FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Homily
Todays First Reading ends like this: Lord, you are our Father,
we are the clay, you are the potter, and we are all the work of your
hand. These words humble us because they remind us that we are clay. However, they
also elevate us because they tell us that God is the potter. Better still. God is our Father,
which means we are his children. We have a divine dignity, though we carry this dignity
in vessels of clay.
There was a father who had four children. When they were old enough to leave
home, he gave each of them a treasure. The treasure was sealed in a simple earthenware
jar. Though this surprised them, none of them objected. A treasure was still a treasure.
Justin, the oldest of the four, bore the treasure away with great joy. However, the
joy soon wore off. He got tired of having to handle the jar as if it were a piece of rare
china. He began to grumble against his father, saying that it was unfair, even cruel, of him
to ask him to carry the treasure in such a perishable container.
And yet there were times when he could see reasons for this. Was his father not
showing the greatest possible trust in him? If he had put the treasure in an unbreakable
container that would not be showing much trust in him. Nevertheless, Justin grew tired
and careless. The inevitable happened. He let the jar fall. It got badly cracked, so he put it
aside. Ever afterwards, he held a grudge against his father.
Anne, the second oldest, went at once and had the jar encased in a metal container.
Then she proceeded to encrust the case with precious stones. Every penny she earned,
and she earned a great amount, went into this. The jar glittered with diamonds and rubies.
She was very proud of it, and availed of every opportunity to show it off in public.
However, the result was that the container became her real treasure, and she forgot
about the inner treasure.
Brendan, the third oldest, carried the treasure with care and love for a while. But
then he began to have doubts about its value. How can I be sure that Im not being
deceived? he asked himself. What if there is no treasure in the jar after all?. Falling on
hard times, he sold it for a pittance, but afterwards felt guilty for having done so.
Sarah, the youngest of the four, carried the treasure with the utmost care. She had
no doubts about its value, so great was her trust in her father. Even though many
misfortunes befell her, she never lost heart. She had one real anchor in her life. Not so
much the treasure, as the love of her father, which the treasure symbolized.
Years went by. Then one day a message came saying that their father was dying and
wished to see them. They figured that he wanted them to give an account of what they
had done with the treasures he had given them. Justin and Brendan were apprehensive

about the encounter. Anne was looking forward to it. Sarah was overcome with sorrow
at the prospect of her fathers death.
When the meeting took place the father enquired earnestly about the well-being of
each of his children. Not as much as a word about the treasures! Finally Anne said: Dad,
arent you going to ask us about the treasures?.
I have already done so, he replied.
I dont understand, said she.
Why, you are my treasures, said he.
We are Gods children. He loves us with an unconditional love. This should be a solid
place to which we return after every failure. We must let ourselves be loved, for nor what
we have done, but just for being. We are not lumps of clay. We are Gods precious
children. Happy those who do not doubt this. However, God has given us responsibility
for our lives. The way to return his love is to use his great gift in a responsible way.
Three times in todays Gospel passage Jesus tells his disciples to stay awake. The
call to stay awake is meant for us too. It is a very appropriate call for the beginning of
the new liturgical year. Its an ideal opportunity to wake up to the grandeur of our divine
dignity, and to try to live accordingly.
Lord Jesus, awaken my heart and mind to receive your word and to prepare for your
coming again. Free me from complacency, from the grip of sin and worldliness, and from
attachments to things which pass away. May I always be eager to receive your word and
be ready to meet you when you came again. Amen.
Entrance
Advent is a time of watchfulness. We are waiting for the final coming of Christ at the end
of time. And we are also waiting for his coming to us at the time of our death. Since both
times are hidden from us, we should maintain a state of watchfulness so that we are ready
to meet the Lord at any moment.
Prayer of the Faithful
In a world divided by greed and fear, let us ask God to come to our help and bring
us back to him.
All-powerful God, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever; help us to have
confidence in your unchanging love for us, so that we may have the strength to
persevere in goodness. We ask this through Christ our Lord.