First Sunday of Advent
God’s Promise of Peace
The opening line for the first Sunday of Advent from the book of Jeremiah says, “The days are coming when I will fulfill the promise I made.” As we begin a new church year, we start with a promise from God. The promise is for the fullness of life, and for peace to reign among all peoples. That does not mean the troubles are over, however. In fact, the gospel for the same liturgy has Jesus giving warning signs about disruption, turmoil and roaring seas and waves among other things. In fact, he says “people will die of fright, in anticipation of what is coming upon the world for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” We will still have troubled times. In fact, of course, we are living in troubled times right now with various threats of escalation of war around the world. Many are unsettled and living in fear in our own country and communities. Some are filled with hope and others with fear and worry. And yet the promise of the Lord remains the same. In the Advent season, as we look forward to the celebration of the birth of Christ, we are reminded of the startling way that God promises to bring about that promise of peace. He does not come with thunderbolts or with an iron fist to shape us all up. Instead, he comes as a vulnerable little baby, born on the run, not even in his own home. And yet as he comes in that vulnerability, he brings the greatest power of all which is pure, merciful love. Let’s be on the lookout for that gift of love in the coming week in all whom we meet.
Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ
Vice President for Mission