Today is the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. As with all New Year celebrations, we begin this Advent with anticipation and hope; we hear about the hope of the Hebrew people for the coming of the Messiah, we believe that their hope is realized in the Incarnation of Christ and we affirm our hope that Christ will come again in glory.
As I was reflecting on the scriptures for today, I was struck by the images in the first reading from Isaiah 2:1-5. We read about the mountain of the Lord’s house sitting high above everything else; all the people of the world streaming to the mountain; the people climbing the mountain to receive instruction from the Lord so they could walk in his path; the people beating their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and finally the call for all of us to “walk in the light of the Lord”! What probably caused me to focus on these images is a recent conversation with one of my nephews who is a passionate rock climber. He does not climb walls in gyms; he climbs mountains. So, I asked him what the attraction was and his answer was surprising. He said, climbing rock faces on mountains is extremely difficult and can be scary. A climber has to be very fit and prepared for anything. The climber must be focused at all times. To lose focus can mean serious injury or death. The going is torturously slow but when the climber gets to the top, the feeling is exhilarating. Because when you reach the top everything becomes clear and it is as if you can see forever. All the pain is worth it for that moment.
I have never considered Advent from the perspective of climbing a mountain. But there are similarities. Imagine climbing the Lord’s mountain and receiving instruction from God so that we can learn “his ways, and we may walk in his paths." And then going out to carry the message to the world while walking “in the light of the Lord.” No one tackles a mountain without being prepared. No one reaches the top of the mountain without an overwhelming sense of awe. And no one comes down without telling people about the experience.
Advent is a time of preparedness. How we prepare is up to us. I certainly don’t expect all of us to become mountain rock climbers. However, we can prepare ourselves for the second coming that we affirm each time we participate in Mass. And perhaps we can stay focused on the real purpose of Advent which is clearing our minds and our hearts so we can welcome Jesus into our lives.
Let us pray in Advent time with longing and waiting for the coming of the Lord.
Father in heaven,
our hearts desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.
Increase our longing for Christ our Savior
and give us the strength to grow in love,
that the dawn of his coming
may find us rejoicing in his presence
and welcoming the light of his truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen
