1st Sunday of Advent @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
NOVEMBER 26-27, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM MASS

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of body and mind consisting of decreased interaction with external stimuli, and inhibited physical activity. Observed from the outside, it can appear to be a passive and unchanging state of being.

However, there are three stages of sleep, which can be called light, normal, and deep; as well as REM sleep – called this because of the “rapid eye movements” that occur – which as many of you may know, is the period of sleep in which most dreaming occurs.

Light sleep is the initial phase of sleep, occurring at the outset, and consists of a slowing down of the electrical signals in the brain. Normal sleep consists of a continued slowing of brain signals, with periodic bursts of higher frequency activity. Deep sleep consists of slow and regular brain activity. In these phases of sleep, both breathing and heart rate also slow down.

REM sleep, which is when the most vivid dreams take place, consists of brain signals similar to those in a waking state. Breathing becomes more rapid and irregular, and heart rate increases; while the muscles experience sleep paralysis.

And, so it would seem, sleep is not a uniform, dull, or passive state. While from external observation it appears as if nothing is happening … on the inside, many different things are going on.

Today is the First Sunday of Advent. The church decorations have shifted from green to violet, the Advent wreath has one candle lit, and the Scripture readings diverge from solely focusing on the end of time to our preparation for the Three comings of Christ.

Indeed, Christ will come at the end of time. But He also comes to us in Word and Sacrament every time we come together for prayer. And of course, He came over 2,000 years ago as an infant, born in Bethlehem.

Today’s reading from Isaiah is a mid-point between two events which occur before and after the short reading we have just heard. Before this reading, we hear a courtroom scene before the Throne of God. The charges are stated, and the evidence is presented. And after this reading, follow a series of judgments to be leveled against the accused.

But in the middle, God speaks of a promise. A promise of a future righteous kingdom, where all would worship the One, True God. Where conflict and division would be eliminated. The Word of God would proceed from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

In the Epistle reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we hear three instruction. The first is to wake up. The second is to clean up. And the third is to grow up.

St. Paul tells us that we “know the time.” And so we are to wake up. To take an assessment of our surroundings and to interact with the outside world. We need to shake off any paralysis or dreaminess and take stock of things … right here and right now.

And once we have done that, we are to clean up. Whatever “works of darkness” we may have taken up or acquired are to be cast off … and thrown out so the we might be clothed in the “armor of light”.

And finally, we are to grow up. That is, we must not wallow in our base desires, pleasing only ourselves, and feedingourthe flesh. But we are to assume our roles as full members of Christ, putting on Christ Jesus in all that we think, say, and do.

The Gospel reiterates these three admonitions, but in reverse. Jesus reminds us of the time of Noah when people were wrapped up in worldly affairs and were eventually carried away in the flood.

Next he speaks of one “being taken” and another one “left”. This word translated as “being taken” means to be carried off by a higher power … arrested, or sent off for judgment of ones crimes.

And finally, Jesus reminds us to stay awake.

As we begin these four short weeks of the Advent Season, let us resolve to draw closer to God. Let us wake up, clean up, and grow up in Christ … so that we might rejoice at His coming not only at Christmas, but whenever we gather in His name, and ultimately when He comes in glory.

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