Jeremiah 33:14-16; I Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Fr. Kevin Boucher
* It is so dark!
And the darkness is not all outside.
There’s the darkness of recession that has put many American’s out of work,
of the senseless acts of violence and suicide bombers
inflicting terror around the world,
of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,
of the frustration of people in the former Soviet Union
who find empty counters at the end of long lines.
of the starvation and death of thousands of African children each day,
There’s the bleakness of people living with AIDS
still ostracized by family and relatives,
the blindness of those who would teach our youth “latex” safe sex
rather than counseling abstinence,
There’s the darkness of sexual misconduct by priests and ministers,
and the terrible hurt and loss for children, parents, parishioners,
and the priests themselves.
There’s the darkness of people blinded by a consumer mentality,
causing people to work excessive hours,
and having less time to spend with their families.
There’s the darkness of the destruction of thousands of unborn human lives
and the “merciful” killing of the infirmed and elderly.
And there’s the darkness of the death of a loved one,
a terminal illness,
a broken relationship,
and gnawing loneliness in this holiday season.
It is dark!
Yes, our world is plagued by darkness. Although Christ became human, and suffered and died for our sins, and promised us salvation, darkness and evil still exist in our world. That is why we gather in the presence of Christ week after week to celebrate the Eucharist. That is why we gather this day, by the light of a single candle on our Advent wreath, hoping and praying for Christ to come again. Just as this candle helps to dispel the darkness of the winter nights & days, the hope of Christ’s coming burns in our hearts to help dispel the darkness of evil in our world.
Just as this single burning candle is a symbol of hope in the darkness, we people of faith need the same sense of hope in our dark times, our difficult and painful situations. In the difficult times we can gain courage by remembering better times or contemplating a happier future.
That is exactly what is happening in today’s first reading. The prophet Jeremiah is speaking to a nation of people on the brink of destruction. Babylon had conquered Judah; the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed; and King Zedechiah and other Jewish leaders had been exiled, tortured, and imprisoned. Jeremiah is reminding people of God’s past promises, encouraging people to trust in his saving power for the future. He then calls them to live in the present assured of God’s faithfulness to his people.
Jesus, too, is speaking to his disciples about a future time of darkness. He speaks these words immediately before they experienced the darkness of his arrest and crucifixion. They would have needed these words of encouragement, for all their hopes and dreams would be shaken by the darkness of Christ’s death. It was not until after they experienced his resurrection that they truly would have understood these words of hope.
When Luke put these words to pen and ink some fifty years later most of those first disciples had already experienced the darkness of martyrdom. Luke, in writing these words, was encouraging a newly born Church which was continuing to face persecution each and every day. Luke wrote these words with the belief that Christ would one day come again, just as he had promised.
Today, as Advent 2009 begins, we need to hear these words of hope. Living in a time when we have the potential to destroy the entire world we need to hear these words of hope and promise. And so Jesus is calling us to be prepared and to live in the light. He is warning us not to try and dispel the darkness through the worldly ways of drunkenness and excess. Instead he says we must “be vigilant at all times and pray for strength to escape the tribulations.” When we pray constantly we soon begin to realize that the Christ who came once as a child, and who promised to come again at the end of time, is still with us here and now. His presence gives us the peace that only He can give, a peace that will dispel the deepest of terror in our world, and the darkest of suffering in our lives.
Pray constantly! Be aware of Christ’s presence constantly, and you will receive the strength necessary to endure life’s dark times. Stand firm and strong before the Son of Man, Emmanuel, God who is with us.
* the portion in italics is adapted from Bob Oldershaw
Comments on the First Sunday of Advent, Liturgy 90 November/December 1992
