Second Sunday of Advent

by T. Matthew Rowgh

Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6

The Advent scriptures have a certain beauty unmatched throughout the year. The lessons are filled with hope as they present a wonderful picture where God intervenes in human history and turns things around. In the lesson from Baruch we see the children of Jerusalem were carried away in sadness by an enemy and now they return rejoicing. In the gospel John arrives upon the scene announcing the arrival of the Messiah who will transform and redeem. These extraordinary events took place in history and as they are described again they cannot help but bring an uplifting spirit and hope as we journey in a dark world.

In between these two lessons we read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This lesson is similar the lesson from Thessalonians from last Sunday. Paul from his prison cell writes a word of encouragement. His letter is filled with genuine affection for the people for he sees them as partners in the faith, partners from the very beginning. Paul says that his love and compassion for them is actually the love and compassion of Christ himself. His prayer is that even as he is imprisoned and the community is persecuted the faith and life of Christ will continue to thrive and deepen within them.

In these two lessons from Paul we see that he has a role of teacher and pastor and in addition he is a source of support and courage. Our call or mission is similar. On this Sunday of Advent we are to make the mountains level and the crooked paths straight in order that the Lord might find his way into our human lives. We are partners in the faith and therefore we must encourage one another, strengthen and affirm the drooping spirit. As Paul was there for his community we each are to be here for our community. We visit the sick and aged, we comfort those who have lost loved ones, we invite and encourage the young family who have become less than faithful to join us again. We know that we will only be a viable community of faith when we are present to one another and take our rightful place in the assembly.

My intention in the homily this week is to bring our attention to the importance of community. We are called to be a people of hope that has its eyes clearly fixed on the promise of God. We do not permit ourselves to be overwhelmed by life’s difficult moments but remain hopeful and joyful. In order to reflect the hope of Advent we must be there for each other. No one of us can survive as loners for the Lord never intended us to journey alone. If we make it into the kingdom, and I am confident we will, it will be because we have had a community that has supported and prayed us into that kingdom. The promise of God’s word keeps us focused on the goal while the community gathered around us keeps us on the path.

May the Eucharist we share this day strengthen us as community and help us proclaim the vision of a future world transformed into Christ.