A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent
Given at St. Patrick's Church in Wareham
By: Rev. Fr. Ronnie P. Floyd, STL
Do you remember the carefree days of your childhood.
I was reminded of today one of the things that I love about childhood:
the “do over.”
Back then when you were playing a game or taking a test
And the outcome wasn’t what you were expecting
or what you desired all you had to do is say: “do over”
and strangely enough your parents, friends, family and teachers
were ok with that.
I suppose it was a function of their love for you,
and of your childlike humility in being able to admit frankly
that you screwed up and needed another chance!
Today, we get a “do over,”
in fact all of life is a do over,
in which our God challenges us to love
and over and over again gives us the opportunity to succeed.
Though we may fail so many times,
God loves us enough to let us fail,
and for forgive us our failures,
and to give us a “do over”
so that we can become the children he made us to be!
Maybe you have sin against God:
your parents, your best friend, or your spouse.
But that was then and this is now,
now is a gift, because each moment is an opportunity:
to seek out the Lord
to find forgiveness
to change your life and modify your behaviors
and to love, where in the past you failed to love.
Advent is the season of “do over” for the world.
We screwed up…and if you watch TV
you will notice that we continue to screw up.
And don’t get me wrong,
people will continue to screw up until the end of time!
But what’s really important is the realization that
“I have screwed up.”
We can’t control other people, we can’t control the world,
But so long as we ourselves are not perfect
We ought not cast stones at others
Because we have a share in the world’s brokenness.
Advent is a “do over” for the world,
Or rather it is a reminder
that God offers each of us a personal “do over,”
not just now but every moment of every day He gave us.
Will we take this opportunity, with hearts like those of children
and accept our responsibility in the screwed upness of the world
by asking God for a “do over?”
This Advent as we await the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord
why not give the world, and our family, and our friends
the gift of mercy, by first accepting it in your heart.
God wants to give us a “do over,”
so that we can give others this gift of mercy.
And make this dream a reality,
Why not make advent what it was meant to be
A time of preparation for a new beginning,
in which we prepare for Christ’s coming into the world,
not just 2000 years ago, but right now in our lives.
Imagine a perfect world, without war, or injustice, or hatred
This is the World Christ desires to create.
let Christ, who desires to come into our life
and make all things new
Find welcome in your hearts and homes this Christmas.
All of us need to be renewed through confess,
a renewed prayer life,
and through the Mass.
Because it’s only in preparing our hearts to welcome Him
That He can truly be born IN us.
And that the world can truly be renewed.
Let’s make the prayer of the Psalmist our own this Advent:
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
