First Sunday of Advent
Today's Scripture
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout and I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows if you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake.
Would you believe me if I said that this song is straight from scripture?
This all-time-favorite parallels today’s gospel reading rather accurately. You better watch out (be vigilant at all times); You better not cry (Pray that you have a strength); You better not pout and I’m telling you why (Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand); Santa Claus is coming to town (And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory); He sees you when you’re sleepy/awake (Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy); He knows if you’ve been good or bad (Do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life); So be good for goodness sake.
I think the Santa story is a wonderful story to teach our children the lessons of life. For example, it teaches them that we expect them to be good and that they are loved. I think the Santa story is a good story provided when our children come of age and reality hits them, we take them from the Santa story to the Jesus story. If parents fail to do that then we have adults who celebrate Christmas like children – empty Christless celebrations.
Getting back to my original point, the Santa story teaches them the importance of keeping a promise. Santa never fails to keep his promise. I am glad this lesson is taught, because we are people of promise. In fact, we live from promise to promise. This is what Jeremiah says in the first reading, “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made the house of Israel and Judah. In those days… I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do that is right and just in the land.” (Jer 33:14-15)This promise was fulfilled in Jesus. At Christmas we celebrate a God who not only promises what is right and just but also delivers what is just and right – redeems us and save us in love. At Christmas we celebrate a God who comes to us, talks to us, walks with us, lives with us, cries with us, laughs with us. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus. But the promises of God have not ended. Even as we celebrate the fulfilling of one promise, we also expectantly wait for another promise to be fulfilled – that God in Christ will come again in a new way. The Gospel reading proclaims today, And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand.” (Lk 21:28)
Today we begin the season of advent. I was listening to public radio last Wednesday and they were talking about how to eat right for the holidays. How much more should we, then, prepare for the coming of Christ. Each of the Scripture readings today give us one way to prepare ourselves well.
1) Do what is right and just (Jer 33:15). The word right here means righteous – meaning right relationship with God others and self. Let us mend the relationships we must. Also, let us be just in our dealings. Doing what is right and just makes us like Jesus. If the last day catches unawares let us at least be caught doing what is just and right.
2) Conduct yourselves to please God 91 Thess 4:1). Let us strive in all things to please God. Each day we have the choice to make decision that are contrary to the will of God. The moment we pause to reflect the meaning of our action is a “moment of grace.” Let us use moments of grace to transform our actions into action that are pleasing to God.
3) Be vigilant at all times and pray (Lk 21:36). Most of all let us prepare our hearts for Christ. Of all the things we do for Christmas – decorations, gifts, food – nothing is more important than this. The best way to prepare is to spend some time each day in prayer.
If we do these three things then at the end of all the fun a frolic we will find ourselves not empty like our homes (all the guest are gone) or like the gift boxes (empty) but filled with the peace and presence of Christ. This process begins today in this Eucharist. Let our reception of Christ in a few moments from now symbolize our acceptance of Christ for eternity. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph