Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, Year C

Focus On The Three Comings Of Christ

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, Year C

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN 

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Sunday, December 1, 2024

At every Advent, the Church invites us to pay particular attention to the “three comings of Christ.” We look back to the time in history when Christ, the very incarnation of Yahweh, entered our world, that is, Christ’s historical entrance into time. Christ came in history. He is not a fictional figure as some modern minds say today. About his first coming, the great prophet Jeremiah has this to say, “In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land” (Jeremiah 33:14). His historical entrance into time and space is what we celebrate and commemorate at every Christmas. We also pay attention to the coming of Christ that is happening right now, not just a long time ago, but now in the life of the Church. About his present and ongoing coming into our lives, St. Paul says, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love one another and for all…” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). We always pray for the increase of faith, hope and above all, love for God and neighbor. The present coming of Christ is progressive, like any personal relationship, it has a definite beginning and it continues. If that relationship is not ongoing, not progressing, it loses its steam, it regresses and possibly fades. So, the goal of our religious and spiritual life is to pay a rapt attention to the coming of Christ that is happening at the moment. Christ is coming to us through the Church. The Church is not unconnected to Christ; she is not just a mere human organization entered into by those who follow him. It’s much more dramatic than that. The Church is the vehicle, the means by which Christ becomes present to his people. Christ comes to us through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist— the source and summit of the Christian life. He comes to us through the witness of the saints, through the art and architecture of the Church, through good preaching and the poor. Didn’t Jesus say, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me?” So, in the cry of the poor, in the face of the suffering, we have access to Christ who is knocking right now on the door of our hearts. Finally, we pay attention to the coming of Christ at the end of the time. 

Sisters and brothers, the good news is that Christ will come again at the end of time. But the bad news is that we don’t know the year, the time or the hour of his definitive coming. Now, his definitive coming we often refer to as “the Second coming of Christ.” But is that an accurate designation of that event? I don’t think so! Christ’s second coming is already happening as we speak. It is already taking place. Jesus is already coming to you through the preaching of his word, through your neighbor, through the events of life, through your spouse. He is coming to you through the poor, through the people that you don’t like. He is coming and speaking to you in your conscience. But for different reasons, we don’t see him. We don’t notice him. And even when through the invasion of grace we notice him, we simply ignore him. Why? Because we don’t like what he is saying to us. Like some of his disciples who first heard his Eucharistic discourse and actually left him and no longer follow him, we find what he is saying and what he is asking us to do too hard to believe and accept. Jesus cannot possibly be telling me to forgive him, we say to ourselves. The Lord is not really telling me what I am hearing, we conclude.  

But in the season of Advent, we are urged to stop and to reflect upon the three comings of Christ, especially his second coming, the different ways he is coming to us now. Once we get that, we will be prepared and ready for his definitive coming. You know, you may not live to see the end of the world, but you will certainly live to see the end of your world. Are you ready? Are you ready to die? In fact, there is nothing more practical, more deeply spiritual and more personal than getting ready for the one and only event in your life that is absolutely guaranteed. How can you be ready? Jesus says repent. Jesus says pray. Jesus says get reconciled with God. Go to confession. Take the practice of your faith seriously. Be an active member of your parish. If you have been coming to Mass here for a very long time, do you belong to any ministry in the parish? Are you merely what I call a “visiting-member” of the parish? You might be wondering, what does “visiting-member” mean? A “visiting-member” is simply a parishioner who comes to Mass regularly and does nothing more than that. Parishioners know him or her. He or she is always around, but never joins any ministry in the church. They are basically consumerist Catholics who only come to church to be attended to. They come to consume good singing, good preaching and the hospitality of the church without ever being involved in any activity of the parish. In this Advent season, Jesus invites you to repent. And if you are wondering which ministry you should belong to, your pastor is inviting you to join St. Josephine Bakhita Choir, the African Choir. Join this choir and use your voice to glorify the Lord. If you are looking for a greater motivation to join the choir, listen to the enduring words of the great Saint Augustine: “He who sings, prays twice.” It means that singing is a form of prayer that adds worship to God. 

God bless you!