A Season to Be Wide Awake

29/11/2024

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, December 1st, 2024:
First Sunday of Advent

Luke
21.25-28, 34-36

Jesus spoke to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

“Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

The First Sunday of Advent!

I’ve been so aware of its coming this year and have been musing on how my ideal Advent is going to unfold: a lot of cozy reading, perfect evening cups of tea as I ponder, lots of quiet prayer with a holiday-scented candle and a cashmere-soft blanket – in short, “warm, unbothered and very comfortable.”

So when I opened up the Gospel for this Sunday, I subconsciously expected it to reflect my own cashmere thoughts on the subject of Advent 2024. In contrast, the vibe of this Gospel, at first glance, felt closer to my toddler’s early morning urgency when he’s alerting me to get out of my warm bed. Awake? Be ready? Be alert? Be on guard? I was thinking more along the lines of get comfy, be cozy, and drink special holiday teas.

But here’s the glorious thing about the readings within the liturgy: the words, tone, timing and message are always right.

There is indeed more to Advent. It is so worth it to wake up to the tremendously significant beauty of this season. Really, truly, this is a season to be wide awake because something bigger than seasonal tea is taking place. The story of humanity’s longing. Generations living and dying in anticipation of a Messiah. The reality of a woman, just like us, fully saying yes to the Holy Spirit with her body and her whole life. The hidden pain and conflict within Joseph. The difficult journey to Bethlehem with no place to stay. The paradox of the littleness and the grandeur of the whole thing. Christ becoming flesh to walk among us - to be one of us. His promise that He’ll come again.

The mysteries that begin to unfold in Advent correspond to the utmost depths of our being and to every desire we’ve ever had and will ever have. Unlike the mind-numbing content that seems to fill our sleepy doom-scrolling and reel watching, this is truly something that deserves our fully-awake attention.

How right – and how loving – that He invites us to stay awake and keep guard during this most significant season. He came for me. He came for you. The Incarnation is personal. And He doesn’t want us to miss that.

In a world full of temptations to zone out, Christ invites us to enter, with eyes and hearts wide open, into the reality that He came and will come again. This is the simple but profoundly loving invitation to each of us as we begin Advent 2024 – to remain alert and ready for every way He intends to arrive into our lives this season.

Catherine Burnham

4 Comments

Lori

30/11/2024 08:40:52 am

Ah! Catherine! You have just called me out of my own romanticized expectations and into the invitation of true Love—the wrenching, uncertainty, and ultimate glory of growing in Christ. Thank you for this beautiful articulation of the reward that awaits when I abandon my comforts and pursue Love in every waiting moment.

Catherine

9/12/2024 07:51:05 am

How beautiful are your words, Lori! Yes - oh my. The wrenching, uncertainty and ultimate growing in Him - that's so it. Who can sleep through that....?

♥

Lisa M

1/12/2024 08:00:06 am

This:
“The mysteries that begin to unfold in Advent correspond to the utmost depths of our being and to every desire we’ve ever had and will ever have.”
There is so much for me to ponder. The first few things that come to mind are: my desire to be close to Jesus (as He comes close in the incarnation), my desire to be chosen (like God chose Mary), my desire to be part of something bigger than myself (like the Holy family). Thank you, Catherine for this intriguing reflection.

Catherine Burnham

9/12/2024 07:53:07 am

Lisa, yes! Yes x 100. Those vulnerable desires to be close to Him, be chosen by Him and to be part of something bigger than myself. I'm writing that down... vulnerable advent reflections. Thanks for sharing ♥