Advent 1 We are called to walk in the light!
It is a story about good news and bad news!
Doctor: I have some good news and I have some bad news.
Patient: What's the good news?
Doctor: The good news is that the tests you took showed that you have 24 hours to live.
Patient: That's the good news? What's the bad news?
Doctor: The bad news is that I forgot to call you yesterday! So you are going to die now.
Let us understand the good news and bad news! I would like to raise two simple questions. How much do you think the world military spending is? According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Yearbook, in 2006 the world spent $ 1,204 billion in military expenditures. My second question: How much would it take each year to end world hunger? It would take 13 billion dollars a year to end hunger for the world’s starving. We could end world hunger ninety times over if as Isaiah says in today’s first reading,
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again. (Is 2: 4). On the first Sunday in Advent the scriptures offer us an invitation: “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord.” A similar invitation comes to us in the second reading. Paul invites us to “…throw away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…” (Rom 13:12). The theme of “light and darkness” is a perfect way to guide us through this holy season. The event of the birth of Christ was covered in light. The glory of the Lord “shone” (Lk 2:8) for the shepherds; the light of the star led the magi to the manger (Mt 2:2). Even though John does not give an account of the nativity, he begins the gospel by saying, “The light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (Jn 1:9).
Thus, on this first Sunday in Advent, let us take the invitation to “walk in the light of the Lord” very seriously. For this Advent, I am going to propose that we walk in the light of the Lord in three ways.
1. The birth of Jesus was a global event. God’s vision for the entire human race is a vision of peace. Swords (military spending) must be beaten into ploughshares (farming). Spears (weapons) must be turned into pruning hooks (gathering equipment). Some poor countries just in the last year raised its military budget by 28.6% ($ 3 billion) while it has three hundred million poor people living below the poverty line. The military budget of the United States is $ 364.24 billion while it has ten million people that face the prospect of hunger. My own resolution is to refrain from the politics of violence. My resolution is to reject the culture of hate and division. Whether it is other races, castes, cultures, religions or nationalities, my resolution is to beat the sword into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks in my own life.
2. Second, let us end darkness in our own lives. Paul suggests to the Romans in today’s second reading: “Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy.” The second resolution is to let God shed God’s light in those areas of my life where I am afraid to let God’s light shine; perhaps there is a relationship, an addiction, a prejudice, some resentment, a little self-centeredness, a little pride. Let us “throw away the darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12).
3. The “light” that we hear about in the readings is not an impersonal thing like the lights we put for decoration outside. The “light” is Jesus. The best way to stay in the light is to “be” in the light. Let our real preparation for Christmas revolve around Jesus. Take the readings each day this advent and spend a few moments in prayer. Let us be obedient to the word of God each day. That is the best way to “be” in the light. If we do this, then all our other activities, like the tree, gifts, food, and friendships will a special meaning.
Let this Eucharist be our “Yes” to God’s invitation to walk in the light. God gives us Jesus himself to accompany us on this journey. Let us receive Jesus and walk in the “light.” Amen.
