Blog Post Homily Cycle B 12/17/2023

 

Homily Cycle B 12/17/2023

 

 

 Readings

 

The Cartoon, above, appeared the day after Thanksgiving, it depicts a father & son on their front door step and seeing a pile of Amazon boxes, the caption reads: “Looks like the Christmas Season has begun.”   

In our culture that is often the case. Buying Christmas presents is O.K., it isn’t bad in and of itself. But to be clear I am not bringing a message from the Chamber of Commerce rather I am bringing a message from the Halls of Heaven.

Ponder the Empty Crib, it reminds us that Jesus has already come, He will come again, BUT now in Advent 2023 where is HE?  What does our crib have in it?  Money, Credit Cards, Alcohol, material things of all sorts, or our stock portfolio? 

What fills the crib of our hearts? 

Advent reminds us to prepare for Christmas we need to fill the crib our lives, with the Lord, then and only then will we be ready for Christmas.

Advent is a Season of Hope.

What do you hope for: An Eagles Super Bowl win, the Phillies capturing the 2024 World Series, Taylor Swift performing at this year’s Musikfest?  None of these are bad BUT Advent reminds us to Hope in the Love of Jesus - for His Promises to be fulfilled.  Advent reminds us that Hope is a Divine gift for each one of us.

We sang in our Responsorial “My Soul Rejoices in My God” as we should especially today  Gaudete Sunday.

Our liturgy reminds “Rejoice in the Lord, always,” as Christians our Hope is in Jesus Christ, the one from whom we receive the gifts of grace, forgiveness and everlasting life.  Hope is a Divine virtue that is at the foundation of Christian life, it “… allows us to firmly trust in God's promises of eternal life and the means to obtain it.”  (Magisterium [AI])

Maybe this story can aid us in our Advent preparations, our Advent perspective.  God's time clock is different from ours as Little Jimmy learned one day as he was laying on a hill in the middle of a meadow on a warm spring day.  As the puffy white clouds floated by Jimmy thought about their shape.  Then, Jimmy began to think about God and said out loud  "God? Are you really there?"

To his astonishment a voice came from the clouds. "Yes, Jimmy? What can I do for you?"  Seizing the opportunity, Jimmy asked, "God? What is a million years like to you?"  God responded, "A million years to me, Jimmy, is like a minute."  "Oh," said Jimmy. "Well, then, what's a million dollars like to you?"  "A million dollars to me, Jimmy, is like a penny."  "Wow!" remarked Jimmy.  "You're so generous... may I have one of your pennies?"  God replied, "Sure thing, Jimmy! Just a minute."  Jimmy wasn't ready for that response.  [Sermons.com Getting Ready]   And neither are we. 

God gives time on earth to prepare to be with Him in Heaven.

The powerful and poignant Advent hymn In a Bleak Midwinter concludes with this line “What shall then I give Him, I will give my heart”.

Henri Nouwen prayed, “Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas….”  In today’s Collect, Msgr. Sacks gathered our prayers with his “O God …enable us … to attain the joys of so great a salvation & celebrate them always with … glad rejoicing ….”

For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on what you truly Hope for, what you are willing to give the Lord? And what you are preparing for this Advent.

 

May God Be Praised.