Today we begin a new liturgical year and we’re in Cycle B. We hear from the Gospel of Mark almost in its entirety during this year with a few other Gospel writings added in (Mark’s Gospel is rather short in comparison to the others.) One of the main themes of every Advent is presented in the readings today – Be watchful! Be alert! I think we can add to that – Be pre-pared! As we await Christ’s coming as a commemoration of his birth in Bethlehem, we also await his Second Coming at the end of time. There is also a ‘present’ coming – as Christ comes into our life every time we receive the Eucharist. He becomes part of our physical body. Are we prepared for these comings? Are we being watchful and alert? Our second song at Communion portrays this waiting: ‘The King shall come when morning dawns and light triumphant breaks, when beauty gilds the eastern hills and life to joy awakes. Not, as of old, a little child, to bear, and fight, and die, but crowned with glory like the sun that lights the morning sky.’ (The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns)
The theme of light is repeated over and over each Advent cycle. Our first Communion hymn touches on the ‘light’ also – “Creator of the stars of night, your people’s everlasting light, O Christ, Redeemer of us all, we pray you hear us when we call.” No longer is Christ being awaited as the expected King as in the Old Testament, but the One who will bring us Light both in His first coming as a child and today in our world. And boy, could we ever use His help now!
Our closing song today is taken from the Taize community, “Wait for the Lord”. This is the same group that composed “Jesus, remember me” that we sing during Lent. They are known for doing repetitive, short refrains with sometimes a verse laid over the refrain, or the more traditional verse with a refrain following. This one is just very simple: “Wait for the Lord, whose day is near; wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart!”
Let us take the next 4 weeks and truly prepare for Christ’s coming both as a child, in our daily lives in the Eucharist and encounters with Christ in other sacraments, and at the end of time. Be strong! Take heart!