It's About Time
November 27, First Sunday of Advent
Today’s readings are all about time. The past (Noah), the future (the second coming), even the time of day.
Reading 1
Is 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come, the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths." For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
There is no central world government.1 The nations of the world exist in a state of anarchy with each other. With no one to appeal to in order to resolve disputes, we wind up with war. It’s been like this forever. (Isaiah was written over 2700 years ago.)
It’s only at the end of time that there will be someone wise enough, and powerful enough, to “judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples.” No one else has the capacity to do it, because omnipotence and omniscience is required.
Which is exactly what Isiah is prophesying. There won’t be need for swords and spears (or guns and tanks), because God, from mount Zion, will provide instruction. All we’ll need is plowshares and pruning hooks.2
So, why are we reading about this now? It’s the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting, anticipating. It won’t happen yet, and as discussed in today’s Gospel, we won’t know when it’ll happen, so be ready.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
This was a song sung by pilgrims on a journey to visit Jerusalem (which the law said they were supposed to do at least three times in their life). The singer is excited to be invited to join everyone on their way to Jerusalem. In addition to thanking God for prosperity, the song mentions the judgment seats for the house of David.
Obviously, this ties in with the reading from Isaiah, where God’s judgement brings peace. It’s all about going up the (spiritual) mountain to God.
Reading 2
Rom 13:11-14
Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
It’s hard to viscerally appreciate night in our modern, electrified world, where street lamps shine all night long, and we can light up a room with the flick of a switch. Nighttime used to be scary.
But it was also a time you could get away with stuff. Some people would actually look forward to nighttime, so they could get up to no good. Who ever heard of a drunken orgy in the daytime?
Paul saying it’s Morning in Jerusalem is a very big deal. Don’t think you can be sneaky anymore. Imagine you’re in a bright spotlight, now. What would you do?
Alleluia
Cf. Ps 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You know, for all the things we did under cover of night...
Gospel
Mt 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
Remember, bad things happen at night, when it’s dark and you’re asleep. So stay awake, pay attention. You don’t know what time it’s going to happen, so you always have to be ready.
However, as the USCCB commentary points out, “The vigilant waiting that is emphasized does not mean a cessation of ordinary activity and concentration only on what is to come, but a faithful accomplishment of duties at hand, with awareness that the end.”
There’s no way to “be ready” without daily living out the commandment to love thy neighbor as yourself. You have to be in the present, while anticipating the future. Time hasn’t stopped yet.
As far as you know…
I have no idea what the modern equivalent to these are. There are probably robots that do this kind of thing now.