THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals First Sunday of Advent 27 November 2011

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

We read last week about a very frightening event: the end of the world as we know it. Today, we look rather to the renewal of the earth. After the death and destruction we look forth to birth and renewal. Christ will return and make all things new; as Saint Paul says in today’s Epistle: “The night is passed, and the day is at hand.”

There is reason for fear as we see God pushed aside and evil spirits reigning almost universally, but with that fear comes hope for those who love God. For all things work for the good of those who love Him. Christ will return and put all things back in order. The evil men who once boasted and walked with their heads high and looked mighty and powerful, will then cower in fear and trembling wishing for the mountains to fall upon them and hide them. The humble who persevered in the Faith, and in Hope of God’s reward, but most of all in Charity, will then be able to rise up and claim their rightful place alongside God. He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Let us never forget that Christ is coming again. We do not know the day or the hour, but we do know He is coming. We have been warned to persevere to the end; to wait and watch and pray. We are all slaves or prisoners here on earth for we must all suffer and die. If we will accept this humiliating position for the love of God we will understand the need to be ever vigilant. It is very tempting for the servant to doze off or to become careless, and we have been warned many times against this. If we will only remember and keep focused upon the fact that God is returning and He will only be pleased with us if He finds us faithful and vigilant. He must find us with a loving heart busy about the business that He has given us to do, even if it seems to be the most trivial or insignificant task.

It is not what we are given to do that is important to Him, but rather how we do it. Our disposition is much more important than what we are doing. That which is done unwillingly and begrudgingly gains no merit. It must be done willingly for the love of God, if it is to be of any value.

We see that the end is drawing near and more and more souls are going the way of the world and the devils. The temptation grows ever stronger to follow in this path. The longer we associate with the world or entertain ourselves with it, the greater a hold it gains over us. The devils use the world to incite our passions and further cripple and break down our fallen natures.

Our only hope is to turn away from the devils, the world, and our evil passions. They are darkness and we must leave the darkness and strive to reach the light. These things deceive us into thinking that we are building up and becoming secure or that we are drawing closer to complete fulfillment of our worldly pleasures; but it is all an illusion. They actually only bring us pain and suffering; both now and in eternity. So many deceived by these walk proudly and boast of themselves and their evil ways. When Christ comes they will see their mistake and will be crushed by their humiliations and shame, but there will be no place to hide.

The children of the Light on the other hand, who are derided and put down by the world (and devils), live as prisoners and slaves; they will, when Christ returns, be lifted up. They are told by Christ in today’s Gospel to “look up and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand.”

Their tears will be turned to joy. Even now their tears become joyful tears, because they shed them with love for God. Their tears are shed willingly knowing through faith that God will reward the least effort that is done for the love of Him. With hearts filled with love our state as slaves or prisoners is not a miserable or burdensome one, but rather it is a joyful and pleasant one because it done with Charity. Charity not only covers a multitude of sins, but it also sustains and builds us up and keeps the weight of this world and all its burdens from beating us down or crushing us under its weight.

As we begin our preparation for Christmas in prayer and penance, let us not become downcast or gloomy, but rather with cheerful hearts embrace our cross for the love of Him and keep at least the eye of our soul constantly searching and waiting for His glorious coming.