Are You Ready?

Gospel Reflection for December 1, 2024, the first Sunday of Advent - Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;

Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;

And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty.

But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.

And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly.

For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36 DRA)

Are you ready for the return of Christ? This is the question posed to us on this first Sunday of Advent. It is at the heart of all the teachings about the Apocalypse given by Our Lord and the sacred writers of the New Testament. Is your mind instructed in the ways of the Gospel, or is it darkened by the errors of the world? Is your heart sanctified by the grace of supernatural charity, or is it mired in the lusts of the flesh? Is your body disciplined by virtue in right reason, or do your passions dominate your life and cloud your judgment? These questions and others like them are what God is asking us to contemplate and reflect on throughout this penitential season of Advent, as we prepare not only or even primarily for Christ’s first coming at Christmas (though His true “first coming” was at the Annunciation, when He was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary), but for His Second Coming at the end of time.

Are you ready for the return of Christ? This is not a familiar or comfortable question for us today. In fact, it is often mocked in popular culture, especially through the stereotypical sidewalk preacher found in many movies and TV shows who is portrayed as a wild-eyed fanatic and a delusional or even hateful and bigoted annoyance for the more down-to-earth, pragmatic heroes of the story. Who wants to think about the possibility of Hell when there are so many fun things to do right now? That’s just “depressing.” Why does the Church want to give us “Catholic guilt” instead of letting us just enjoy ourselves, live and let live and focus on what’s really important: sex and money. For many people, these are the only things that are truly worth taking seriously in life – everything else is just entertainment at best, or a waste of time at worst.

But this is not the truth, and it is not what Christ and the Church are calling us to consider in this holy season of Advent. We must not, contrary to the predominant spirit of our age, live like children our whole lives, in blissful ignorance of our sinfulness and our mortality. Our society is not “adult,” despite how many forms of “entertainment” today label themselves; rather, we are juvenile, from our clothing which is no longer dignified and distinct from children’s as it was for adults in pre-hippie times, to our vulgar speech, our mocking and pornographic sense of humor and our need for constant entertainment through the ubiquitous pacifier: the smartphone – none of these are signs of true maturity, which is instead characterized by wisdom, self-discipline, promptness in charity and a sober, honest consideration of the “big questions” of life, the “four last things” of death, judgment, Heaven and Hell. Nor is it the childlike innocence called for by Christ (Mt 18:3) but the childishness condemned by St. Paul (1 Cor 13:11).

How many people today truly believe there is a possibility that they could go to Hell? For our ancestors even just a century ago, this was something almost everyone thought about, and it served as a motivation for their more intense religious piety and stronger moral values than people demonstrate today. But, ever since the proliferation of modern psychology, sin has been redefined as an unfortunate and involuntary mental disorder, with every evil act excused away and mortal sin regarded as essentially impossible. Then, if no one is culpable for anything, no one goes to Hell – right? And I certainly can’t go to Hell – how hateful and superstitious and depressing of you to even suggest such a thing! A merciful God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell, except perhaps racists, who, like Hitler, are about the only sinners who are still widely condemned. Everyone else is just in need of therapy and medication.

When there is no fear of God, there can be no maturation into the love of God which is the ultimate goal of the spiritual and moral life, and when there is no fear of God, there is no guilt – we are free to do as we please, even allowing the clerical abuse of children, the murder of the unborn, the mutilation not only of children but of adults too (whose transgenderism is rarely mentioned even by “conservatives” unless they’re forced to use wrong pronouns) and practically any sexual perversion – all in the name of “mercy” and “freedom.” But, if everyone’s guaranteed salvation, why correct anything?

This is the modern world’s answer to the question with which I began this reflection: Are you ready for the return of Christ? Absolutely! I’m already how I should be, what more do I need to do? Plus, in our pluralistic and scientific world, who knows what’s right or wrong anyways? That’s just your opinion, your taste – who are you to uphold me to your subjective standard? I know I’m good, and my mistakes are the fault of other people anyways, so why worry about it? Just “live truth to power,” do what feels right, don’t “hurt” anyone, and move on - this is what I have called “the tyranny of casual.”

Is this really what Christ wants from us? I think the obvious answer is No. When He returns, it won’t be as a helpless baby in a manger but as a triumphant King and Judge, whose love is so powerful that it will give to everyone what they want: those who reject it will receive the separation from God they have desired by their unrepentance and faithlessness. As Catholics, our singular focus must be on attaining Heaven through a life of faith, hope and charity, growing in wisdom and prayer, remaining in communion with the Body of Christ through worthy reception of the Sacraments and sharing the good news of the Gospel to all the world. We should love what is good in this world and enjoy it as a gift from God – but never allow it to distract us from the much higher destiny for which we were made, namely, eternal union with God and the saints in the perfect happiness of the Beatific Vision. May we remember this, strive to cast off all our vices, forsake all attachment to the glamor of sin and perform works of charity in imitation of Christ throughout this great season of Advent.