What welcome will WE give?

Blessed John XXIII

Homily Outline for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A

In our Gospel today, John the Baptist say, to sum it up, “God is coming, get ready, repent!”  This is the Advent message!  Blessed Pope John XXIII was known for his happiness and charm, but also for his wit… One time a reporter asked him, “How many people work in the Vatican?”  He thought for a moment and said, “About half of them!”

We know when a boss is coming, it’s time to look busy!  But with Christ’s coming, we have more than a boss, He is our Lord and Savior, and He can see the depths of our hearts.  We have to do more than look busy and be busy during Advent… we need to really be ready.  Christ will come at the end of time in glory and judgment, we will commemorate at Christmas His coming as a baby child…  will we actually be ready to welcome Him?

John the Baptist cries out, “Repent” and he speaks of a king and the Kingdom of Heaven.  This is the King and Kingdom Isaiah describes in the first reading… a kingdom of justice, peace, and unity, of healing and joy, but also a kingdom of judgment and recompense.  These promises fill us with hope, they challenge us.  They speak words of beauty and truth.  Yet, we know they were not well-received when they were spoken.  How did John the Baptist end?  Herod killed him.  How were they prophets received?  They were ignored, mocked, and many were killed.  Even the Messiah Himself came to death on the cross!  God’s messengers, and even God Himself were not given a warm welcome, at least by most of those who heard them.

As we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth in time, we see this same dynamic of coldness and rejection.  Mary and Joseph couldn’t find room at any Inn in Bethlehem, and then they ended up in a stable.  When Jesus was born, almost no one came… some dirty ragged shepherds and three foreigners.  Where were God’s chosen people, the ones you would expect to be ready?  It’s easy for me to be pretty judgmental here – what were those people in Bethlehem thinking, turning away Joseph and his pregnant wife?

And later, when Jesus preached and taught and healed, when He performed miracles, again, some followed, but many rejected Him, mocked Him, ignored Him. How could they reject their Lord and Savior?  How could their doors and hearts be closed?  How could they be too busy to listen!

If I take a deep breath, if I calm down for a moment, though, if I look at my own heart, my own life, it’s not so easy to stand in judgment on those people in that time.  Do I really welcome the Lord when He knocks at my door?  Do I have time to listen, to learn from Him?  Sometimes I’m flying around on what I think is a mission from God, but I haven’t even had time to talk to God, who I’m supposedly serving!

So, as Christmas comes closer, and as we think about coming before the Lord in judgment at the end of time… What welcome will we give Him?  We cook, shop, hang lights, send cards, fill our deer tag if it's still empty like mine is… these are good.  But do we pray, fast, help others, listen?  When we come to Christmas Eve, will we be reconciled with God and man?  This is the invitation of Advent.

Let’s shift our focus from this season, and just think about this day… every Sunday the Lord who died on the Cross comes down upon this altar, a miracle of grace and humility, giving Himself to us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearance of Bread and Wine.  He seeks room in the Inn of our hearts… are we even here to receive Him?  And if our body is here, what about our hearts and minds?  If Christ comes and we’re too busy elsewhere, we are left empty.  Do we pray, examine our hearts?   Do we invite Christ into a dirty rough stable, or into a heart and life prepared to receive Him?  We are never worthy to receive our Lord, we say as much moments before Communion. But we are called to dispose, to prepare ourselves.  If we are aware of mortal sin, we have to go to confession first.  

Listen to Paul, “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.”  We are to welcome not just each other, but even Christ Himself!  That’s what this time of Advent is for, to get ready, to repent and prepare a fitting welcome for Jesus… whenever He comes. At the end of time, at the moment of our death, on Christmas, and at this very Eucharist.  

So, here are 5 ways to get ready in the coming weeks so we can welcome Christ with joy:

1)  Pray every day, speak and listen.

2)  Mass every Sunday and Holy Day (this Wednesday, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception)

3) Confession, especially if it’s been a long time

4) Reconcile with friends and family

5) Give of what you have to those in need

20 days until Christmas!  May we use them well, so that on Christmas, at every Mass, we may welcome Christ with Joy!