Sunday Homily, 12-2-12, 1st Advent
Readings:
Jeremiah 33, 14-16, In those days Jerusalem shall dwell secure.
Psalm 25, To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
1 Thessalonians 3, 12- 4, 2, May the Lord make you increase and abound in love.
Luke 21, 25-28, 34-36, Be vigilant at all times.
Jeremiah observations:
Who: One of the Big 3 prophets, 52, chapters. Called the sorrowful prophet because he did not want to condemn his people. He had to and as a result was beaten, put in stocks, thrown in a cistern, threatened with death, and imprisoned. In fact, Nebuchadnezzar released him and admired him. He also wrote Lamentation, Jeremiah grieving over the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the slavery of the people.
When: as a convenient date, use 600 before Christ. Jeremiah knew how the Assyrians had destroyed the northern province of Israel and taken off the 10 tribes living there. Jeremiah saw the badness of the Jews in Judah and he saw the Babylonians threatening. He finally saw what he foretold, the Babylonian Captivity.
Subject: like all prophets, condemn behavior, foretell punishment, envision recovery and peace. Jeremiah does it all.
Today: parallelism. This is the key. It ties Jeremiah’s vision of release to Luke’s of redemption. God saves his people from slavery; Gods saves us, his people, from slavery.
Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter's Study Bible, Wikipedia.
Vigilance!
I want to talk today about the advice to be vigilant. To lead into the topic I have another biking story.
This took place recently in, I think, the Greenville bike rally. I was at a rest stop. I usually stop every 10 miles and drink a lot of liquid so that I am ready to visit the portapotty at the next 10 mile stop. The stop was not my first, maybe my 3rd or 4th.
I had just eaten a banana and was talking with people around me. I threw the banana peel at a trash can and missed. So I went over, picked it up along with a few other things, and threw them into the can.
A lady behind me says, “Hey, thanks, I really appreciate you picking up.” She was one of the volunteers running the rest stop. I thanked her in return and said I appreciated her mentioning it. I talked with her a few more minutes, then rode on.
As I rode I reflected back on the event and how touched I had been by her simple thanks. Which leads me to our subject, vigilance.
First, I want to say the real vigilance is not watching out that something bad is about to happen. I am not about to be caught in a trap. There is no cosmic assault.
Rather, especially at this time of year of Advent, I am looking for the small ways God taps me on the shoulder. He/she is saying, “Thanks, you are okay, peace.”
The flip of this is true, also. I look for the ways I can touch someone, complimenting them, even just saying thanks.
So, I would propose that vigilance during this waiting period for Christmas means being aware of all the many, many ways I am blessed & touched by God each day, just as we mention at the beginning of all our Masses.
The lady in Greenville probably has no idea she was God’s touch to me. Moreover, she has no idea we are talking about her. A simple blessing.
So, go be vigilant!