1st Sunday of Advent
Elizabeth Ferguson, OP
As we begin a new liturgical season and indeed a new year, it may seem surprising that the Gospel passage from Luke (21:25-28,34-) which is chosen for today speaks of doom, gloom, disaster and end times. It would be easy to equate this language as typifying our own times, where, because of technology, we are witnessing wars, famines, destruction, and climate change which is the cause of so many ‘natural’ disasters and unprecedented weather patterns. Surely, we are looking at end times.
In contrast, the first reading taken from the prophet Jeremiah (33:14-160), offers hope, justice, and safety because of the springing forth of a righteous branch. This is where I am tempted to stay, in the comfort of this image, the new shoot springing forth with an almost ‘happy ever after glow’.
But for the new to spring forth, the old must die. This season of Advent invites us to a new beginning, a readiness to dissolve the old patterns and to allow God to do a new thing in us. A change does not take place without disturbance. The seed must die, the hardness of our minds and hearts must be cracked open. It may be an end time experience, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually to witness what was so precious in our lives being disturbed, torn apart perhaps or totally destroyed.
When we look at our planet, or earth home, we might ask not so much what needs to change for a new shoot of life to spring forth, for a re-greening of our planet. We need to face what needs to die. Comfort, greed and power in the wealthy nations are the major contributing factors to the death of the earth. We refuse to cut back on our comforts, because we can afford them, and so alternate methods must be put in place, so we do not lack anything. This attitude must also be cracked open and die. The blindness that refuses to accept scientific data must be cracked open and destroyed. The raging wars with their pollution of the planet and the destruction of our own species because of power struggles must come to an end.
If the shoot of justice, peace and the integrity of all creation is to bud forth and flourish, we all must die to our greed, our power and our wealth. We must nourish a different kind of power and wealth – a power to take responsibility for life and nurturing, a wealth that is acknowledged in the dignity of all people and the preciousness of every form of life.
Jeremiah’s dream and Jesus’ warning are the two sides of the same coin. The dream will not happen unless we heed the warning.
Sprout
and grow up fresh
from the sawn down
power and vigor of our lives,
sprout green with hope
from the hardened stumps of dreams,
living where it seems there is no right to live,
making music in the hollow din,
dancing where the feet refuse to trudge,
Bold sprout of promise,
with that daring smile,
what nurtured you to life,
can nurture me.