The First Sunday of Advent
November 27, 2022
Fr. José Maria de Sousa Alvim Calado Cortes, F.S.C.B.
Pastor of the Church of St. Peter
North St. Paul, Minnesota
Home Page
Sunday
Reading Meditations
Today
marks the beginning the powerful liturgical season of Advent. Jesus is coming to
transform and restore the world.
Advent is
my favorite liturgical season. As Pope Benedict once said, “Advent [...] invites
us to pause in silence to understand a presence” (Homily in Celebration of
First Vespers of Advent, November 28, 2009).
Today’s
first reading uses the verbs “climb” and “walk”: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s
mountain” (Is 2:3) and “Let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Is 2:5). This is
a time to elevate our lives to God and allow his light to illuminate us. We are
invited to leave what is small behind and cling to the infinite. In the second
reading, St. Paul says: “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on
the armor of light” (Rm 13:12).
Advent is
the season to leave the desires of the flesh behind and intensify the desires of
the Spirit. The apostle admonishes us to “[p]ut on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Rm 13:14).
Since
Jesus ascended into heaven, the Church has been awaiting his final coming. In
today’s Gospel, Jesus urges us to be vigilant as we await the coming of the Son
of Man. During Mass, we exclaim: “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess
your resurrection until you come again.” For more than 2,000 years, the bride
has been praying for the coming of her divine bridegroom: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
(Rev 22:20), which are the last words of the Bible.
We
need Jesus’ presence. We need his coming. We need his fullness of life.
St.
Bernard said there are three different comings: “We know that there are three
comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible,
while the other two are visible. In the first coming, he was seen on earth,
dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the
final coming, all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on
him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in it, only the
elect see the Lord within their own selves, and they are saved. In his first
coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he
comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and
majesty” (St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Sermo 5, In Adventu Domini, 1–3: Opera
Omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 4 {1966}, 188–190).
Jesus
is coming now, albeit surreptitiously. This is the season for our desire for his
coming to intensify.
I
remember that my father traveled a lot when I was a boy. He was the chief of
marketing at a company. As soon as he left on a business trip, I started
anticipating his return. However, when my mother would tell me that he was to
arrive the next day, my anticipation increased significantly. On the day of his
homecoming, every noise or movement outside felt like a sign. When the doorbell
rang, there was the utmost expectation: he was behind the door and bringing me—a
present!
In
today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah says: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s
mountain” (Is 2:3). To climb the mountain is to intensify our desire for Jesus,
to increase our hope in his coming, not only at the end of the world but now, at
every moment. Let us start the Advent season by asking the Lord to show us
his transformative and restorative love. During this season, may he manifest his
glory and majesty to us. May Our Lady, whose anticipation is greater than that
of all other human beings, strengthen our hope and certainty that Jesus is
coming. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.