Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, Bishop of Parramatta
Homily for the first Sunday of Advent: Year C
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-36
Critical discernment and action in favour of God’s purpose
Dear sisters and brothers,
Advent is a season of new beginnings and the stirrings of the heart. It reminds us that while things might seem hopeless, God is directing history to its fulfilment. In Jesus who conquered sin and death, he already set in motion the final victory over the forces of evil and darkness. Therefore, no matter what kind of setback we experience, in big and small matters, we journey with a sense of purpose and confidence. This is why we pray at every Mass “as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ”.
The Word of God today speaks of the final judgment at the end time in apocalyptic language and imagery. But the end time is not doom and gloom for those who believe. Rather it is a time of purposeful discernment and intentional discipleship. Crisis awakes in the disciples a sense of deep listening that leads to alignment with God’s will and courageous action. It is an opportunity for us to participate in the eschatological liberation and the birthing of the new heaven and the new earth that God would bring to fulfilment through the victory of Jesus.
In the first reading, Jeremiah reassures the Jewish exiles that they are not forgotten, and that the legacy of their ancestors has not been wasted. In fact, the God who freed them from slavery, accompanied them to the land of freedom and formed them into a model nation is doing a new thing in the very time of their captivity. Jeremiah speaks of the rebirthing through the pain of exile. He uses the image of a “virtuous Branch” that will bear the fruit of “honesty and integrity in the land.” Isaiah, another exilic prophet, uses the metaphor of a beautifully adorned bride ready to meet her husband. They both have the insight that the exile is not abandonment but a spiritual conversion and necessary re-alignment with the divine purpose, which is a people renewed in integrity, justice and right relationships.
Thus, Jeremiah encourages his people in exile not to lose heart but to work towards the rebirthing of a new Israel. The virtuous branch of David like the stump of Jesse also refers to God’s faithful remnants who will reconstitute the covenant people. Therefore, they are not bystanders waiting passively for the day of deliverance. Rather, the exiles are summoned to rebuild themselves a model society. In the face of a dominant system of exploitation, self-interest and greed, the prophet calls them to enact an ethos of solidarity, compassion and care for the vulnerable.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the language of poetry and hyperbole, to shock his disciples out of complacency and inertia. Discipleship is never meant for the faint-hearted and the self-serving. Those who follow him will have their mettle tested. This is what Jesus alludes to when he speaks about the apocalyptic signs of darkened skies, agonised nations and other calamities. He challenges them to be vigilant and courageous. It is not going with the flow or saving one’s skin during the time of testing but critical discernment and action in favour of God’s purpose that characterise true Christian discipleship.
In fact, throughout the course of Jesus’ ministry, he often highlights the needs to be in sync with the manifestations of the kingdom. Thus, for instance, to John’s disciples who want to know if he is the Messiah, Jesus simply alerts them to the messianic deeds he has been performing: the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the sick recover and the Good News is preached to the poor. To those who want to see the signs of power, Jesus compares himself to Jonah who was a sign of contradiction and weakness. He warns his hearers against the apathy and inertia that the people demonstrated during the time of Noah.
Dear friends,
Today, we have the honour of welcoming the Ephphata community into our midst. Our Diocese, along with Sydney and Broken Bay jointly support and walk with our deaf and hearing-impaired brothers and sisters. This relationship is not just a one-way street. Ephphata enriches us with the gifts of beautiful Auslan, community spirit, friendship and love. Just as the deaf were included in the manifesto of Jesus, a true Christian community cannot but be inclusive, supportive and appreciative of the deaf as well as the marginalised among us.
“Stay awake!” Jesus’ warning is relevant to us as it was during the time of the Roman persecution. We must not settle into complacency and forget our task of being a changing agent and a force of leaven in the world. In the midst of many ecological, social and humanitarian challenges, the default position is often not values-based but expedient and even short-sighted. The Gospel calls us to act boldly rather than to be preoccupied with the status quo.
We may be experiencing trying times similar to the early Christians. Advent calls us to hope. Jesus Christ is the true source of our hope. For his life, death and resurrection have launched the course of history irreversibly in the direction of the kingdom. As true believers, let us listen, see and act prophetically so that the Day of the Lord may be source of vindication, comfort and joy to us.
