(This Homily was delivered over Radyo Katipunan’s Keep the Faith Mass on December 1, 2024, First Sunday of Advent.)
One of our favorite Christmas songs because it is very plain and straightforward about how we feel about Christmas is: “Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!” I have a trivia though about this Christmas carol. The composer himself, the Protestant minister Isaac Watts protests that his song, based on Psalm 98 and Genesis 3 was not intended to be a Christmas Carol (Just like Manoling Francisco’s Hindi kita Malilimutan is not meant to be a wake or funeral mass song). Watts had actually the Second Coming of Christ in mind when he was writing this joyful song and not his first coming at all, or what we know as Christmas, the birth of Christ.
For us Catholics though, the song would still be perfect for Advent. Because officially, theologically, doctrinally, that’s what the Church is teaching us about Advent. The Advent season recalls as it were two arrivals of Jesus. The first, in first century Palestine, when God became man and entered human history. And the second, the Second Coming or the Parousia, at the end of the world, and on judgment day. Of course, we instinctively prefer the first one, especially when at Christmastime we recall the first family, and the birth of our Lord. We are filled with joy and wonder over the infant Jesus (cute na cute tayo sa bambino). It is always the happiest occasion of the year for us.
And yet, as mentioned already, the Church reminds us that that is not all! We are also preparing for his second coming, every Advent and every Christmas. That is why the readings on this first Sunday is about that, how Jesus will come again at the end-times. This scares us of course. That’s why we prefer the cozy, serene and very touching scene of the belen. On the other hand, the second coming talks about trials and tribulation; who would like that? But maybe we have it all wrong. As the book of Revelation tells us, the world ends with a loving, beautiful and elegant scene of a wedding, of a marriage. The Church is the bride and Jesus comes as the bridegroom when the bride is ready and then a new Jerusalem, a new earth will appear. Wouldn’t you like that as a new Christmas symbol or icon, a romantic wedding scene? So, the end comes with God’s triumph and the completion of Jesus’ mission. That’s the second coming we’re supposed to reflect on as well this Advent Season.
But lest you tell me that I’m just overdoing this second meaning of Advent and Christmas, one biblical scholar, Fr Robert Brown wrote a book about this, “An Adult Christ at Christmas.” Basically, he is saying or reminding us that cute as he was, the infant Jesus was born at Christmas, lest we forget, for a very particular purpose or mission: to save humanity—at all cost. Or at the cost of even his life. The biblical account of Christmas contains all the symbols for this—he was born in a manger, to become the food or bread for all; he was visited by the magi who represented all the world for he was to become the light to all the nations. And they brought gifts which you don’t normally give to your godchildren, because they are gifts that pointed to his very serious mission, gifts that include myrrh, a substance used to anoint the dead. Yes, his fate was already sealed even before he was born.
St Ignatius has a beautiful contemplation of the nativity which will easily complement Raymond Brown’s writings. He says, the Trinity sees what was happening to our world, how we were spinning or spiraling out of control under the weight of our sins and crimes. The three persons then decide to send the Second Person, Jesus Christ, to save humanity before it’s too late.
Yes, it’s nice to feel good about our Belen’s but let us not forget this second meaning of Advent and Christmas. I remember the story of a priest. Usually, this season is the hardest, toughest, busiest for us. Especially for Filipino priests who have to contend with nine Simbang Gabi on top of Advent and Christmas recollections and retreats (I have 8 recollections this December for example apart from my regular work at JesCom). Many of us get sick at the end of the season. But back to the priest, he was so relieved after his misa de gallo mass or Chrismas mass at midnight of the 24th of December. Exhausted, he decided to have misa de gallo dinner with his sister. While her sister was preparing a sumptuous meal, the priest tried to play with his niece, 3 or 4 years old. He saw a china plate with a painting of the nativity and so he asked his niece who the infant at the Belen was. “Fragile” was the answer she gave. No, not the plate, who is this baby? He asked again. “Fragile,” she said again. He thought maybe his sister was always telling her child to stay away from her fragile china ware collections so that got stuck in the girl’s mind. But later on, as the priest prayed and thanked God for the day that was, he remembered his time with his niece. And it struck him. From the mouth of babes, he thought, she was so right after all. The infant, fragile Jesus was born to be broken! 30 or 33 years after, he would be on the cross, his body bruised, bloody and broken for love of us.
Indeed, friends, perhaps our Advent and Christmases will be different if we are able to recall Christ’s second coming. Maraming nagrereklamo, di kami makapagsaya sa pasko, mahirap ang buhay, etc. Well, now we know, it’s not just supposed to be about parties and gifts and reunions. It’s also about the mission of Christ which we of course share with him. Maybe from here on our Christmas parties will be bigger to include the poor, the outsiders. Maybe our Christmas charity drive would not just be perfunctory or an afterthought but at the very center of our festivities. Then perhaps, truly, there will be long-lasting joy in the world.
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