You need to take care of this by the end of the year

Homily for November 29, 2015 (1st Sunday of Advent)
Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

"You need to take care of this by the end of the year."

I was stunned.  All I could manage to say in response to the doctor was, "OK." The results of recent tests suggested that a congenital heart defect had deteriorated to the point that I needed to have surgery to replace my aortic valve.  The impeded blood flow and leakage from the defective valve were evident not only in the tests but also in my daily life.  Things that I used to do routinely, like climbing stairs and working out, had become difficult; and I was feeling tired a lot of the time.  At first, I was tempted to blame middle age; but when I became dizzy and short of breath on several easy runs earlier this year, I sensed something more was afoot.

Since I was a child, I was aware of my heart defect; but until this year it was something that only needed to be monitored with an occasional visit to the cardiologist.  Otherwise, I could be very active.  As friends and family would attest, there was little that slowed me down.  If anyone had suggested even in July that I would be having open heart surgery on December 1, I would have scoffed.  It might be needed in 15 or 20 years, but not now.

Yet here I am, at a medical "come to Jesus" moment.  I suppose that's appropriate, for today was also begin the "come to Jesus" season of Advent, which is derived from two Latin words (ad + venire) which quite literally mean "to come to."  Traditionally, we speak of the three comings of Jesus:  past (in the mystery of the Incarnation); present (in our daily lives and in the Eucharist); and future (when he returns to the world in glory). We can sometimes forget, however, that it is also a time when we are called to come closer to him as disciples.

Our scripture readings provide several ways that we can do this.  The prophet Jeremiah encourages us to trust in God's promises and their fulfillment.  Along with the author of Psalm 25, we humbly pray for the guidance of a God who is good, kind, constant and upright to those who seek to follow God's paths. We choose to live in God's love and holiness.

Advent, like Lent, is a season of the church year when we focus on conversion. Our primary liturgical color is violet (purple), which is associated with repentance.  By heeding Jesus' exhortation to "be vigilant at all times," we prepare not only for the tribulation that will come at the end of time but also the many trials and tribulations that are part of human life:  sickness; the death of a loved one; the raise or promotion that didn’t come; the loss of a job; feeling let down by someone you counted on; failing a test; and many other experiences.

In admonishing us to be vigilant, Jesus isn’t talking about anxiously waiting for something bad to happen.  Instead he encourages us, “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk 21:28 NRSV).  Our vigilance is rooted in hope, not fear.  As we begin this Advent season, let’s pray that when we have our “come to Jesus” moments, we may know how to respond and make a way for the Lord in our lives and in our world.  +