Second Sunday of Advent
Watching America from above while landing in Chicago last night really brought the sharp contrast between how America prepares for Christmas and how India prepares for Christmas. And I found myself caught right in the middle. As the airplane gradually descended over Chicago, I could see the many Christmas lights and the glitter that goes with it. In India, Advent is rather somber, almost equaling Lent. This is a time for abstinence, novenas and heightened religious devotions. Christmas decorations will only be up between the twenty-third and twenty-fourth of Dec. The day before I left, my dad mom and I had our Christmas meal. Our neighbors got a whiff of the food and asked us if we not observing our advent obligations. Of course I found my way out of the sticky situation saying that since I was a priest in America, I was not bound by the local customs. I am sorry folks, but just like Adam blamed eve for eating the fruit of the garden, I blamed it on America.
Did you notice that the mood of the gospel reading is also rather somber? The readings hardly match the Christmas mood the commercial industry wants us to be in. In the first reading Isaiah prophecies about a new and upcoming King, who would bring Israel to the path of righteousness. Christians interpret this prophecy to refer to the Messiah. What about this Messiah? First of all, the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. The spirit will give him wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord. It is almost as if the Spirit of Lord determines the Messiah’s character. Because of the Spirit of the Lord, the Messiah will not judge by appearance and he will not decide by hearsay; he shall judge the poor with justice and decide rightly for the afflicted; he shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked; justice shall be the band around his waist and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. In the gospel reading, John the Baptist is also preparing his listeners for the Messiah, but instead of talking about the Messiah his focus is on the qualities that the people would need to be able to receive the Messiah. And believe me he was not talking about Christmas lights and decorations. His main demand was to the people was produce good fruit.
Let me draw the practical implications of the readings for the second Sunday of Advent.
1. In the Church’s sacramental tradition, todays first reading connects us directly to the sacrament of Confirmation. The virtues that the Spirit of the Lord bestows on the Messiah are the same virtues that we believe the Holy Spirit pours upon us at Confirmation. The gifts of the Spirit are Wisdom, Knowledge, Counsel, Understanding, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. If the Spirit of the Lord gives us the same gifts that Jesus received, then the implication of this is that we try to develop a character as close to that of Jesus. Just like Jesus, we should not decide by hearsay; we should judge the poor with justice and decide rightly for the afflicted; we should strike the ruthless with the rod of our mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall take upon evil; justice should be the band around our waist and faithfulness a belt upon our hips. We are two weeks away from Christmas. It will do us good to take today’s readings home and pray about them. Nothing will prepare us better for Christmas than that.
2. As we observe Advent, where does the rubber hit the road? Let us look at this this way. On one side there is the Messiah. On the other hand is each one of us. Where do these two lives meet? Where does the rubber hit the road? If we are hear the call of John the Baptist, we hear him say almost threateningly, “bear good fruit.” That is where the rubber hits the road! One of the best ways to prepare for Christ is to let our lives be the tree the bears all kinds of fruit that is worthy of the Messiah. Think about it this way - If we could present three good fruits to Christ this Christmas, what would they be? For example, Isaiah said of the Messiah, “He will not judge by appearance.” How often, how often we end up judging other people by appearance! Isaiah also says about the Messiah that “he will not decide by hearsay.” I certainly could work on that. Isaiah further says that the Messiah “shall judge the poor with justice and decide rightly for the afflicted and that justice shall be the band around his waist and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.” I find that I can work harder on being more caring about the poor and that I can work even hard on justice and faithfulness. I suggest that you choose any area where you would like to produce good fruit. How fabulous would it be If you could come to Christmas mass and offer the best of your fruits to the Messiah!
3. I am not sure if you noticed that Isaiah talks about dramatic cosmic changes because of the coming of the Messiah. Isiah tells us that the lamb will dwell with the lion and that the child will put its hand in the adder’s den and will not be harmed. What does this prophecy mean? The best way to understand this prophecy is to think that if each of produces good fruit, if all the Christians in the world produce good fruit, the world would be a better place. Look at all the good that Jesus did! His life made the world a better place. The good fruit we produce is bound to have an impact on the world and the people who inhabit it. Perhaps, this prophecy also means that part of the good fruit we produce has to do with taking care of the environment. Jesus came to save the world and not just the human beings in the world. Paul tells us that all of creation is eagerly waiting for its redemption. If we produce good fruit there are sure to be cosmic changes. Perhaps there will not be as many catastrophic storms. Perhaps our future will be safer and more secure.
In my conclusion let me come back to my introduction. I am not sure what Advent has meant for you thus far. As American I am not asking you to be like the church in India, and neither am I asking the church in India to be like the church in America. But there is one thing we must do whether we are in India, in America, or anywhere in the world. Glitter or no glitter, as people who have received the Spirit of the Lord and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we must produce good fruit. For the tree that will not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire, with or without glitter. Amen
- Fr. Satish Joseph