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How to Prepare for Christmas

Homily
Sunday, December 3, 1st Sunday of Advent, Cycle C
St. Joseph Parish, Detroit

            Advent is upon us! We joyfully begin this preparation for Christmas. Advent is a bit different from Lent in general, because the stress is more on the preparation while Lent stresses more the penance; but both seasons are lived wisely and fruitfully if done penitentially. We begin cycle C in the Sunday readings and year 1 on the weekdays, for those of you who use hand missals or keep track of such liturgical details.

            Today we shall consider how to prepare for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the incarnate Son of God, our Savior. I propose to do this in two steps, first, by considering the fact of Christ’s second coming and what that has to do with Advent, and second by drawing the conclusions from today’s scriptures on how we are to prepare during Advent.

The Fact of Christ’s Second Coming, and What That Has to Do with Advent

            Today’s Gospel reading may surprise us. When we’re already dreaming of mangers, presents and Christmas lights, the Gospel of Luke[1] has Jesus telling us of the final days of doom and catastrophe, of tribulations and apocalypse.

            The reason is this: The preparation for Christmas is a rehearsal and reminder for us to prepare not only for the celebration of his first coming, but also for the wonder of his second coming. His first coming was in humility and suffering, the Incarnation, when he was both conceived and born in a virginal way from Mary. His second coming will be with power and might, and it will be the end of time as we know it.

            In the book of Revelation Jesus says, “I am coming soon,”[2] and “Behold, I am coming soon bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”[3]

            We read in the Catechism about his second coming. “Before Christ’s second coming, the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.”[4] So be brave and strong, my dear brothers and sisters. There will be an Antichrist who will perform a supreme deception leading many to apostasy. Be strong, and resist! But the Church will do as Jesus did, “she will follow her Lord in his death and resurrection.”[5] Jesus’ second coming could happen at any moment, surprise us in any instant. It is the Last Day, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Wrath, “that day,” Dies irae, and all the dead will raise for damnation or for eternal life. And how many walk about and act like this will never be!

            The Liturgy makes real and present the mysteries of Christ’s life. So Christmas makes real his incarnation. We are now awaiting, with Mary, soon to accompany her dolorous trip to Bethlehem. So the way you prepare for Christmas is the way you prepare for Christ’s second coming. If you wish to “escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man,”[6] then you must be prepared for a holy and worthy celebration of Christmas.

How to Prepare

            So, then, how can I prepare for the second coming? The answer to this question is the same as the answer, to the question, “How can I prepare for Christmas?”

            Let’s look at the scriptures in today’s readings, from which we have already quoted some. First, we know the “Days are coming,” for the time of the fulfillment of the promises, as we read in Jeremiah.[7] This is important, for our hope in eternal life is not founded upon anything other than the promises of God. So we need to remember what they are, that he would send us a savior to free us from the bondage of sin.

            Next, we need to heed St. Paul’s advice in his first letter to the Thessalonians, from which we just read. To be prepared, that is, we need to be “unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”[8] This means conducting ourselves as the saints would. How can we expect to live with the saints in heaven, when we don’t live like the saints on earth?

            More clearly does Jesus instruct us on how to prepare. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of this life.”[9] That is, we must resist the temptations to pride, sensuality, the sins of the flesh and the greed for money and power and houses and clothes and countless other vanities. Then Jesus says, “Be vigilant.” A vigilant guard is never surprised by the thief, he is ready always. Satan is the thief, and he wants to steal away your friendship with God. What would happen if Christ came, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, the very moment you were in the act of committing one mortal sin? Yet none of us can keep ourselves from sin unless we collaborate with the supernatural helps God gives us, called actual graces. This is why next Jesus says, “Pray.”[10] Yes, pray! For to persevere in the last moment is a grace from God, which we cannot merit, but which we can obtain through humble prayer. I repeat and insist, “This gift [of final perseverance], even if cannot be merited, it can be obtained by humble supplication.”[11]

            Let us summarize this remembering the letters A, B and C. A is for Advent, B is for “Be vigilant,” and C is for Convert. For if we seek to die to sin and live for God this advent, we will make of ourselves the most pleasing of all gifts to our Eternal Father in heaven on the 25^th of December. Amen.