Homily for Advent
1
December 2, 2018
Embrace Christ’s
First Coming So We Won’t Fear His Second
It’s always
pretty bad to be caught red-handed, but imagine the fear someone would feel if
they were caught standing guard over a giant pile of gunpowder…as part of a
plot to blow up the government. Back in England in 1605, a number of people
were unhappy with King James I and his Parliament, so they decided to revolt,
by blowing up the House of Lords. These conspirators rented a storage room
immediately under the Parliament building and filled it with gunpowder, with
one of them standing guard at all times.
Unfortunately
for them, the King was tipped off to the plot, and did a surprise raid on the
building. They caught one man – Guy Fawkes was his name – and eventually
executed him for treason. Imagine the horror Mr. Fawkes must have felt when
they walked in on him, he who was trying to rebel against the King! He knew
that his death warrant was sealed, as he was caught red-handed with a pile of
gunpowder!
If someone
is found to be a friend of the King, they will receive a reward, a promotion, a
blessing. If someone is found to be a traitor to the King, they will receive a
punishment. The same person – the King – inspires both love and fear, depending
upon your relationship to him.
And so
it is with Christ. I was intrigued as I read this Gospel about the two
different reactions people will have at the Second Coming of Jesus. Our Lord
says that “some people will die of fright” – they will be so terrified when
they see Jesus coming on the clouds in glory that they will drop dead! But then
He goes on to say, “But for you” – and He is speaking to His disciples – “Lift
up your heads, for your redemption is now at hand.” For those who are His
friends and His followers, the Second Coming of Christ will not be a fearful
thing, but a joyful event, something we will look forward to.
Advent
is not really about preparation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. That is a
historical event that has already happened. Instead, Advent is about more
serious preparation for Christ’s Second Coming. There are two ways in which He
will come again – first, He will come at the end of time, when He will come in
glory and judge the world. But before that happens, He will come to each one of
us at the end of our earthly lives.
So if we
embrace Christ at His first coming as a baby at Bethlehem, we have no need to
fear the second coming of Christ as judge. If we follow Him faithfully on this
earth, we do not need to be afraid to see Him in eternity. Our choice of
whether or not to follow the Lord Jesus on this earth will determine whether or
not we wish to follow Him in the next life.
It
always amazes me when I see families that have big dogs like a Labrador or a
Great Dane and at the same time have a baby or a toddler. It’s funny to watch how
the baby interacts with the big dog; they often seem totally okay with this
giant beast hanging out around them, and the dog is usually happy to be pet by
the kid – or ridden like a horse! I am amazed when the child isn’t afraid of
this animal which is larger than them, but the kids lose their fear because
they love the pet.
St. John
writes in the Bible that “perfect love casts out fear”. When we love God, there
is no need to fear Him. Yes, He is powerful and awe-inspiring; yes, He is the
just Judge and eternal King – but if we love Him with a deep love, and invite
Him into our souls and seek to follow Him, then we do not need to fear His
judgment or His kingship when He returns in glory.
So, this
Advent, we prepare for Christ’s triumphant coming at the end of time or at the
end of our lives – and we prepare by receiving Him into our souls through faith
and in the Eucharist. If we willingly embrace Christ’s first coming as a man and
in the Eucharist, then we do not need to fear His second glorious coming when
He triumphs as our King.
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