards and gifts, that Christmas dinner to plan, no matter how many will gather around the table.

Christmas is only weeks away. For most of us, our holiday preparations have already begun. The Master is coming! The birth of the Messiah is approaching! Are we preparing ourselves with prayer and anticipation? Will we be ready when the Master comes? Or will He find us asleep and un-prepared? Are we ready to once again welcome Christ into our world, into our life?

What are we waiting for? Light your Advent candles! Leave the light on for the Master! Be Prepared!

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