Sermon preached by The Rev. Richard Lampert
Advent II
CHRIST IS IN US! Lk.3.1-6
THE ADVENT COLLECTS: Cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light——–Give us grace to heed the prophets warnings and forsake our sins——–Stir up thy power and with great might come among us——– Purify our consciences so that Christ may find in our hearts this year a mansion prepared for himself.
Advent Prayer Ladder: casting away-putting upon; repenting-forgiving; stirring up; preparing our hearts.
The Church has always celebrated two Advent Comings: the Birth of Christ and His anticipated Second Coming at the end of time. Now, a third Advent Coming (originally portrayed by St. Bernard de Clairvaux in the 12th C.) has been revived focusing upon His also coming again among us each Advent season.
Msgr. John McIllhon, a long time Pastor and Retreat Director in the Diocese of Des Moines, tells the wonderful story of the little girl who runs home excitedly one
Advent Sunday after church: That afternoon she blurts out to a visiting neighbor, “ Guess what, I learned today in church- God is really in the world.” The man smiles, puts his hand on her head saying “I’ve got something even better; God is in this room, in you, and in all of us!” The young girl stops, thinks hard for a moment and then looks right at the young family priest also standing in the family living room for the Advent holiday celebration: “Is he telling me the truth!” The smiling priest replies, “Yes, Beth he is!” Now, she’s still again for a moment and then with a huge smile on her face she boldly announces to everyone in the living room: “ Well, that really makes it all very different, doesn’t it? ”
So, Advent means “ Three Comings.” We celebrate and commemorate Christ’s birth! We await His Second Coming one day in power and great glory! And we prepare ourselves each year for His return among us in the Season of Advent. And the Advent Collects instruct and help us: To cast away and put upon; Heed and forsake; Ask God to stir up His power and come among us; Prepare in our hearts a mansion made ready for Him. And young Beth is right: It all does make it very very different!
On the second and third Sundays of Advent, John The Baptist becomes the focus. He was born of priestly descent. His father, Zechariah, was a priest in the Temple. His mother Elizabeth was a kinswoman of Jesus’ mother, Mary. John was born in Judea and as a youth he spent much time in the wilderness. For John, the “Sons of Abraham” had been disinherited. The “Promised Land” was occupied by the legions of Rome. The chief priests of the Temple had no king, but Caesar. John was honored in Isaiah 40 as “The Forerunner”; by some as the prophet Elijah returned; or even as The Messiah himself. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to the multitudes and Scribes and Pharisees alike. He challenged birthrights alone and prior baptisms with the message that God wants your fruits not roots; God seeks for your spiritual rebirth. Two important Advent questions for us today might be: (1) What is God’s message for me now through John The Baptist and (2) Who has been the most John The Baptist like figure in my life and what have I learned from him or her?
Finally, on this Second Sunday of Advent I want to share an unexpected Advent surprise which I experienced this week. On Thursday eve. and Friday morn. I celebrated both Eucharist’s in the Chapel which Sister Mary Judith and The Rvd. Mother Superior of the Order of Julian of Nor(w)ich in Waukesha, Wis. attended. It was a great Advent blessing for me! They’re leading a retreat at DaySpring this weekend. The appointed lessons were for missions/monastics and I shared these words from the letters of Fr. Alan Whittemore, O.H.C. in upstate N.Y.:
“Dear Sister, you stated your difficulties clearly and succinctly. Would that I could reply as well…… Of course, the solution is never so much a matter of the head as of the will…… We are all plodding, traveling along a road which leads ultimately to heaven, provided that we keep on going. Incidentally, with the going, the problem often tends to take care of itself…… As you travel along the road robbers and assassins may spring out upon you; indeed, the very same group of enemies will often meet you. In other words, particular temptations to which you have been liable are apt to attack you, at times, throughout your entire life……
But, as one goes on and reaches, as I am now doing, the close of the middle-age period and the beginning of the last, he/she learns one lesson above all: “He or she that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Mk. 13.13….. And enduring to the end means never letting go of one’s highest aspirations and ideals. Keep on shooting at the highest mark…… Never stop wanting and trying to be a saint…… Never forget, the Christian life in an unending series of new beginnings……The saints are the sinners who kept on trying. He or she that endureth to the end shall be saved,”….. always remember: your prayer-life first: Your Masses, Offices, Meditations, Spiritual Readings….. and never, never refrain from practicing The Presence of God. …..
As I think and pray about all of this and you one thought, one idea comes again and again into my head and heart: Persevere; Keep on going; Endure to the end; Trust and do not be afraid. One day seemingly out of nowhere you will find yourself no longer ‘plodding’ but now ‘racing’ along the road, ‘flying’ across the deserts of your life and God will surely be soaring with you…… Say a prayer for me that I too may endure and soar with Him!” Joy In Holiness- A Collection of Letters and Other Writings of Spiritual Direction by Alan G. Whittemore, O.H.C., Holy Cross Publications, West Park, N.Y. 1964.
Advent means Coming! We prepare once more to remember and celebrate the Birth of Christ. We await His coming again in power and great glory! We invite Him into our hearts this year and we prepare a room for His coming again within us. Come Lord Jesus Come! Amen.