Cycle A -- Homily -- First Sunday of Advent -- 27 November 2022

Cycle A – Homily – 1st Sunday of Advent – 27 November 2022

Lectionary I                                           Lectionary II

Isaiah 2:1-5                                           Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9            Psalm 122

Romans 13:11-14                                  Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:37-44                                  Matthew 24:36-44

Welcome to Liturgical Cycle A and Happy Advent!  At least Advent begins today in the Western Christian Church, the Church to which most of us belong, regardless of our particular denomination or the lectionary our particular denomination follows.  Our sisters and brothers in the Eastern Church follow the same general pattern as the Western Church, though the particular dates, feasts, and traditions often vary.  For instance, Advent in the Eastern Church runs from November 15 through December 24.  Keep in mind that what is important is the meaning and not the particulars of calendars and traditions.  We are all one!

A number of Jewish people receive these homilies.  Please, dear brothers and sisters of our parent (Jewish) tradition, know that those of us who are Christian understand that many – if not most! – of our western religious traditions are founded on Jewish principles and are formulated from Jewish tradition.  This is definitely true of our Advent practices, as we shall see over the next few weeks.  Again, we are all one.

We also have here a number of people from non-Judeo-Christian traditions.  Of course, we are glad you are here!  We are all one!  We all hold the same elemental beliefs in love, family, tradition, peace, growth, and countless other human basics.  Human and beyond because we are all reaching for the stars!

The Church cycles were formulated, more or less by consensus, and follow the general pattern of anticipation, incarnation, foundations, death and resurrection, examination of life teachings, and conclusions or fulfillment (and that is my paraphrase and not any particular teaching).  Cycles A, B, and C coincide with the gospel readings:  A for Matthew, B for Mark, and C for Luke.  John is interspersed in all three for various seasons and feasts.  The first two readings of a given liturgy are often (not always) complimentary components of the total theme.  The Psalm is an inspiration holding the theme together.  The Psalm often states the theme – directly or indirectly.  There is definite fluidity – but always toward a commonality.

And welcome to the First Sunday of Liturgical Cycle A!  For more information on the Cycles and on the common roots of our human tree (as far as our unities of belief and practice are concerned), I encourage you to visit either or both of these two sites.  Both are overviews and are filled with good and accurate information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgical_year

https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/980/a-brief-history-of-the-lectionary

What is the theme of today’s readings?  Interestingly, the theme is rejoicing.  Check out that Psalm (where we often find the theme of the day’s liturgy).  Today’s Psalm’s refrain is, “Let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord.”  Some folks have the mistaken idea that Advent is a mini-Lent.  It is not.  Advent is an expectation of something wonderful outside of ourselves – something magnificent that we will be a part of.  It is a futuristic and hopeful anticipation.  On the other hand, Lent is a penitential and repentant reflection of something within ourselves, albeit with a glimmer of hope.  Advent becomes the first chapter in our own personal story of salvation.  Advent is about rejoicing and excitement.  GAUDETE means rejoice!  Advent is a GAUDETE season.  Advent is anticipatory!  The entire season is about GAUDETE.  Rejoice!  (More about that for the third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday, specifically dedicated to rejoicing.)

What about this first Sunday of Advent though?  How does this fit – both with the specific theme and with the statement earlier that Advent is a time of rejoicing?

Advent should be a time of excitement, of exhilaration!  We know the end of the story!  We know Jesus has already come!  This is not a time for being morose.  We are getting ready for a birthday party!  Everyone knows how exciting it is to prepare for a birthday party!  People are happy.  They are singing.  They are wrapping gifts.  They are decorating.  Why does the church think Advent must be so somber?  What is wrong with Christmas Carols during Advent?  Nothing, I say!  We’re getting ready for a wonderful birthday party.

We know the story of Advent.  We know about waiting for the Messiah.  Well, here in our readings today we have the whole story, though our Cycle A focus is more the beginnings of anticipation!  We have the initial promise, the basic rules for doing what pleases God, and the final coming.  What more could we ask for?

Why are we glum during Advent?  I have never understood that.  And I am excited when I hear people wishing each other a “Happy Advent!”  Indeed, it should be a Happy Advent!!  We know the whole story!  We know how the story will end for each of us individually and we know how it will end for the world.  Our individual ends are in sight; the end of the world is probably several million years in the future.  Regardless, we must still be prepared.  And, we do have those directions.  So, we should rejoice.  At least that old standby “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” has the word “rejoice” in it – even if too many people do sing it like a funeral dirge!

So, what is Advent really about?  Advent is a reenactment of the wait for the Messiah.  The Messiah who is already here; Advent is a reminder, a reenactment.

It is also a time for planning a birthday party.  Let us rejoice that Jesus has come as promised.  Let us rejoice that we know the story.  Let us rejoice that we are each invited to take part in his birthday celebration.  The actual wait was over 2000 years ago.  Let us reenact the wait but let us do so with a sense of jubilation because he did come and he is still here among us.

Oh, and have a very Happy Advent!!

Dr Roberta M Meehan