"That they might have life" -John 10:10: November 2015

Christmas is often a season of “getting” and of giving, but not usually one of giving up. That’s more for Lent, right?

Several years ago, I made a thirty-hour famine with other youth to raise money and awareness for global and local hunger issues. We fasted for 30 hours from anything that wasn’t liquid, and liquids were limited to a juices, sports drinks and water. When the thirtieth hour came, our parents each cooked their child's favorite dishes for a celebratory feast. I still remember how much anticipation was built for that meal after such a fast… and how good it tasted.

In a book called “Egeria's Travels”, the early Christian pilgrim, Egeria, speaks about Christian communities, not unlike our local parishes today, and their celebrations, customs and penances. In particular, fasting was a spiritual practice held something of a "pride of place" in the Holy Land territory about which she was writing.

Egeria mentions several options for fasting, but unlike my friends and I who could drink a variety of liquids with a variety of nutrients in our fast, these early Christian were to taste "only water” and were allotted “a little gruel" for food. Some people fasted for a week, starting after a Sunday meal and lasting until Saturday morning. That’s intense! However, while some fast in more incredible ways than others, "each person does what he can," and none are "criticized “or "praised" for how much they fast.

Much of what Egeria was writing about happened during Lent. So why am I bringing it up now?

Well, Advent is similar to Lent in that we are preparing ourselves to receive the Lord when he comes at Christmas, just as we do with Lent for Easter.

Taking a cue from Egeria, times of feasting are most joyful following times of fasting. Not because we “missed” the things had forgone, but because the fast has freed us to truly receive the gift that’s coming our way: Jesus Christ, the Savior.

So, as we begin Advent, here’s a question to take to prayer. What could you give up so that when Christ the Light of the World comes to us at Christmas, you will be more prepared to receive him fully? What could you give up? What could you avoid? What could you do more of so that the Infant Jesus finds an uncluttered, welcome home in you on December 25?

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We hear stories at Mass about the Second Coming, about Judgement Day as we move toward Advent. It makes sense, since Advent begins our waiting for the coming of Christ on December 25 and because we are wrapping up the Church calendar year. So, let’s look at Judgement Day.

For some, it’s a scary thought. For others, it is fascinating. Perhaps the End-of-the-World talk both scares and intrigues you. Regardless, we Christians know that Jesus is coming one day—that there is indeed a Judgement Day. This world will end. And that we will be something else, some other form of life in eternity, even though it has not so much as dawned on us what that will truly be like. So, I would like to make three quick points about Judgement Day: first, it’s coming. Second, good and bad will be seen as they are. Finally, we really shouldn’t fear that day.

First, we read in the Gospel today that “this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” How can that be? Those who heard Jesus say these words have already passed away. Was he wrong?

Actually, we fail to see what’s really here. We have seen some of what he said: the Temple—the Jewish peoples’ “universe”—falls within the generation he was speaking to. “The sun stopped shining” at midday when Jesus was crucified in Luke’s account of the Passion. The end times have begun, and we’re waiting for the final consummation with Christ’s coming back in full.

Second, Bishop Robert Barron described judgment as, “a truth telling that’s honest, clear and direct, that sheds light on things in such a way that good and evil appear as what they really are.”

Judgment means truth-telling. We love when Simon Cowell tells Idol contestants when they do well and when they don't. Shouldn’t we expect truth-telling from God -- pointing out our good for being good and our evil for being evil -- when he returns?

Finally, why did Jesus tell us about Judgement Day?

So we would be ready.

The only reason we should fear Jesus’ Second Coming is if we do not or will not accept his first. Yes, Jesus came among us to teach, to heal, to offer us life with him, and he offers it today when we meet him in pray, read about him in Scripture, and encounter him in the Sacraments. These gifts help us give ourselves to Christ now so we are ready when he returns. The only reason we should fear Christ's return to bring us to himself is if we are holding back part of ourselves now. What are you not giving the Lord already?

What God said will not come to nothing. And aren’t we grateful for that… To indeed be recalled to his own life, to become one with God and all of our deceased loved ones for all eternity.

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"That they might have life" -John 10:10

Advent Fasting?

The End of the World