Homily: First Sunday of Advent

December 1 , 2002

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver

My Sisters and brothers in Christ:

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year, a new beginning in our spiritual journey with Jesus. This year will unfold for us the mysteries of Christ’s life and ministry. Even though the stories of Jesus’ life may be familiar, we experience them in a different way each year. Filtered through our life experiences, we can gain greater insight and understanding of God’s work in our lives.

Traditionally Advent is considered a preparation for the coming of Christ: a commemoration of His Birth and a Preparation for His Second Coming at the end of time.

The Liturgy of the Church talks to us about both:  “From the First Sunday of Advent until December 16 the main theme of this season is upon Christ's glorious return in the end of time of a restored creation. From December 17 to 24 inclusive, the texts of the liturgy prepare us more directly for the celebration of Christmas" (Ordo, 1996).

As we begin our Advent season, we hear the familiar words of Jesus in today’s Gospel: Be watchful! Be alert! Or in other words, pay attention! Paying attention is a spiritual duty. It is only through paying attention that we can make our love to God and to others real in our lives.

Nowadays we are more aware of what it means to be on alert. Since September 11, 2001 we are supposed to be on the alert for security reasons. We even have different colors that signified different degree of watchfulness. We understand the importance of making the effort to be more attentive and we don’t mind if it takes some of our energy.

These coming weeks we are going to have many things that will demand our attention. From the commercial things, we just started the busiest shopping time of the year, to the family and social functions that we have to attend. It is a busy time and it goes fast.

But there is one thing that should be the center of our attention these coming weeks and that is the coming of Jesus on Christmas day.

Today’s readings help us to set the stage for this Advent season. First we need to be ready to take charge of our own mission in life. That is why Jesus uses the parable of the man on a journey who ‘places his servants in charge, each with his own work’ We have been given a task to carry out while the master is away. Our task is to do good, to make our world a better place. For that, we need to get to know and to imitate the life of Christ.

But let’s listen to the first two readings and make ours the advice that is given to us to live well this Advent season.

In the first reading the Prophet Isaiah acknowledges God as Redeemer and Father forever. In spite of this the people are sinful and their hearts have hardened to the ways of the Lord. The Prophet perceives God’s fatherly love for the Israelites, acknowledges that they are the clay, that God is the potter, and that they are the work of God’s hands.

Clay is supposed to be easy to be molded. In the hands of an artist, it can become a work of art! A masterpiece. A beautiful vessel for the glory of God.

So the first question for us today is, are we willing to be molded by God’s hands?

But what does it mean to be clay in the hands of God? It means that whatever God wants us to do, we will do it. It means to give up our own will to do God’s Will. It means to become the person that God wants us to be. It refers to being shaped in the deepest possible way into God’s image.

I am sure that this is what we want, but isn’t it true that sometimes instead of being like clay in the hands of God, we become like clay in the hands of our own selfishness? We can be controlled by our own desire to be successful, to have more than our neighbors, to have the cleanest or bigger house in the block, to control our husband or wife, and so on.

Advent is a time to open our hearts and souls to the grace of God, to truly live the life that Jesus modeled for us. To make sure that we are trying to do God’s Will and not just our own will.

Let’s us reshape our hearts and minds so that we may bring Christ’s peace and joy to our world. Let us live in expectation of doing God’s will and then we will be doing good things. We will be a source of peace and love for people as we approach the Christmas season.

The second reading of today’s Mass, gives us the “secret” to be able to make this desire of ours a reality. To do God’s will we need the help of the grace of God that comes to us through the Sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul gives thanks to God for ‘the grace bestowed in you in Christ Jesus’ and promises them that they will ‘not lack in any spiritual gift’ and that they will have the strength of God’s faithfulness, ‘He will keep you firm to the end… God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’

We will be attentive and able to do God’s Will if we count on the help of the grace of God. Since God is coming to us, we have to get ready for him, to prepare ourselves. Advent is a good time for a more serious examination of conscience and a good Confession. The Sacrament of the love and mercy of God.

Advent is also a good time for a more frequent reception of the Eucharist. On Christmas day we celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth but we know that we can receive Jesus in a Sacramental way, every single day of our lives. Let’s make the effort these coming weeks to look for Jesus in the Eucharist or at least to be better prepared to receive Him every Sunday!

Today we have the Rite of acceptance of the catechumen and welcoming of the candidates of the Cathedral RCIA program.

What a wonderful moment in your lives and in the life of the Cathedral Parish…!

I am sure that you can see the love of God for you and that these coming months are a great time for you to take advantage of the grace of God that you are receiving as you prepare yourselves to become active members of the Church.

Keep in mind that you are like clay in God’s hands. He is asking from you to be open to his grace and to trust in Him because He wants you to be His masterpiece. A beautiful work of art for the glory of God.

You are in our prayers and we see in each one of you another manifestation of the Love of God for us. We want to be with you these coming months and you are a new call from God to all of us to improve in the way that we live our faith.

Finally, let’s make sure that we overcome the obstacles of this busy time of the year to concentrate on the important thing, the coming of Jesus on Christmas day! May this Advent season will be for each one of us a time to “increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming.