Do you remember the story I shared about this time three years ago? It is about my conversation with my close friend, Fr. Ernest Mawah, who is in Nigeria. We began the journey to the priesthood at the same time from the Minor (High School) Seminary, and we were ordained priests on the same day for the Catholic Diocese of Idah in Nigeria. Sometimes, when we talk on the phone, we joke about the time difference between Nigeria and San Diego. Presently, Nigeria is 9 hours ahead of San Diego, so when it is 9:00 a.m. here in San Diego, it is 6:00 p.m. in Nigeria. Some days, when I call him after my weekday morning Mass at about 9:00 a.m., he greets me, “Good evening,” then I correct him, saying, “Excuse me, my friend, it is ‘Good morning,’ here.” Other times, when I miss his calls in the morning, I call back, explaining that I was in the Chapel for my morning prayer when he called. He would then say, “Why do you say morning prayer at night? I just ate my dinner and am now ready for my night prayer.” Then I would fight back, saying, “Keep quiet, my friend; we are just waking up here.”
One day, we were talking on the phone, and I told him that Nigeria is in a better position than San Diego. I explained that being 9 hours ahead of San Diego, Nigeria receives the blessings of God 9 hours before San Diego; after all, the sun rises 9 hours in Nigeria before rising in San Diego. He agreed with me, but he added that there is also a sense in which the position of San Diego is more advantageous than Nigeria’s. He said I would only benefit from that vantage point if I were nice to him. He explained that since Nigeria is 9 hours ahead of San Diego, at the time of the rapture, at the final coming of Jesus Christ, the trumpet would sound in Nigeria 9 hours before San Diego. So if I were nice to him, he would give me a call to alert me, saying, “O Boy, the Master is here! You have 9 hours to clean up your ‘mess!’” We both laughed.
At this time of the liturgical year, when we listen to readings about the final coming of Christ and the end of the world, one of the things I like bringing into my homilies is to ask parishioners, “What would you do if an angel comes to tell you now that you have one more hour to the end of the world?” It is usually interesting to hear the various answers. Some would say, “I will call my parents and tell them how much I love them.” Others would say, “I will go and reconcile with anyone I am not on good terms with.” Others have answers like, “I will withdraw all my money from the bank and share with the poor.” The most common response is, “I will go to a Catholic priest and confess all my sins.” At the end of all the sharing, I would tell the congregation, “I have bad news for you: I don’t think you will ever know when you have one more hour. So, begin to do all you have said now because now may be the time.”
Considering today’s Gospel passage, it is possible to protest, “Out of place!” Today’s gospel passage seems to be a wrong choice for the first Sunday of Advent. In Advent, we prepare for the birth of Jesus. The birth of a child should bring joy and celebration; why, then, do we have a reading that evokes fear today? Why does Jesus seem to frighten us with his words today? But come to think of it, even in our families, do infants not evoke healthy fears in the adult family members? The infants do not say much; it is either yes or no. When it is “Yes,” they smile, laugh, or keep calm; and when it is “No,” they cry. With infants, there is no negotiation, no compromise. Some time ago, I had an infant baptism here. Shortly after I poured water on the baby’s head, he began to cry. The ceremony immediately paused – Mom, Dad, Sponsors, and other family members and friends began running from pillar to post, trying to interpret the cry and respond appropriately. At that point, it dawned on me that infants have much authority. It is either their way or the highway!
At Christmas, we shall meet the Infant-Baby, Jesus Christ, who does not welcome compromise. You are either for him or not for him. There is no middle position, no political correctness, and no sitting on the fence; it is either yes or no. On the cross, he stretched out his hands and asked us to choose between his left and right, with no mid-point. At judgment, he will take the sheep to the right and the goats to the left. If you love God and your neighbor, you have chosen the right, but if you do not show love, you have chosen the left. The marking scheme will be based on these words of Jesus, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, you do unto me.” Jesus is coming at Christmas as an infant, very delicate. You make him smile when you show love to your neighbor, and you make him cry when you don’t. And so, I ask: will you make him smile or will you make him cry? The choice is yours!
Homily for 1st Sunday of Advent Year C 2024
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