1st Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Isaiah 2:1-5 | Psalm 121(122):1-2,4-5,6-9 | Romans 13:11-14 | Matthew 24:37-44
The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. (Romans 13:12-13)
Most of us have had the creepy experience of wandering into the kitchen for a drink of water at night, flipping the light switch…and seeing cockroaches, lizards and other nocturnal denizens scurrying for cover.
St. Paul reminds us that we are people of the light, that we should not be skulking in sin. Instead, we should be boldly going forth, secure in the knowledge that we’re doing what the Lord asks of us – to love one another as He has loved us, in thought, word and deed.
This way, when Jesus’ words for today come to pass:
of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left (Matthew 24:40-41)
we’re more likely to be the ones taken off to paradise, while the ones left behind will partake of eternal suffering.
And because I can rarely resist the urge to write a parody, and because it’s the start of Advent…
Roaches in the night, running for cover
Finding nooks to hide, to not encounter
Lethal pesticide before the night was through
Let’s not be that guy who’s so conniving
Let’s not be that gal who’s prostituting
We desire, O Lord, to always be with You
Dangers in the night, temptations left and right
There’s dangers in the night, we’re weak and burdened, Lord
But You are always there, hearing every prayer
Love is all You’ll ever be, come to our hearts and set us free
And…
Now amidst the light, we tell our story
Joyous at the sight of Trinal Glory
Father, Spirit, Son…and banished is the night
Amen.