Kevin Gingras
December 20, 2020 - 4th Sunday of Advent
The other day, I was at a red light, trying to cross Route 44 to get to Church. There were two cars in front of me and the light turned green - and nobody moved. Now, I’m not known for the virtue of patience. My first mildly aggravated thought was “LET’S GO - WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!?” Then, when my agitation subsided, I thought, “that’s a good question to ponder during Advent”, especially for today, the last Sunday of Advent.
What are we waiting for? Are we waiting for that perfect gift to arrive from Amazon that we got for Aunt Bethany and Uncle Lewis? Are we waiting for time to finish decorating? Are we waiting to be finished wrapping presents? Are we waiting to go get your ingredients for that perfect Christmas dinner? [Not that I’ve ever experienced one of those at home!] I know that most kids, and some adults too are waiting for PRESENTS!
Christmas is just five days away! Are we ready for Christmas? If not - LET’S GO - WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR!?
Was Mary was ready when the angel appeared to her and proclaimed:
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Highest.
Mary didn’t need to be told LET’S GO - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. Mary simply replied:
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word
Mary was ready for that first Christmas, even when things didn’t work out exactly as she had planned. All her preparations revolved around her son and God’s son Jesus. There is no better way to prepare than to make Jesus our primary focus right now.
Over 2,022 years ago, this is what a lot of people were waiting for, a savior, Jesus, the Christ. We hear a preview of what they were waiting for in today’s first reading from Samuel:
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'
Paul is trying to explain this to the Romans as he writes to them:
...according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ.
There’s the key for us - all of this was “through Jesus Christ”. Some of the Jews missed this even though it was right under their noses.
With all of our hectic preparations are we missing it too? If that is true for us then, LET’S GO, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? We shouldn’t miss who Jesus is and even though this Advent season is almost over it isn’t too late to take some quiet time with Jesus. We are given extra Advent time this year my friends, use it wisely. Spend it in Adoration if you can. If not, spend some quiet time at home, tell Alexa to stop playing Bing Crosby Christmas playlist, turn off the Hallmark channel, turn down the lights, silence your phones, turn on the Christmas tree and spend some time in prayer pondering Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the Holy Family, after whom are Church is so aptly named.
If it helps read the Gospel of Luke, Chapters 1 through 3 or Matthew, Chapters 1 and 2. Pay close attention to the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew. Remember, Matthew was writing in Hebrew for a Jewish-Christian audience and Luke was writing for a Greek-speaking audience of Gentiles and Jews. This is why the genealogies are different, they were for different audiences but either way, they are there to illustrate that Jesus was the savior promised in the Old Testament from the very beginning. He’s our savior today as well.
Sure, this Christmas probably won’t be like any other we have experienced in our lifetime but try and count that as a blessing and not a curse. Try to find that silver lining. Remember what Paul told the Romans:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose
Usually, I end with a quote from a Saint but this time I will leave you with this quote from our very own Bishop of Fall River - Bishop da Cunha, who recently said:
But maybe because there will be less [family holiday gatherings] there will be more celebrating what Christmas is about. “That could be a source of joy and hope and peace for all of us.
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