S. Joseph Krempa - Captured Fire: The Sunday Homilies, Cycle A

CAPTURED FIRE
The Sunday Homilies - Cycle A

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Krempa, S. Joseph.
Captured fire : the Sunday homilies / by S. Joseph Krempa.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
Contents: [1] Year A.
eBook ISBN: 978-0-81891-517-8
1. Catholic ChurchSermons. 2. Church year sermons. 3. Bible Sermons. 4. Sermons, American21st century. I. Title.

BX1756.K782c37 2005
252.6dc22

2005001419

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Copyright 2005 by the Society of St. Paul

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Table of Contents

Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-4 Matthew 24:37-44

I N OUR CULTURE, Advent has developed a split personality as a time of light and of shadow. The commercial countdown to Christmas begins while the Church calls us to a period of deep reflection and spiritual preparation for the celebration of the mystery of God becoming flesh. On the one hand, Advent is a season of dazzling secular light. Cities and towns are lit up in fantastic ways. It is also a time of spiritual quieting as we are called to look within. We are pulled both ways as the culture says, Get busy! and the Church says, Quiet down! to prepare for Christmas.

Christmas evokes powerful memories, feelings and hopes in all of us. It speaks to deep yearnings within every person for home, family, friendship, unity and peace. One writer has called them memories of Paradise. Every year, we look to Christmas to fulfill those desires. Today, we try to pack all we expect of Christmas into one day rather than the traditional twelve days of the Christmas season as was the case in earlier times. A restoration of the healthy majesty of the Christmas season can be a gift to our time.

Nevertheless, we all want a memorable Christmas. But what are we really willing to give up to bring the promise of Christs birth to our soul? St. Paul gives us a key in todays second reading as he writes about the need to cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Are we willing to cast off the deeds of darkness? Are we willing to match the preparations we make on the outside over the next four weeks with a similar preparation on the inside? This Advent is the time to look at the quality of our Catholic life: our regular participation at Mass, our personal prayer life, our dealings with others, our honesty, our truth-telling, our respect for the reputation and property of others, our commitment to our family, to our spouse, our commitment to the great issues the Church has embraced today the poor, the sacredness of human life, the strengthening of family life. It is very tempting, and very easy, to get so wrapped up in the artificial lights of this season that we can forget the true light, the light of Christ.

Cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. This first Sunday of Advent is a good time to revive the resolutions we made after Christmas last year and to make some new ones. Its a good time to take on the personal practice of fast and abstinence during Advent so we will appreciate the Christmas season all the more. Its a good time to prepare a thorough Confession to renew ourselves in grace. Its a good time to start the family practice of gathered prayer before dinner. Its a good time to select some charity to assist from the many that come our way at this time of year. Its a good time to revive old friendships, restore broken connections and heal some family rifts (or try to). Its a good time to make sure we spend time with our families. Its a good time to try to cut down on alcohol consumption and try to celebrate without excessive drinking. Its a good time to try to liberate ourselves from the temptations of the Internet and use it for the great informational tool it can be, maybe even by finding some worthwhile Catholic web sites.

Cast off the deeds of darkness, put on the armor of light. People can be oblivious to the power of Christmas as a time to open ourselves more widely to Christ. We can be like those people to whom the Lord refers in the Gospel reading as going about their life, indifferent to the coming of the Lord. They all look alike but there is a huge difference within. The transforming power of the Christmas mystery is found not in the changes that happen on the outside but the changes that happen within.

Advent provides a great opportunity once more to cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of the Light of Christ. The darkness from which Jesus came to rescue us, the darkness that Advent addresses, is not the darkness outside. We know the seasons will change and light will return. He came to rescue us from the darkness within.

Dont let the potential of these days of Advent get lost in all the other preparations for Christmas. Advent is another chance to cast off the deeds of darkness and experience once more a Light that lasts.

Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12

O UR READINGS TODAY provide three powerful spotlights to draw our attention to dimensions of the Christmas season that we might overlook.

John the Baptist is a familiar part of Advent along with the Advent wreath, Christmas music in the stores, collections of food or toys for those in need, get-togethers with family and friends, all the features that make up our Advent season.

By contrast to this mood of warm cheer, though, John the Baptist appears in the desert calling us to repent because the Lord is near. We prefer the warm and peaceful picture Isaiah draws in todays first reading, the wolf will be the guest of the lamb, the calf and the young lion will walk together with a little child to guide them. It is a picture of Paradise.

Enter John the Baptist dressed in camels hair saying to the Pharisees, You brood of vipers. Who told you to run away from the wrath to come? Prove that you mean to reform. That is not the kind of message we find on commercial Christmas cards or television specials at this time of year. It is important that we have John the Baptist at this time of year. After all, can we know the real joy of salvation if we feel no need of being saved?

Many people want a Christmas without Advent, an Easter without Lent, happiness without sacrifice, peace without justice, or heaven without conversion of life. John reminds us of the importance of reform, that Christmas is not just a holiday season but a moment to renew ourselves in the power and grace of Jesus Christ. The first powerful spotlight is the call to reform!

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah shines a second light as he paints a picture of harmony. These words might seem oddly out of place this year when so much of the world is embroiled in conflict. What of Isaiahs vision today? Isaiahs light shows us that the reign of God and His peace is always a possibility. Conflict and tension do not have to be the last word. Every generation, including our own, has a chance for peace.