- by Deacon Sean Michaelson, S.J. -

 

There is a problem to Advent—a paradox. Some might even say it is a pure contradiction. Advent, we are told is a time to prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, the same Lord and Savior who is already, we also say, at work in our lives and in our world. We are told that it is a time to invite Jesus into our hearts, the same Jesus that we already confess is at the center of our being. The readings today only confirm the contradiction: Jesus says, ‘watch, watch! The Lord of the house is coming.’ Paul says ‘wait, wait, Jesus is already with you and will keep you strong until the end.’ And Isaiah, poor Isaiah, says, ‘uh, Lord, where are you exactly? Please stop hiding from us. I know you’re mad but, uh . . .Hello.’ Welcome the beginning of Advent.

It is interesting just to note that none of the readings really have to do with Christmas, do they? They don’t talk about the coming of a Savior. We don’t start hearing about Mary and the Annunciation. Those come later. The readings today are much closer to the readings we have heard for the last several weeks about the end-times. This is deliberate on the part of the Church. We start this new year in the liturgical readings slowly, looking more backwards than forwards.

And yet we know that the word ‘Advent’ means ‘to come,’ Jesus is coming. Traditionally what we say is that this time of Advent is for us to prepare ourselves for that coming of the Lord. ‘As you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,’ as Paul says, the Church has traditionally said that you need to take this time to prepare your hearts to welcome Jesus into the world once again. You need to prepare your souls to have him enter into your life. You need to prepare your mind to understand how Jesus is a part of all that you are and all that you do.

How this preparation happens is in many ways up to you. Last Monday there was an Advent retreat here in the chapel. That is one way people prepare themselves for Christmas. For many people, Advent is a time, or the time, when they go to reconciliation in the year. We decorate for Christmas, have an Advent calendar. These things all add to our sense of ‘preparing’ for Christ’s coming.

 

In my family, preparing for Christ’s coming in Advent meant cleaning the house. My mom grew up on a small farm in the North of Ireland in a tiny, tiny house. 10 of them lived in what is today used by my uncle as a chicken coop. For whatever reason, my grandmother always did one of her big cleanings of the year in Advent. It wasn’t because they had a big Christmas party or lots of visitors. They just did it. And for the same non-reason, this tradition came with my mother to this side of the Atlantic and continues today.

I remember one day when I had gotten a little older and the great Advent cleaning was underway, I asked my mom why we always cleaned the house in Advent. I think I had finally learned through talking with my friends and visiting other people’s homes that not everybody scours the house before Christmas. And I asked my mom as the annual ritual began, why we did this. She simply said it’s what we do. I remember not being satisfied with that answer and I asked again. I remember then my mom got this look on her face, it is a look that I think only parents can really get, it’s a combination of, ‘I never thought of the reason why we do this,’ and ‘why are we having this conversation?’ And then she said, ‘we’re preparing for Jesus’ coming.’ I remember replying, ‘yeah, but he’s not coming here.’ At which point I got that other look that only a parent can give, the one that says, ‘for your own sake, go away now.’

My mom wasn’t trying to be cute or dismissive in her response. She believed what she said. She believed it out of a combination of Irish paranoia, the sure conviction that when Jesus does come again he will come to our house and sure enough it will be the day it needs vacuuming. And she believes in her heart of heart that in Advent we do prepare to have Jesus enter our lives, our homes, our families, and for her when you prepare to receive someone into your home you clean. Her cleaning, like her mother’s speaks to a level of faith and conviction that is quite amazing in its own way. My mom really believes she is preparing for Jesus to come, and so she prepares in the most real and tangible way she knows.

But my mom’s cleaning also speaks to just how much of our Advent imagination is focused on this idea of preparation. Prepare, prepare, prepare. It is what we think about when we think about Advent, isn’t it? It is certainly a part of the tradition. ‘Prepare ye the ways of the Lord,’ is Isaiah’s famous admonition quoted in all three of the synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. ‘You my child will be called the prophet of the Most High,’ Zechariah prays over his baby son John, who will become the baptizer, ‘You will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the Lord and prepare his way.’ Advent and preparation are almost synonymous.

But when we listen to the words of the gospel today, Jesus never says ‘prepare, prepare, prepare.’ Jesus says, ‘watch, watch.’ And that is something very different.

Jesus tells this parable of the man who is going on a foreign journey. He is obviously a well-to-do man, someone whose household includes servants and a gatekeeper. We are told that he leaves on his journey and places his servants in charge, each with their own work. And the gatekeeper, whose job it is to watch, he tells to watch, for no one knows when the owner will return.

The servants are not given extra tasks, and the gatekeeper alone is told to be watchful, but that of course is his job. It is not an extra thing he must do, only what it is he is supposed to do.

But watching is not preparing. And if it is true that Advent is a time of preparation, which it is, it is also true that advent is a time to watch. The theme, my sisters and brothers, is openness, it is to be open to the mystery of Christ’s coming into our world, in times and ways that we cannot even imagine. And too often we allow the idea of preparation to overcome it. Our Christmas season, our Advent, is consumed with preparing: if you are a student you are preparing papers and tests, if you are a teacher, you are preparing for all the grading you must do, in your businesses you are preparing for the holidays and people being away or for extra customers. You may be preparing your home for visitors, preparing to go away, and all of us will be preparing the things that Christmas involves these days.

And Jesus says, ‘watch, watch.’ Preparing for Jesus’ coming doesn’t involve doing more and more, extra and extra things, it means quite the opposite. It means slowing down, doing what you are supposed to be doing, which is watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord. We must listen to Paul’s words to us today: In Christ ‘you have been enriched in every way . . . so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift.’ You are prepared. We are prepared. You are the work of the Father’s hands, who is the potter. It is God who has prepared you, and is preparing you for Christmas. Preparing for Christmas is not another task, another job, another thing you must do. It is something that God does, and with which we cooperate. And we do so by watching for Christ who comes into our world by being alert to Christ who is already in our world. We prepare by seeing the God who is with you every day and by allowing God to enter into your life, the real meaning of Christmas, in new ways, through new people, or through someone you thought God could not work through. Advent means seeing God already active in your life and at work for you, today. Watch. Watch.

 

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