Homily

The Gospel we heard contains part of the discourse on the end times given by Jesus in the temple. With typical apocalyptic language, Jesus announces that the days are coming in which there will be upheavals: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations...People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world" The scene includes all of creation: the very "powers of heaven," Jesus says, "will be shaken." Even though these words refer first and foremost to the end of history, they describe many ages of human history and can even be applied to our own time, in which troubling signs appear both in the heavens and on earth, along with the anguish of nations in distress. It is the anguish of the many lands still marked by war and conflict, the anguish of the millions of people, young and old, who are still put to the test by sickness and hunger, the anguish of the many people forced to emigrate far from their homeland, who find no one to help or welcome them, and the anguish of the many elderly people who are left alone and abandoned. And among those who "faint from fear" are both those who do not see a serene future for themselves or their children and those who let themselves be overwhelmed by fear and close in on themselves.
Jesus speaks these words today not to sadden us and certainly not to confirm our fears or our tendency to turn in on ourselves. On the contrary, he does not want us to give in to resignation. In fact, in difficult times it is easy to fall prey to resignation and lose our hope for a new world, a better life for ourselves and others. The Lord has not stopped hoping for men and women and changing their hearts; He does not allow the forces of evil to rule undisturbed over the world, prey to violence and injustice. Even if men and women are resigned to the world as it is, the Lord is not. He wants to end this world to establish another. This is the Gospel of Advent.
Jesus is saying to us today, "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." The prophet Jeremiah had already made the following prediction to the people of Israel: "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah." Behold, those days have arrived. The Lord is coming back to usher in a new world, where the poor are less poor, where the others are considered brothers and sisters, not enemies, where those who suffer are consoled, where those who are alone are accompanied and those who are turned in on themselves lift their eyes to the people around them and the future.
The Gospel of Advent returns again, at this difficult time, for us, for all men and women, and especially for the poor. It is the Gospel that melts our hardened hearts, that opens the mind of those who only think of their own well-being, that opens the ears of those who only listen to their own reasoning, and that opens the eyes of those who do not see beyond their own horizon. Advent awakens in us and in the world a longing for the Lord, who is coming: "Stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." It is time to stand up. If we stop whatever we are doing to stand up to welcome a guest who comes to our home, how much more should we stand up from our habits to welcome the Lord who comes? And we must "raise [our] heads," Jesus adds. Yes, it is easy for those who keep their eyes fixed on themselves to go blind. Advent is a time to open our eyes and turn them towards the Lord who comes. We will see him at Christmas when we look for him in the cave in Bethlehem. Let us be led by the hand to that cave. We need to. Jesus warns: "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not 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" (Lk 21: 34-36). Stay alert and pray. Jesus asks us to stay awake, but not with the dazed wakefulness of the inhabitants of Bethlehem, who were "weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness" and did not want to open their doors. Hence there was no place for Jesus in the inn.
The season of Advent is a grace given to us to keep us alert and to lift our eyes in prayer to the Lord. The liturgy of this first Sunday of Advent opens with this song: "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." And the Community, like a good mother, helps us to turn our eyes and our hearts to the Child. In truth, it is the Lord himself who has turned his merciful gaze on us and never stops giving us his Word. We could say that the Lord himself prepares us for the celebration of his birth by giving us the word every day. The days of Advent are indeed days of listening and reflection, days of prayer and love. The Word of God is the lamp that will guide our steps, illuminating and warming our hearts. If we persevere, perhaps our heart will be less of a dark cave and a dank manger and become a holy place where Jesus can come back to be born. We feel that the Apostle Paul’s blessing is addressed to us, too: "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you" (1 Thess 3:12). Yes, the season of Advent is also a time of renewed love for us, love that is less concentrated on ourselves and more generous with our brothers and sisters and especially the poor. Yes, dear sisters and brothers let us not repeat our usual habits; let us not continue with the same thoughts as always. Advent is a new time, a time given to us by the Lord to renew our hearts, and to go towards our brothers and sisters, especially the poor, with open arms. It is on this path that we will encounter the Lord. As we lift up our eyes, let us boldly say: "Come, Lord Jesus!"