Advent Voices
Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2022
Jesus talks about ‘a new day’, ‘the time to come’, ‘the Kingdom of God’.
His world view was one of different eras or times.
Times change, we all know that.
Some changes are beyond our control.
Some are changes we choose ~ a new chapter in life!
God’s people of the Hebrew scriptures expect God’s intervention in the world ~ what we call ‘God’s Salvation History’.
The expectation of God’s action is based on their experience of God’s past interventions.
We too sing ‘O God, our help, in ages past…’
This prophet Isaiah calls God’s people.
‘Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths.’
‘… come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.’
He is pointing people to a way of life, isn’t he?
This way of life is anchored in God.
Jesus often ‘goes to the mountain’ ~ goes to God ~ in prayer.
He turns to God in prayer just as the prophets of old have done before him.
The voices of Advent remind us of the life into which we have been baptised.
Through the Christian lens, we may hear the Advent voices as a ‘new life’ for those who have not known the Lord.
The prophets of the Hebrew scriptures are speaking to God’s people to whom they point to a renewed life of faith.
This life is about a relationship with God as well as how we live.
Love God, love Neighbour.
The two commandments have always gone together.
The new way of life or renewed way of life will not need the tools of conflict, of violence.
Instead, God’s people will turn swords and spears into life-giving tools.
The Psalmist, likely David, tells us: ‘Go up to Jerusalem and give thanks to the Lord! Pray for peace.’
God works with us through prayer.
Praying for peace we become peaceful, perhaps even peacemakers!
The voices of Advent are throughout scripture ~ Old and New Testaments.
From Paul’s treatise we know as ‘Romans’ we hear: ‘the return of Christ makes it urgent to wake to holy and honorable living.’
‘Let us then put aside the works of darkness and put on the things of light, put on the Lord Jesus Christ.’
The voices of Advent express an urgent message, a message for today, this minute!
Time is of the essence.
His call to ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’ is a call to baptism.
As in the Hebrew scriptures, though, we may also hear it as a call to the baptised to renew their life in the Lord through the ‘holy and honorable living’ we see in Christ Jesus.
The voices of Advent ask us,
Are we ready?
Are we ready for the coming of the Lord?
Jesus reminds us that as in the days of Noah, not everyone will notice God’s activity.
Two people will be working side by side.
One will recognise God’s presence.
The other will not.
Noah tried in so many ways to warn the people they needed to heed God’s word.
God wanted them to save themselves from the coming threat, but they did not.
They just went about the busyness of living – working, marrying, have babies, eating as if that was all that life is.
As they say, they missed the boat!
They missed God’s saving activity in their lives.
Thing is, we have a great story to share; an honourable life to offer.
Living the way of the Lord is light for the world.
In Jesus the Christ, the old ways of division give way to the new ways of God ~ our Advent message of Hope for this broken world.
Heed the voices of Advent.
O prophets, proclaim the voice of Advent.
Be ready!